It takes five minutes for the coffee to slowly drip from the phin, a traditional Vietnamese tool used to brew the beverage.
Enjoy it. It's perfect iced (cà phê sũ’a đá) or hot, and a labor of love in Vietnamese culture.
For pharmacist-turned-entrepreneur Lan Ho, it’s also one of the many side hustles in her life. Ho is currently a contestant on Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars and preparing to open the first cafe for her Vietnamese coffee brand Fat Miilk in Uptown’s Asia on Argyle district. The area has historically been a hub for Vietnamese immigrants and businesses since the Vietnam War and the fall of Saigon in 1975. Ho is aware of the significance of having a location in the Argyle community.
"People are going to see this space as a very elevated and intentional way to experience Vietnamese coffee culture," Ho said.
She plans to honor her culture not just with coffee, but through the space and food as well.
"We're not only going to be serving Vietnamese coffee or a blend of some kind … even when it comes to our food, I'm not just putting cookies and doughnuts out there. We’ll be having Vietnamese meat pies," Ho shared.
Fat Miilk works with local farmers throughout Vietnam to vet and source the highest quality Robusta beans. The organic green beans are cultivated at different elevations and renowned for their sweet and fruity flavor. Only a handful of roasters specialize in Robusta bean coffee; by using them with the Vietnamese slow drip method, Fat Miilk strives to serve the most authentic drinks.
Ho's parents are Vietnam refugees whose values were embedded in her upbringing. Coming from a family of self-starting entrepreneurs, she had many side hustles growing up and throughout her career. During her ten years of pharmacy education, nothing ever felt organic or authentic for Ho. She remembered how, out of necessity, family members who arrived in the U.S. went into business to survive and provide for their families.
As she built Fat Miilk, Ho kept the news to herself, only telling family after establishing herself and launching a website.
"When you're first generation, you're the merger between your family's generation. They came here with their own traumas, from places of war, embedded in cultures and traditions," Ho explained.
Ho worked on Fat Miilk for years as a passion project, but it wasn't until she was furloughed from her pharmacy job that she accelerated the growth of her business.
"I really wanted my parents to see a certain side of me that they didn't have to worry about," Ho said, adding "even as a pharmacist, when I was struggling, I never let it be known. I always wanted them to know that I'm one less thing off their plate that they don't need to worry about."
It wasn’t easy launching a brand, but Ho offers one piece of advice.
"The biggest misconception about starting your own business is knowing the industry. The biggest asset to any business or venture is your willingness to learn.”
That road led to her landing a spot on Gordon Ramsay's Food Stars, a show starring 15 culinary innovators who tackle business-focused challenges. The winner of the competition will receive a $250,000 investment from Ramsay and become business partners with the celebrity chef.
Ho's biggest takeaway from filming Food Stars is how to advocate and take care of herself—the first time she's had to do so in her life.
"I did the best on the show when I took up space and advocated for my ideas. I had the opportunity to flex that on the show, and it served me well,” Ho said.
Gordon Ramsay's Food Stars airs on Wednesdays at 8pm on Fox and is also available to stream on Hulu. Fat Miilk is expected to open its flagship Chicago location at 5018 N Broadway in early August. For updates, follow Fat Miilk on Instagram.