Photo credit:Ben Ebbrell
Cuban coffee known as Cafe Cubano in Miami is what drives people in Miami, providing locals with the energy they need to get through the day. Not only is the coffee itself extremely concentrated, it is shockingly sweet and provides a bolt of caffeine that will have you running for hours to come.
Colada
A colada is around 5 shots of Cuban-style coffee served in a styrofoam cup along with smaller cups in order to serve. It is meant to be shared, which is why the smaller cups are given in groups of 4 or 5. It may seem like a double shot espresso, but it is so strong and sweet that it is virtually impossible to drink a whole colada on your own. Note that a colada by default comes with sugar so if you do not want sugar on your coffee make sure to let them know before they start making it or you will get the look if you know what I mean.
Where to try them in Miami: El Pub restaurant. 1548 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33135. No website.
Cortadito
The word “cortadito” in Spanish means “small cut,” and it is a shot of Cuban Coffee topped with a small amount of steamed milk. Most places do equal parts of coffee to milk, but don’t be surprised to find some places serving more coffee. Use this as a chaser to a salty bite, such as a croqueta. Anything sweet would make your afternoon snack a sugar bomb.
Where to try them in Miami: Charlotte Bakery. 1499 Washington Ave Miami Beach, FL 33139
www.charlottebakeryinc.com
Cafe con leche
Cafe con leche or “coffee with milk,” is a shot of Cuban coffee mixed with hot milk. Similar to a latte, a cafe con leche provides a less sweet alternative to a cortadito due to the larger amount of milk. We recommend that you have a cafe con leche with buttered, toasted Cuban bread, as this is a traditional Cuban breakfast.
Where to try them in Miami: Enriqueta’s. 186 NE 29th St, Miami, FL 33137. No website.
