Of all the things we’ve imbibed from being colonized by Spaniards for at least 300 years, we had to develop a particular penchant for siesta. Obviously, those of us with regular jobs don’t exactly get to nap at work (but when you can get away with it, it’s glorious). And based on Spain’s recession woes and deepening unemployment rates, skipping out on daily three-hour siestas would be a good thing.

But blame it on our carb-heavy meals that spike our insulin levels, leaving us drowsy by 3 p.m. Or the strong office air-conditioning that creates just the right temperature for a nap. All these factors, plus the morning’s tiring commute, leave us jonesing for a hit once it’s time for merienda—yet another delightful Spanish tradition.

While we have more options now than just the corner Starbucks, thanks to the rise of third wave coffee, we can’t help but long for the days when baristas didn’t look at you funny when you asked for milk and sugar.

So when we heard about DiCofi, a small Vietnamese coffee shop in Salcedo Village that serves traditional ca phe, we immediately perked up. Though historically, the Vietnamese is a tea-drinking nation, coffee was introduced to the country by the French in the 19th century. The Viet ca phe is made with a slow drip method using a metal contraption called a phin. At the bottom of the glass lies a layer of delicious, thick, and sweet-as-hell condensed milk to counter the dark Vietnamese roast’s bitterness. Because their coffee is so strong, it is served in small ounces. Granted, waiting for the coffee to drip into completion is a lesson in patience, so this isn’t one of those grab-and-go coffee joints.

They offer five different types of coffee: Vietnamese Iced Coffee, Black Coffee, White Coffee, Iced Latté, and Trung Nguyen Instant Coffee. Don’t snigger at that last option, though—it’s not your regular three-in-one mix. They also offer nine different fruit shakes, including guyabano (or sour sop), avocado, and melon. Once you pick your poison, be sure to try their Báhn Mì, which is a sandwich featuring fried eggs, ham, pork floss, and liver paté housed in between a French baguette. Their Vietnamese Pizza uses rice paper instead of dough as the base, and their Savory Sticky Rice comes with pork floss or sausage. They also serve Grilled Pork Chops and Chicken Legs with Fish Sauce.

Though their menu is limited, their servings are spot-on. Just thinking about their coffee served with a side of sticky rice and pork floss is enough to keep us up at night—until we get our next fix.

DiCofi. Upper Ground Level, Valero Plaza, 124 Valero Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City. Open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Photos by Patrick Segovia

Source: Beverly Dalton for Southern Living, “The Viet Comeback,” June 2015.