Don't ask me how I know these things. I just do.
This is one of those geeky things that has gotten stuck in my brain and screams to be celebrated.
Like Hobbit Day, which we always celebrate elaborately. Or like Pi Day, which also happens to be Albert Einstein's birthday. Or even Star Wars Day ("May the 4th be with you!" – get it?), but that's not important right now.
It's probably a homeschool thing. We're Uber-geeks, aren't we? I know. Shut up.
But today is slightly different. Today, September 29th, is National Coffee Day. (Let's have a moment of reverential silence, please.)
And being Cuban-coffee-loving-uber-geeks, we celebrate this particular holiday with great devotion. In fact, we pretty much celebrate coffee, not just yearly, but much more on a daily-possibly-even-hourly basis.
Of course, we love our first-cup-in-the-morning black coffee, or café con leche, or sweet espresso, or even a wake-me-up-please latte.
But around 2:00 pm, there's that slump. You know what I'm talking about.That boy-am-I-tired-how-will-I-get-through-the-rest-of-my-day feeling. And the answer to that (at least around here) is….
It's “taka taka” time!
Taka taka is the sound of the spoon in the cup stirring the espresso and sugar into Killer Espuma®.
For us Cubans, it's the highlight of our mornings and afternoons and evenings and around here, we dance and sing when it's taka taka time …
My daughter, Amy Kikita is the reigning Queen of the Taka Taka. She's the one who makes the best cafecito in our household. In fact, she takes coffee making to another entire level.
Let me illustrate:
So, today, in honor of National Coffee Day, I'd like to do a coffee related giveaway.
What better brand of coffee for a Hispanic Heritage Month National Coffee Day Coffee Giveaway, than our very own Cuban go-to brand? Bustelo, of course.
And no, the Bustelo people are not sponsoring this giveaway. (I wish!) This is my very own personal I-love-MBFCF-readers-because-you-are-all-so-fabulous giveaway. You're welcome.)
I'm giving away a 10 oz. can of this beautiful Bustelo Supreme Espresso by Bustelo:
and …
a 1.75 oz. jar of Café Bustelo Instant Coffee:
and …
A this set of six beautiful (Fiesta colors, people!) espresso cups:
My son, Adam, gave me this very same set and I love these tacitas so much I want to marry them. (Sorry, Eric.)
So…..let's have some Coffee Talk.
I'll be giving away all THREE items to one lucky winner.
To be entered in this fabulous National Coffee Day Giveaway, please answer one or all of the following questions:
- Do you have a mid-afternoon coffee, latte, cappucino, decaf or regular?
- Do you make it yourself, or does someone else make it for you?
- Do you “taka taka”? ;-)
I will pick a winner randomly from your comments on Friday, September 30th at 7 pm.
So, come on….let's talk “taka taka.
Unfortunately, I don’t taka taka much…I am not home to make it myself, so it’s usually on the go. Most of the time I have a latte or cappuccino, but throughout the day I have mostly American coffee. I love those fiesta cups!!
* Do you have a mid-afternoon coffee, latte, cappucino,decaf or regular?
Yes!!! Oh My Word, Yes!!! Usually a latte or a regular American coffee. Sometimes if it’s too hot (I’m in Florida so it’s always hot) an iced coffee or frappuccino.
* Do you make it yourself, or does someone else make it for you?
Someone else makes it unless it’s the American coffee
* Do you “taka taka”? 😉
Absolutely whenever I make Cuban coffee!!
Do you have a mid-afternoon coffee, latte, cappucino, decaf or regular? Not anymore…(insert sad face) When I lived/worked in Miami, without fail, there’d be un cafecito around 3pm, pero now that I am in Gringolandia, its a thing of the past.Do you make it yourself, or does someone else make it for you? Since I am the ONLY CUBAN in this entire city (a total assumption, but I’m almost certain!)…yes, I make my own.
Do you “taka taka”? Is there really any other way? I even do un bailecito to it! 🙂
Do you have a mid-afternoon coffee, latte, cappucino, decaf or regular?My latte has to be early morning. I walk three blocks to get to work from a parking garage and it keeps me warm and energetic!
Do you make it yourself, or does someone else make it for you?
The small corner market makes it for me 🙂
Do you “taka taka”?
