I take it for granted that there will always be Cuban coffee in the house. In fact, I don’t even give it a second thought. My grocery list always has “Café Cubano” in a regular position.
Before you ask, yes, we do consume that much espresso, but that’s not important right now.
I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess that it’s the same way in pretty much every Cuban home. Am I right?
Of course, I was raised in a typical Cuban household where the café was “colado” (brewed) at least a dozen times a day. If you’re doing math and you think to yourself, “That means coffee would be brewing every hour on the hour,” you would be correct. And no, we didn’t think it was weird at all.
For all the years I lived in my parents’ home, I was awakened by the distinctive aroma of my dad’s first “colada” of the day. (Ah, Papi. How I miss you.)
Then, of course, we made “café con leche” (milk with a shot of espresso and lots of sugar) for our own breakfast, which required doing it again. My mom, however, preferred her cortadito – half espresso, half evaporated milk – in the morning. Yep. More espresso. More sugar. More awesome.
Also, if there was a pastelito to be found, it would be the Pinnacle of Cubanity. (A side note: because we don’t live in Miami and pastelitos de guayaba are not readily available, I make my own – here’s the recipe – Pastelitos de Guayaba Recipe. You’re welcome.)
I often say, “If the smell of freshly brewed espresso were music, it would be the soundtrack of my life.” And it’s true. Cuban coffee represents everything that defines me as Cuban. Amen.
In memory of growing up with my beloved Papi and the amazing aroma of all things espresso, I created this Cuban Coffee Poster.
Ta-da!
When I doodle and sketch, it’s usually a Cuban coffee “tacita.” (Wait. Is that an over-share?)
I was really pleased with this one and I incorporated it into my poster design. And it was early morning and I was having my cafecito and I thought, “I need to put this on a poster,” and this happened.
Now I’m kind of delighted with how the poster design came out and I want to share that I have it available in my shop in 3 different sizes and 7 different colors – if you have a special color request, I can do that, too.
See? Cuban coffee makes me a more generous human, but that’s not important right now.
Please visit my Etsy shop, Marta Darby Designs and feel free to share with all your Cuban coffee loving friends.
If you’re wondering how to make Cuban coffee with that beautiful espumita, I’ve got you covered.
Cuban coffee really is EVERYTHING.
Marta I would not be able to survive the days without my Cuban coffee in the morning. Even though my Doctor has me on a NO CAFFEINE diet because of my blood pressure. In my office I am the only one who makes “café Cubano.” So at around 10:30 am I start making it, With “espumita” (the old style way, like your video) and everything. I take my “tacita” and fill it (un poquito), drink and I am happy for the rest of the day. I too was woken up by the smell of Cuban coffee when I was growing up, and yes my Dad was the one who made it. So we have something in common. Your poster is beautiful.
Faustino,
I can only drink it anymore if I get up super early. LOL! Is it weird to say my dad feels close by when I’m “colando?” I’ll have to write about the last time I was in Miami and I was wired for DAYS because it would have been rude of me to turn down a fresh cafecito when visiting Cuban friends. Oh, the Cubanity! xo
I don’t know about you but I drink coffee since I was a baby (approximately a year old). My parental grandmother made waterdown coffee (with tons of sugar of course) for us to dip Cuban bread in it. I am coffee addict thanks to her, my mom doesn’t drink coffee (but she makes the best cafecito in the world). I think of abuela very time I pour Cuban coffee en unos de los culitos del pan cubano. My dad is a baker, now that is a story on its own. Thanks abuela caruca. Since I like cafecito, I always said yes when offered so I had my share of bad Cuban coffee. But it is ok, as long as it was made with love.
Love your page!