On the morning of April 15, Apple CEO Tim Cook enjoyed egg coffee with singers My Linh and My Anh at Madame Hien restaurant on Hang Be street. Responding to VnExpress , Ms. Hoang Yen, the restaurant manager, said that Tim Cook's group had made reservations about two weeks ago and requested to mainly drink egg coffee. However, she did not know that the customer was the Apple CEO until 10 minutes before he showed up.

The person who made Tim Cook's egg coffee was Phan Le, 30, the restaurant's manager and sommelier. Phan Le is not a coffee expert and egg coffee was only added to the restaurant's menu in 2023 after Madame Hien reopened. A customer wanted egg coffee, so he made it for them - even though he had only made it for fun before. Because the customer said "this is the best egg coffee I've ever had", he decided to add it to the menu.

"In Hanoi, we are not the most famous place to sell egg coffee, but we have many unique advantages," he said.

The coffee beans used are robusta from Lam Dong, not too strong, with a little sweetness, blending well with the rich taste of the eggs. He tried Arabica beans but found them sour and fatty, the flavors did not match. The bartender said the eggs were not beaten in advance, but were made when the customer ordered, so the fishy taste was reduced. After beating, they poured in the filter-brewed coffee and decorated the top with a little chocolate.

The process is not complicated, but because it is not pre-made, customers are always reminded to wait at least 10 minutes. Phan Le revealed that he added honey and rum to mask the fishy taste, but the amount was carefully calculated so that the alcohol smell would not be overwhelming.

A few hours after Tim Cook left the restaurant, he was still surprised to have served coffee to the Apple CEO. Initially, he knew that the restaurant was chosen as the venue for Apple's event and needed to prepare about 20 cups of coffee. Before Tim Cook showed up, he made coffee for My Linh and her mother and was praised for its deliciousness.

"I'm very happy that the coffee I make is so well received," he said.

Madame Hien's egg coffee is sweeter than some places. The egg layer is thick, about 2/3 of the cup, and is whipped. The coffee is not bitter, mild, suitable for people who are not used to drinking robusta.

Tim Cook only had egg coffee and said he loved it when sharing it on social media. The Apple CEO sat down for coffee for about 25 minutes and then left. According to the restaurant manager, there were about three international reporters standing on the side of the road taking pictures, which did not affect the customer experience.

Tu Nguyen