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Cuban coffee served in a clear espresso cup and set on a white napkin.
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Cuban Coffee (Café Cubano)

Cuban coffee (café Cubano) is a more than just a caffeinated beverage, it’s a source of sustenance, comfort and a reason to gather. Growing up in South Florida Cuban coffee has been part of everyday life.
Course Drinks
Cuisine Cuban
Keyword coffee
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 14kcal
Author Elizabeth

Ingredients

  • 5 – 6 teaspoons Espresso Ground Coffee (use heaping teaspoons)
  • 1 cup Water
  • teaspoons Sugar White sugar or raw cane sugar

Instructions

  • You will also need: Stovetop espresso maker (also called a Moka pot), Sturdy cup, Spoon
  • Fill the base/water receptacle with cool/cold water up to the valve. Don’t go over. For our maker it was 1 cup.
  • Insert the filter (funnel), it goes right over the water.
  • Fill the filter with ground espresso to the top. Spread it evenly and level it off but do not pack it tightly. For our coffee maker we used about 5 heaping and loosely packed teaspoons.
  • Check the rim and wipe any grounds off.
  • Screw the top on and tighten. Don’t make it so tight that it’s almost impossible to open but do create a good seal.
  • Place the coffee maker on a small burner over medium-high heat. Leave the lid up so you can see when it starts to brew.
  • It is going to take a bit to get going, about 7-10 minutes, but once it does it will brew very quickly. Don’t leave it unattended.
  • While you wait, prepare a cup with the sugar. We use 3½ heaping teaspoons.
  • As soon as the coffee starts to brew, take the coffee pot off the heat and get about 1 teaspoon and add it to the cup with sugar.
  • Immediately place the pot back on the burner and let it continue brewing. When ¼ to ⅓ of the coffee has brewed, turn off the heat (but leave it on the burner) and close the lid.
  • In the meantime, beat the sugar and coffee mixture vigorously until it lightens in color.
  • Pour the coffee in the cup with the sugar and stir gently concentrating on the bottom and sides where the sugar is.
  • Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

  • The amount of water, coffee and sugar is going to depend on how large your stovetop coffee maker is and how sweet you like things. This is how I make Cuban coffee and for reference my coffee maker is a 1 cup stovetop coffee maker. For smaller and larger coffee makers the amounts of water, coffee and sugar will have to be adjusted.
  • I usually leave a little coffee in the pot and don’t pour it all in especially the last little bit that brews after I’ve added the coffee to the sugar.

Nutrition

Calories: 14kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 1mg | Sugar: 3g | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 1mg