Cuban coffee: features, benefits and popular varieties

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

There are fewer and fewer people in the world who are indifferent to coffee. They certainly still exist, but the vast majority of the adult population freezes with delight in anticipation of the aroma and invigorating taste of this wonderful drink. And true connoisseurs should definitely try Cuban coffee: perhaps its rich taste and unique strength will enchant you forever.

Distinctive features of Cuban coffee addiction

What are the features of Cuban coffee and how does it differ from its counterparts from Italy and France? If you are going to taste this extraordinary drink, you need to know the following:

• for its preparation only natural grains of the strongest roasting, grown exclusively in Cuba;
• ready drink is very strong, traditionally drunk with a lot of sugar;
• Cuban coffee is served in small cups and washed down with cold water.

This drink has a tart, spicy taste and obligatory notes of bitterness due to the high content of caffeine. Of course, to complete the feeling of merging with Cuba, you can complement the strong taste of coffee with a tart fragrant cigar, but this pleasure is not for everyone.

A bit of history

Cultivation of coffee trees has more than two centuries of history. For the first time, seedlings were brought to Cuba from Haiti, and this was in the middle of the 18th century. The Cubans approached the cultivation of trees with all responsibility. The strictest adherence to technology, supported by an excellent climate and fertile soils, has produced amazing results.

Today, the concept of "Cuban coffee" combines several varieties of high-quality arabica coffee. It is almost impossible to meet a drink from one variety of grains outside of Cuba. Only mixed varieties are exported. For ease of understanding, regardless of the varietal composition, the package with finished beans is labeled as “Cubita Coffee Cuban”.

What is the secret of the extraordinary taste?

In addition to historical and climatic features, the depth and taste of a rich Cuban drink is influenced by several other special factors:

• Each tree in Cuba's plantations is meticulously cared for. This approach allows you to get the most out of soil and fertilizer for every harvest.
• The grains are extracted from the peel and pulp using a special technology that minimizes damage.
• All grains are carefully selected. They are sorted both by the number of defects (cracks, chips) and by size.
• Cuban roast is recognized as the strongest. The grains are roasted at a temperature of 250 degrees, and this brings its own notes to the taste of the finished drink.
• Real coffee from Cuba is stored in special vacuum packaging, buteven so, the shelf life of the beans is short.

To feel all the features of a drink with such an interesting history and production technology, you need to buy Cuban coffee beans at least once. Reviews of connoisseurs indicate that only in this form can all the qualities of the drink be preserved as much as possible.

Popular varieties of Cuban drink

Despite many common and similar characteristics, gourmets around the world have identified several of the most popular varieties. Each of them has individual features and can find its connoisseur.

Altura and Trinidad are among the most popular today. They are characterized by a high content of caffeine, which gives the drink a characteristic bitter taste. Cuban Trinidad coffee is better suited for a wide range of connoisseurs, as it does not have the astringency inherent in the Altura variety.

Serrano can also be considered very popular in Europe. It has a pleasant balanced taste, leaving a slight sour aftertaste. Serrano Cuban coffee is a great option for those who appreciate authentic, high-quality Arabica coffee and are not too ready to experiment.

Gourmet's Joy

But for those lovers of a fragrant, strong drink who never gets tired of looking for new unusual tastes, Cuban coffee can be a real find. Some varieties have such an unusual taste for the European consumer that they are not particularly popular among this group of buyers. But onhomeland, such a drink is appreciated, as the inhabitants of the island state do not recognize halftones.

If you want to feel like a real Cuban, Maragogype and Guantanamera varieties are for you. Maragogype is a kind of classic, a drink made from whole grains. It is very strong, bitter and tart. Cuban Guantanamera coffee has a slightly less sharp taste, is not distinguished by excessive astringency, but leaves a slight aftertaste of tobacco.

Preparing Cuban coffee

In order to feel the real taste of this drink, you need to buy Cuban coffee beans. You need to grind them immediately before cooking, since it is not subject to storage. Also, to reproduce the classic recipe, you will need raw sugar or brown cane sugar.

To maximize the taste of this type of coffee, a geyser coffee maker is best suited. You need to prepare a drink like this:

• ground coffee mixed with sugar in a ratio of one to one;
• pour cold water into the bottom of the coffee maker;
• metal filter must be filled with a mixture of coffee and sugar, but do not press the mixture tightly;
• close the coffee maker and cook on the stove over low heat;
• as soon as all the coffee reaches the top of the coffee maker, the drink is ready!

How to drink strong coffee

Cuban coffee immediately from the coffee maker should be poured into small cups. They need to be preheated: you can do this in a special oven, andyou can pour boiling water over several times.

The drink is drunk very hot, which is why small portions are needed. This type of coffee contains a large dose of caffeine, so you should be careful not to exceed a small single serving when drinking. Particular attention should be paid to the elderly and people suffering from diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

It is not customary to add milk, rum or liquor to Cuban coffee. The drink itself has a rich taste and sufficient sweetness, so it does not need additions. Wash it down with cold water or rum.

Connoisseurs of this tropical drink will appreciate its quality. According to consumer reviews, Cuban coffee is one of the best among a huge range of products. Those who have tried it at least once cannot forget this magical aroma and rich taste. If this happened outside their native country, upon arrival, the newly-minted connoisseurs of coffee taste are looking for the opportunity to buy real Cuban coffee beans and drink this savory drink at home. Fortunately, modern delivery services allow you to do this. Try Cuban coffee once and you won't be able to resist this drink with character! It will give an unsurpassed taste and aroma, energize for the whole day.