I’ve been known to “taka taka” with a little “waka waka” as well!!
oh yes…I have an Americano in the morning and afternoon. Make mine decaf with lots of cream and stevia. And my lovely espresso machine makes it for me.xo Jana
Taka Taka…I love it……. : )I remember some years ago I worked as the assistant to the vice president of a major hispanic television network (not releasing any names lol) and he was Cuban. When I interviewed one of the first questions that I was asked (he knew I was Cuban) was “Cafesito…..si o no? ” My answer may have secured the position because I replied..” Por supuesto wue si”
So from there on twice a day, at least, the office would hear the taka, taka of me beating that sugar in my special little metal container. The one I bought in Miami…..with my special spoon which is I only one i used. I served it with a tall glass of water with alot of ice that always followed “el buchito de cafe”
Long live Cuban cafe!
What a great video! Love it. What is a cuban household without taka taka? I don’t even want to think about it.
When I make Cuban Coffee, I always taka taka!!!!But normally I drink American coffee made by muah! Sometimes, I add a little cinnamon to the filter and it’s quite a delight as an afternoon treat. 😉
Come on Fiesta Espresso Cups!!!!
Beso, Ody
hahaha @ Taka taka time! i <3 it!:P
Marta, there is no sweeter sound than that of Taka Taka while you Tiki Tiki with your mami, tia and abuela and get that espumita to perfection! Sometimes I like an afternoon cortadito. Oh and no decaf for this cubanita!
Oh Marta, Marta, Marta… the answer for me to all the questions is a resounding YES! I have my Bright Red Insultated Coffee Mug with me in hand pretty much ALL day long! It has become a joke with me on Facebook. If you know me, and I know you do, coffee is my staple. And I pretty much LOVE all types of coffee… however, I am partial to my Holiday favorite “Peppermint Mocha!” For me, I do make my own coffee… STRONG! How else do I survive the busy days with my 3 kids and all their activities. As for Taka Taka… well, there’s a certain LUCY episode where she has a nervous habit of Taka Taka-ing her coffee and it seems to set Ricky’s Teeth on edge 🙂 Ummm… that would be me. So here’s to you! HAPPY NATIONAL COFFEE DAY… with Vanilla Latte in hand.
Being of Cuban American background, but raised overseas since im a military brat. I always watched my mom make her friends a cup of Cafe Bustelo, but i never was intrested in drinking coffee. I just always stuck to my boring glass of milk, or juice. As time went on and i got older and had friends over, they would always ask me for some coffee. I would always have Cafe Bustelo in my cabinet for guest, but would never drink it along with them. I would just make and serve. Until one day when my husband and i got stationed to Germany, i served my guest some coffee. They had never had Cafe Bustelo before so when i served it they fell in love with it. Then my friend asked me why aren’t you having a cup of coffee, and i told her im not a cup of coffee. She made me go in the kitchen and make myself a cup to sit down and drink with her. I had never made myself a cup of coffee, so when i decided to sit down and drink a cup my eyes got big. I could not believe how good my cup of coffee tasted. I smiled a big smile and said “Oh my goodness this is delicious. I could not believe that i had never wanted to try a cup of coffe. So now everymorning, and afternoon i am hooked on Cafe Bustelo.I loose my mind if we run out. Even my husband likes it now since i made him try it. I don’t know what i would do without it now 🙂
Oh the question i am answering is Do You Make It Yourself, Or Does Someone else make it for you?
I have a mid afternoon coffee, thou at times I like to latte! I make it myself.I Taka Taka MANY times a day!
It brings me an excitement I can not explain!
i do taka taka in the afternoonand i want that Bustelo coffee and the tacitas,
please, pick me
muah
Daisy (from Philly)
If at home, I definitely have a 3:00 café con leche. I have a confession about my café-con-leche making, I take shortcuts. I use the microwave and instant coffee, but I promise I can still get foam on top of it. I “taka taka” occasionally, and with my two sons in college, it’s become a tradition to send them off on their drive after a visit home with some “taka taka” cafecito cubano.
My sweet husband makes me a latte drink every morning using his Gaggia machine. When he’s not here he leaves a press pot ready for me to add hot water to. Whenever I make it it never tastes the same. When he is here in the afternoon he makes Cuban coffee fore me with “killer espuma”. Every now and then I try myself but it never tastes as great! So, I love it when my husband “taka taka’s”! I would really love the cups!!!!
•Do you have a mid-afternoon coffee, latte, cappucino, decaf or regular?Fully Leaded Regular ICED w/Italian Sweet Cream :-p
•Do you make it yourself, or does someone else make it for you?
I’m a Do-It-Yourselfer
•Do you “taka taka”? 😉
Every Chance I Get! 😀
I used to taka taka… But now I put the sugar & espresso in a manual milk frother & ‘pumpa pumpa’ to get my espuma!http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Chambord-5-Ounce-Milk-Frother/dp/B000QEEI5I
Do you have a mid-afternoon coffee, latte, cappucino,decaf or regular?
