What is Cafe Cubano
Everything You Need to Know About Cafe Cubano
If you're a fan of strong coffee, you might have heard of Café Cubano. This delicious cup of Cuban coffee is made by infusing sugar with espresso. The result is a sweet, concentrated shot of caffeine that packs a punch. But how did this coffee tradition come to be? Let's dive into the history, brewing process, and taste of Café Cubano.
What is Café Cubano?
Café Cubano, also known as Cuban espresso, is a type of espresso that is made by adding sugar to the coffee grounds before brewing. This results in a sweet and strong coffee that is traditionally served in small shot glasses called "tacitas."
Café Cubano is a popular beverage in Cuban-American communities and is also found in many coffee shops and cafes around the world. While it's traditionally served in small shot glasses, it can also be served over ice as a refreshing cold drink.
Cafecito is a huge part of our Cuban culture. Cuban coffee is enjoyed for breakfast as part of your cafe con leche, as a dessert, when you need a much needed boost at 2:08 pm, or even to share with strangers. It's such a romantic and friendly coffee!
The Taste:
If you're a fan of espresso and sweetened coffee, you'll love Café Cubano. The combination of dark-roasted coffee, sugar, and foam makes for a robust flavor that is both sweet and bold. The texture of the foam is creamy and velvety, and many people find that it perfectly balances out the bitterness of the coffee. The sweetness of the sugar is not overpowering but adds a unique taste to the coffee.
Where to find Café Cubano:
Although Café Cubano originated in Cuba, you don't have to travel to the island to enjoy this delicious coffee. Many Cuban restaurants and cafes offer Café Cubano on their menus, so it's worth checking out local spots in your area. You can also attempt to make it at home with a stovetop espresso maker (moka pot) or your espresso machine if you have one at home and some sugar.
The Brewing Process:
Brewing Café Cubano is simple but requires some skill to get it just right. A double shot of espresso is pulled through finely ground coffee beans, and the resulting liquid is mixed with sugar that has been placed in the small mug. The hot espresso melts the sugar, creating a thick, sweet foam that sits atop the coffee. The result is a strong and sweet cup of coffee that is perfect for jumpstarting your day.
How to make a Cuban Coffee?
Brew the coffee using an espresso machine (preferred method) or Moka pot.
Once the coffee starts brewing, pour the first drops into your small cup (tacita) - The first drops of coffee are concentrated and strong in flavor.
Use a spoon to stir the sugar and the drops of coffee to get melt the sugar and create a thick texture.
Allow the remaining espresso shot to finish brewing.
Once the coffee is brewed, give it a quick stir to ensure that the sugar has dissolved.
Pour the coffee into small shot glasses, filling them about three-quarters of the way.
The traditional way to serve Cafe Cubano is with a small amount of the foam that results from the brewing process. Use a spoon to scoop the foam from the moka pot - or pour all the crema from the espresso coffee and place it on top of the tacita.
Enjoy your homemade Cafe Cubano, a sweet and strong coffee that is sure to give you the energy boost that you need!
Does it matter if you use granulated sugar or brown sugar?
Great question! It makes no difference, it’s a personal preference.
We prefer brown sugar. Brown sugar will result in a thicker sugar foam and a bit of a sweeter flavor, in my opinion, because brown sugar has molasses.
Either way, it’s up to you. It will taste delicious! Especially if you use 787 Coffee Supremo Coffee beans.
Caribbean delightfulness, Puerto Rican coffee beans + Cuban Brew = Happy Humans : )
Let us share YOUR coffee creation
Come to a 787 Coffee and we would be honored to make it for YOU, but if you make it at home using 787 Coffee’s freshly roasted coffee tag us #787coffee or @787coffee and we will share your latte in our Instagram stories
History of Cuban Coffee
Cuban coffee has a rich history that dates back to the 18th century. The country has been cultivating coffee since the 1700s, with most of the beans grown in the eastern part of the island. The introduction of espresso machines in the early 20th century gave birth to the tradition of Café Cubano. The coffee was made with local, dark-roasted beans, and infused with sugar to create the unique flavor that has made this drink so popular today.
It is believed that Café Cubano was created by Cuban immigrants living in the United States, who adapted their traditional coffee recipe to American tastes. The recipe for Café Cubano was further refined over the years and became known as a popular beverage in Cuban-American communities in Miami and other parts of the United States.
The unique flavor of Café Cubano comes from the process of mixing the first drops of coffee with sugar and then brewing the coffee pouring the remainder coffee
Find a 787 Coffee near you or support your local coffee shop. It makes a difference!
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When you Visit Puerto Rico come to our coffee farm and learn how coffee is grown, processed and Roasted.
Variations of Cuban Coffee:
A colada is a 4-ounce Cuban espresso made with espumita (sugar foam) served in a a mini cup with little plastic cups meant for sharing. It’s very common in South Florida, for example, to buy one before going to the nail salon to share with everyone or before going to work and sharing with your co-workers.
A cortadito is a shot of unsweetened Cuban espresso with steamed milk. It’s basically a smaller version of a cafe con leche that is sweetened with sugar to taste.
Conclusion:
Café Cubano may be a less-known coffee drink compared to the likes of lattes, cappuccinos, and americanos, but it's definitely worth a try. The combination of strong coffee and sweet sugar creates a unique and delicious flavor that is hard to find in other coffee drinks. Whether enjoyed at a cafe or made at home, this coffee tradition is sure to leave you feeling energized and satisfied.
