How to Make Perfect Cuban Coffee
Cuban coffee is enjoyed daily by countless people in Cuba, other Latin America countries and the United States. Brewed in an espresso maker and typically served in small, thimble-like cups, Cuban coffee is sweet and rich. The term "Cuban coffee" refers to the method in which this coffee is made -- it uses any kind of coffee, is brewed similarly to espresso and mixed with lots of sugar. This type of coffee is usually enjoyed with friends as a social activity, after a meal or when you're in need of an energy boost. Brewing it is simple, but perfecting it may take some time and patience. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Espresso maker
- Coffee
- Sugar
- Metal cup
- Teaspoon
- Cuban coffee cups, or "tacitas"
Instructions
-
-
1
Fill your espresso machine with extremely cold water. Regardless of your style of espresso maker, the steps to make Cuban coffee are the same.
-
2
Fill the espresso machine's coffee receptacle with coffee grounds. To create the authentic taste of Cuban coffee, use finely ground coffee that has a powder-like consistency.
-
-
3
Place your espresso maker on a heat source, such as a burner, or if the machine is powered, press the necessary button to allow the water to begin to heat.
-
4
Pour sugar into a metal cup. The amount of sugar you add is dependent on how many cups of Cuban coffee will be served. To get perfect Cuban coffee, make the finished product very sweet. This means you'll need 1 to 2 tsp. of sugar per serving.
-
5
Pour a slight amount of percolating coffee into the metal cup -- just enough to be absorbed by the sugar. Use a teaspoon to mix the coffee and sugar to create a paste.
-
6
Pour the remainder of the coffee slowly into the metal cup, mixing it with the paste. Foam will form in the metal cup.
-
7
Pour the Cuban coffee into the Cuban coffee cups, known as "tacitas," and serve it.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
As with any type of cooking, perfecting the skill takes plenty of time and practice. If your first batch of Cuban coffee doesn't taste the way you'd like it to, try different brands or styles of coffee beans, and change the amount of sugar you use.
References
- Photo Credit flag of cuba image by Grigory Kubatyan from Fotolia.com