Yes!!! Only way to survive
* Do you make it yourself, or does someone else make it for you?
My dad makes it (the best cuban coffe, ever)
* Do you “taka taka”? 😉
Always!!!!!
I usually don’t make my own coffee, but when at the office, someone will always bring in a colada in the afternoon after lunch. (Love it!) Since I probably won’t win, please let us know where to get those beautiful tacitas.
OK… I must admit, I have not taka-taka’d but i am very intrigued after watching your videos!! I do LOVE me some coffee at ANY hour… it varies from cafe’ con leche in the mornings to iced coffee on a warm afternoon. Like anything else, it tastes better when someone makes it for you, but I tend to be the ‘maker’ round these parts. (sorry the answers are out of order)btw- Aaron wishes he were Cuban so that he could play baseball even better 😉 haha
El cafecito is very expensive these days so I will gladly contribute a post to try and win…plus I am an addict. :)My morning starts with a shot of cuban cafe, espumita and all. On the weekends I have that plus cafe con leche as a special treat. If I really want to treat myself I use evaporated milk, whole that is!
And yes, I taka taka and I am the best at it around here.
xoxo
I have coffee made for me!This is where I get my “cuban card” lifted… I do NOT make the coffee, and my family is happy with this. I do not have the knack to make it, and if it was up to me, none would be made. The few, who have had the “pleasure” to drink coffee that I have made, agree that I should not make it.
When I went to college, my mother’s greatest goals for me (“after getting your education, of course”) was for me to learn to drink coffee and to play bridge (OR canasta). After 4 years of a very expensive, exclusive education, I had my degree but had become a tea drinker and could barely hold a deck of cards.
Fast forward: I get married to “an americano” who loves coffee. He does the coffee and brings me a cup daily. I am happy to report that our daughter has the cuban coffee genes. She makes an excellent cafe cubano, expressos, lattes, you name it! She could become a barrista if need be. Before going to college, she graciously made me “cafe con leche” or a cafecito!
So, I have the best of all worlds: a wonderful husband and fabulous daughter who make great “cafe” and share it with me!
It was 4 o’clock taka-taka in my house all summer long. Why, do you ask? My 19 year old son, home from his freshman year at the University of Wisconsin, learned how to make espumita and became OBSESSED with becoming the premier “taka-ista” (like a barrista) of the neighborhood. He succeeded too! I miss him bringing my cafecito to my desk in the afternoon.
I would have a cafecito cubano, (Bustelo, claro) para merendar, presently I do not have access to a stove to make it properly, but I will in one month when we move! The plan is for me to taka taka every day about 3pm! As I am the only Cuban in the office I will be making it myself! My abuelo had cafe Bustelo four times a day, the last one being at 10pm right before he went to bed and slept like a log! He lived to the ripe fine age of 89, we credit the cafe for his longevity! The rest of the family is following in his footsteps!
I do not have a mid-afternoon coffee. I know I’m missing out….. I do have my café con leche every morning on my way to work that I make myself with instant Bustelo. I make fresh espresso on the weekends and I don’t do the Espuma. Kikita’s video has made me realize that I am missing out. I will start to make the Killer Espuma and “taka taka” this weekend!
– yes- I make it
– yes
Do you have a mid-afternoon coffee, latte, cappucino, decaf or regular?Mostly it’s the midafternoon coca cola that is needed around here. When I worked it was a definite cup of americano.
Do you make it yourself, or does someone else make it for you?
Coca Cola makes mine:) Haven’t figured out a way to make it myself yet. sigh…
Do you “taka taka”?
Taka taka is the only way to go. I’ve used your tutorials more than once to teach others how to taka taka too:)
I love that beautiful black cat in the picture! Does he do taka-taka too?I am a Cubanita in Taos, New Mexico, and absolutely happy to discover this blog. As for your questions
• Do you have a mid-afternoon coffee, latte, cappucino, decaf or regular?
¡Sí! I have café con leche every afternoon around 4 pm and very strong, I do not believe in decaf.
• Do you make it yourself, or does someone else make it for you?
I make it myself when I am at home. But if I happen to be in Miami I’d rather have in Versailles, en el mostrador.
• Do you “taka taka”? 😉
Yes. A lot of taka-taka. And tiki-tiki too.
D. All of the above. We do it all and couldn’t dream of it any other way
Yes I make it in the morning. pick me pick me!!!
nothing this cute in tallahassee.
I taka taka at least every Sunday both my wife and I take turns.