Cuban Coffee Café Cubano Recipes

CUBAN COFFEE (CAFECITO)

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large stovetop espresso maker, brew coffee according to the manufacturer's instructions using fine-ground coffee.
• In a glass measuring cup with at least 2 cup capacity, add the sugar. Once a little bit of coffee has brewed, add about 1 tablespoon to the sugar. Reserve a little extra coffee concentrate in a small dish to use if needed. Place the pot back on the stove to finish brewing.
• Make the espuma by using a small whisk or spoon to vigorously beat the sugar and espresso until it is a pale brown, almost foamy paste, about 2 to 3 minutes. You cannot beat it too much.
• When the coffee has finished brewing, pour it over the espuma while stirring to incorporate. Let the foamy crema rise to the top.
• Pour into individual demitasse espresso cups . Shake the measuring cup a little and use a spoon as you pour to get crema into each cup.
• Serve and enjoy.

ICED CAFE CUBANO

Steps:

• Pour 1 tablespoon of the brewed espresso into a large measuring cup or bowl. Whisk in the sugar until the sugar is dissolved and the espresso resembles a paste. Top with the remaining espresso. Fill 2 glasses with ice and divide the espresso between the glasses. Add the milk and more ice to a quart jar and shake until the milk is very cold and frothy. Top each glass of espresso with half of the milk. Stir and serve immediately.

CUBAN COFFEE (CAFECITO)

Steps:

• Fill a 6-cup stovetop espresso maker with water and coffee according to the manufacturer's instructions, making sure to pack down the coffee. Place the espresso maker over moderate heat.
• While the coffee is brewing, place the sugar in a tall container with a spout, such as a liquid measuring cup. As soon as the coffee starts to fill the reservoir, pour about 1/2 tablespoon of coffee over the sugar and return the espresso maker to the heat.
• Using a spoon, beat the sugar and espresso until the mixture turns a pale beige color and most of the sugar granules begin to dissolve, about 1 minute. The mixture may seem a bit dry at first, but keep beating, and it will come together.
• Once all the coffee has been brewed, slowly pour the coffee over the creamed sugar, stirring to make sure all the sugar dissolves. A thin layer of sugar foam (crema) should float on top of the coffee. Pour the coffee into espresso cups and serve immediately.
• SPECIAL EQUIPMENT:.
• Stovetop espresso makers come in several sizes. This recipe is written for the 6-cup version, yet you can substitute any other size simply by adjusting the amount of coffee and sugar used. Ultimately, the coffee's sweetness is up to you.
• TECHNIQUES:.
• Making the sugar crema is the technique that defines Cuban coffee. You cannot overbeat the sugar, so err on the side of beating too much. If you accidentally pour too much coffee into the sugar, continue with the beating process, as you will still achieve sugar foam.