Cubans love their coffee. They love it so much that a gathering is not truly a friendly gathering unless there is Cuban coffee. In fact, I could even say that a gathering has no true Cubans in it if there is no Cuban coffee. I swear that a Cuban gang member would serve Cuban coffee to a person they were about to kill.
No Cuban can remember when they began drinking Cuban coffee. All they know is that there is not a day that they can remember when they were not served cafe con leche. And that cafe con leche was not made with weak American coffee. No, it was made with Cuban coffee! It is a wonder that our hearts do not blow out early in life. I suspect that genetically we have adapted to the constant flow of caffeine in our veins. I swear that Castro would have lost the revolution if there had been no Cuban coffee available in the mountains. All his men and women would have deserted him if that had been true.
I do not know how and when Cubans developed their attachment to coffee. But, coffee did not reach the New World until 1668 by way of the Dutch and their New Amsterdam colony (later called New York after the British took it over). Coffee was not really cultivated in the Caribbean until the 1700’s. But, for the Spaniards on Cuba, coffee became a key part of their culture. When Cuba was taken from Spain by the Americans, coffee was already established. But, in Cuba, the love of coffee took a place in the culture that elevated cafecito to a cultural icon. You cannot walk the Cuban area of Miami without encountering multiple restaurants that serve cafecito in the small plastic cups pictured above.
The punch of Cuban coffee is so strong that it is only served in very small cups. It is no wonder that the meme above comments on the failure of crystal meth to establish itself. The caffeine content of Cuban coffee is supposedly so strong that there is no need to be addicted to a stronger form of speed. Just drink more Cuban coffee! And, there is some truth to the strength of Cuban coffee. It will most definitely pep up your day, particularly if you drink several cups.
So, if you go to Miami, drink some Cuban coffee. Then be prepared to stay awake a couple of days.
Brazilians are just as addicted to cafezinho. It’s every bit as strong as Cuban coffee and usually syrupy sweet. I personally like it poured over a big chunk of rapadura. If the caffeine doesn’t get you the sugar will. Lol
I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure of Cuban coffee yet but I have had Greek and Italian and it bears no resemblance to Cafe Americano. Since I am fond of coffee so strong it walks over to you, I must find some and give it a go.
Cuban coffee is the best coffee in the world.