Cuban espresso facts for kids
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| Alternative names | Cuban coffee, Cuban espresso, cafecito, Cuban pull, Cuban shot |
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| Type | Beverage |
| Place of origin | Cuba |
| Main ingredients | espresso, demerara sugar |
Café Cubano, also known as Cuban coffee or cafecito, is a special type of espresso that started in Cuba. It's an espresso shot that is made sweet. Traditionally, this is done by whipping brown sugar with the first, strongest drops of espresso.
Sometimes, the name "Café Cubano" can also mean other coffee drinks that use this special Cuban espresso as their main part, like café con leche.
Drinking Cuban coffee is a very important social and cultural activity in Cuba. It's also popular in Cuban-American communities, especially in places like Miami, Tampa, and the Florida Keys. People often drink it together with friends and family.
Contents
How is Cuban Coffee Made?
Traditional Cuban coffee is usually made with dark roasted coffee beans. Popular brands include Cafe Bustelo, Cafe La Llave, and Cafe Pilón. You can make it using an electric espresso machine. However, it's very common to make it with a special stovetop coffee maker called a moka pot.
A small amount of the first espresso that brews is added to sugar. This mix is then stirred very quickly with a spoon until it becomes a thick, creamy foam. This foam is called espuma or espumita. The heat from the coffee helps make the sugar sweeter and the coffee a little thicker than if you just added sugar later.
Different Kinds of Cuban Coffee
There are a few popular ways to enjoy Cuban coffee, each with its own special twist.
Cortadito
A Cortadito is a regular shot of espresso that has steamed milk added to the top. The amount of espresso and milk can vary, but it's usually about half and half, or a bit more espresso than milk. It's similar to a cortado you might find in other Latin countries, but it's already sweetened.
Café con Leche
Café con leche means "coffee with milk." This drink is made by serving an espresso next to a cup of hot or steamed milk. You then pour the espresso into the hot milk until it's as strong as you like it, and stir. It's a traditional Cuban breakfast drink, often enjoyed with slices of buttered, toasted cuban bread.
Colada
A Colada is a larger serving, usually 3 to 6 shots of Cuban-style espresso. It's served in a Styrofoam cup along with several small, plastic cups called demitasses. This is a "to-go" style of coffee, meant to be shared. It's very common for people in Cuban communities to share a colada during work breaks.
See also
In Spanish: Café cubano para niños
