Every ingredient is a shelf staple at every Charlotte chain—condensed milk and good coffee are cheaper at Walmart or ALDI than specialty grocers, and ice is free from any freezer. The real cost is the coffee itself; quality matters here, and a small can of phin-brewed Vietnamese coffee runs $3–4 if you want authentic flavor, though any strong brew works. The ten-minute timer is honest if your coffee is already made, but it ignores brew time; realistically, plan fifteen to twenty minutes from start to sip. This is a single-serving drink that reheats terribly, so it's strictly same-night, but it requires almost no attention once you've poured—just stir the condensed milk in and wait for the ice to melt.