Cafe Cubano, also known as Cuban Espresso or Cuban Coffee, is espresso from Cuba. Here’s what makes it special (and how to make it at home!)

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What is Cafe Cubano?

Though espresso is originally from Italy, Cafe Cubano is a Cuban take on it—a super sweet coffee composed of espresso or strong coffee with sugar that turns into a syrupy beverage. It is delicious and makes a great dessert or after-dinner beverage.

Cafe Cubano History

The story of Cafe Cubano begins in 1748 when the coffee plant first arrived in Cuba. Barcelona native José Antonio Gelabert was responsible for Spain’s royal treasury in Havana and brought the plant over from the Dominican Republic. By the late 1700s, a significant amount of coffee was being exported. Cuba became a large producer and exporter of coffee, thanks in part to the fertile, reddish-brown soil found in Cuba, which is perfect for growing coffee.

Espresso vs. Cafe Cubano

Espresso is concentrated coffee made by forcing hot water through tightly packed ground coffee. Adding the intense pressure is what differentiates espresso from regular coffee. The result is stronger than regular coffee, and it is often served in a demitasse cup.

Cafe Cubano is very similar to traditional espresso, but it is sweetened with sugar, giving it a bold and sweet flavor that has an incredibly smooth finish. This strong and sweet brew is commonly served in a small cafecito cup, similar to a demitasse cup.

How to Make Cafe Cubano?

Cafe Cubano is made by brewing in a moka pot. It is a stove-top coffee maker used to brew espresso-style coffee without the need for a large, high-maintenance machine. Normally the first few drops of coffee are added to the cup with sugar, and the mixture is whipped vigorously until it turns a shade of pale beige. Once brewed, it is poured over the sugary mixture and served immediately. The resulting drink is strong, but the heavy sugar foam helps cut through the bitter flavors in the coffee, and you don’t need to add anything else to lighten it up.

Cafe Cubano Ingredients

15 – 20 grams ground coffee
1 tablespoon sugar
water

Tools

Moka pot
Measuring cup
Demitasse cup
Spoon or small whisk

How to Make Cafe Cubano

Brew coffee with a stovetop moka pot.
Pour sugar into a cup.
Add 1 tbsp of brewed moka pot coffee to the sugar.
Stir with a spoon or whisk until coffee is thick and creamy.
Pour the rest of the moka pot coffee to the sugary mixture.
Enjoy!

Step 1

Brew coffee with a moka pot. Fill the base of the moka pot until the water is just below the safety valve.

Fill the funnel or filter basket with ground coffee. Gently tap on the side and distribute the ground coffee with your finger. There is no tamping or packing required.

Screw the top and bottom parts together tightly.

Place it on a stove over medium heat. The process should take about 5 to 7 minutes. If it is sputtering and spewing, turn the heat down. If nothing happens after 7 minutes, the heat is too low, and you’ll need to turn up the heat slightly.