My dad's memories of Vietnamese filter coffee.

(NLĐO) - I was born and raised in Buon Ma Thuot, a region known as the coffee capital of Vietnam.

Therefore, for me, coffee is not just a familiar drink, but also a warm memory of family, associated with the chilly mornings of my childhood.

I still remember those winter mornings in my hometown. Dew still clung to the trees, the highland air was cool and crisp. My father had woken up early, slowly brewing a cup of filter coffee. The steam rose in wisps, spreading the distinctive aroma of dark-roasted Central Highlands coffee beans.

Back then, I was young and not used to the bitter taste, so I often asked my father for some "diluted coffee," the coffee that had been brewed in a lower concentration. Just one sip was enough to make me feel "older," to be sitting beside my father in a peaceful moment of the early morning.

Time flies. For nearly 30 years, the habit of drinking coffee in the morning has quietly remained in my family as a way of life. Only the brewing method has changed.

In the past, it was the small, slow-dripping aluminum filter, but now we have more modern coffee makers at home. But whether it's a filter or a machine, the aroma of morning coffee remains familiar, still evoking the same warm feeling as in the old days.

Just one sip of "weak coffee" makes me feel like I've grown older.

This year, I returned to my hometown for Tet. In the morning, the whole family sat by the clear lake in front of the house. The lake was calm, and birds chirped merrily in the trees.

In that peaceful setting, each person held a cup of coffee according to their own preference. My mother liked sweet, creamy coffee with milk. My father remained loyal to his pure black coffee, only adding a little sugar. And I chose coffee with milk, cocoa, and ice, a slightly modified version from a later generation.

For me, coffee is not just a familiar drink, but also a warm memory of family.

Watching my parents sip their coffee on that first morning of the new year, I suddenly realized: coffee not only carries the rich flavor of the Central Highlands, but also holds memories, affection, and the bond of family.

(Entry for the "Impressions on Vietnamese Coffee and Tea" contest 2026, part of the 4th "Celebrating Vietnamese Coffee and Tea" program organized by Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper).

Source: https://nld.com.vn/ky-uc-ca-phe-phin-cua-ba-196260326145133861.htm