A cup full of history: travel to the Carribbean with the Espresso Cubano

It is a fact that the way people enjoy their coffee reflects aspects of their entire history. When talking about Espresso Cubano, this is more than true! 

Coffee is enjoyed all over the globe - it is also the most popular beverage in the world after water. Different countries tend to enjoy their coffee differently, evolving what we call the "coffee culture" of every people: the way in which it not only prepares but also consumes its coffee, which depends on various factors. From Greek coffee and Italian espresso to the American filter coffee, each country develops its own habits around coffee. Exploring the different coffees we meet around the world, we not only experience new, exciting flavors, but also glossy glimpses in every country's history. There is no coffee that hides more history than Espresso Cubano!

Coffee has very old roots in Cuba as it was introduced to the island by French colonizers in the 18th century. Along with the boom of coffee growing, the numerous cafes have grown, as the exuberant Cuban character and the leisurely rhythms of the Caribbean have found yet another expression through the daily meeting for a cup of coffee. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Havana had more than 150 luxurious - and less luxurious - coffee shops, while at times the number one coffee exporter for the Spanish market was Cuba.

However, the Cuban Revolution and, in particular, the American embargo that followed it, led to a decline in the growing Cuban coffee culture. In the absence of exports, coffee production fell sharply, while a significant drop was recorded in the quality of the beans produced. Coffee became a precious commodity, distributed to every Cuban with a card - ground very fine to be weighed more easily and often adulterated, resulting in bitter extraction. The isolation of the island from the rest of the world has deprived Cubans of the evolution of coffee in countries like Italy and Portugal - espresso machines were of course almost impossible to find in the Caribbean.

All of these reasons helped to create the Cuban coffee, Espresso Cubano. Espresso Cubano is an espresso that is traditionally extracted in a Moka pot, and its main feature is what the Cubans call espuma: a thick layer of cream made up of sugar-cured coffee. In this way, Espresso Cubano is more like the classic Italian espresso, while the (obligatory) addition of sugar sweetens the bitter Cuban coffee. Served compulsively in small espresso cups - a habit that has remained since the time of the voucher!

What will you need for an Espresso cubano; 

• 14 gr espresso
• 60 ml water
• Two spoonfulls of white granulated sugar
• A Moka Pot

How is  Espresso Cubano prepared? 

• Prepare the two espressos on the Moka Pot
• In a glass, place the two tablespoons of sugar
• Once the coffee begins to extract, pour a large tablespoon of coffee into the glass with sugar
• Beat the coffee for a long time with sugar until a viscous cream is created: espuma.
• Pour the rest of the coffee into the glass with espuma, which will slowly come to the surface.
• Serve the coffee in two cups of espresso, taking care to have both enough espuma. 

Tips for a delicious Espresso Cubano 

• Cuban coffee is strong and relatively bitter. As it is impossible to find Cuban coffee brands, we use a strong 100% Robusta blend, such as Qualita Rossa from Amigos or Vending Gusto Forte from Lavazza.
• Traditionally, Cuban coffee is finely ground- try to grind it a little finer than we would normally grind your coffee for the moka briquette.
• If you do not have a Moka Pot, you can prepare Espresso Cubano with machine made  espresso - maybe it's a good idea to let the coffee extract a few seconds longer to get a slightly stronger flavor - or use Ristretto instead of Espresso!
• If you do not want to use 100% Robusta blend, we make sure our blend is dark roasted, like Cuban.
• Espresso Cubano is already relatively sweet because of the sugar used in Espuma. If you want it even sweeter, just add sugar at will as we serve it.

Each country's coffee culture is often built with the simplest materials. Espresso Cubano is not luxurious, nor does it promise flavors that you have not tasted again. It is, however, the history of a magical - and multifaceted - Caribbean island extracted into a small cup! Salud, as they would say in Havana!