Black coffee for beginners: how to drink it without the jitters

Why black coffee hits beginners harder

Black coffee has no milk and nothing to soften the bitterness, so the caffeine goes straight in and is absorbed faster than with a milk coffee. If you rarely drink it, your body is not used to it, and a racing heart, slightly shaky hands and a light head are common. Vietnamese calls it "say cà phê" — coffee drunkenness. It is unpleasant rather than dangerous, and it passes.

Black Coffee at Banh Mi XANH is 35,000d, brewed strong in the familiar style. If strong is new to you, take it slowly; there is no need to finish the glass in one go.

How to drink it without the jitters

Not on an empty stomach

On an empty stomach the caffeine is absorbed faster than usual. Eat something first, even half a loaf or a Bơ Đường at 28,000d, so there is something in there.

Slowly, in small sips

One small glass sipped over 20 to 30 minutes is far more comfortable than the same glass drained at once. Your body gets time to adjust.

At a sensible hour

Morning, after something light to eat, is the easiest time to try black coffee. Avoid it close to bedtime, especially if you need an early night. The shops are open 24 hours, so night-shift workers come in as normal — but if it is your first time, try it in daylight.

If it still does not suit you, change drinks

Black coffee does not agree with everyone straight away. Switching is perfectly fine.

Nut Milk Coffee

45,000d. The nut milk softens the bitterness; the caffeine is still there but it lands far more gently than straight black.

Jasmine Lemon Tea

36,000d. Far less caffeine than coffee, good in the afternoon or whenever you want something cool and light.

Nut Milk Bubble Tea, plain or brown sugar

45,000d and 48,000d respectively. Gently sweet, easy on the stomach, and good with a banh mi in the afternoon or whenever coffee is not what you want.

What to eat with it

Thập Cẩm at 59,000d or Đậu Hũ Cay at 56,000d with a black coffee in the morning keeps you going without sitting heavily. Thượng Hạng Premium at 75,000d, the big size, goes well with the brown sugar nut milk bubble tea at 48,000d if you want a properly filling meal.

Chả Lát Chay at 53,000d is lighter, and pairs with jasmine lemon tea if the afternoon calls for something clean and not very sweet.

Ordering

For delivery, call 0923.183.183, or drop into whichever of the five shops is nearest:

• 38 Lê Thị Riêng, District 1
• 15B Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, District 1
• 2B Trần Hưng Đạo, District 1
• 148B Đề Thám, District 1
• 210 Bùi Văn Ba, District 7

Orders from 500,000d within 5km are delivered free. The shops are open 24 hours, so any time works.

Quick questions

Is black coffee on an empty stomach a problem?

Not dangerous, but more likely to feel unpleasant, because caffeine absorbs faster with nothing in your stomach. Eat something light first — half a loaf will do.

What does black coffee cost here?

35,000d a glass. For something gentler, nut milk coffee is 45,000d.

I have already got the jitters — what helps?

Sit down, drink some water, and eat something if you are still hungry. It usually passes on its own before long.

Will an evening coffee keep me awake?

For anyone sensitive to caffeine, close to bedtime, quite possibly. If you need an early night, take jasmine lemon tea or a nut milk bubble tea instead.

How does nut milk coffee differ from black?

The nut milk makes it milder and easier for a beginner. The caffeine is still there, but it lands more gently than straight black coffee.

Is delivery charged?

Orders from 500,000d within 5km are delivered free. Call 0923.183.183 to order and to check for your address.