Cuban coffee is something as sought after as Cuban cigars. Many have searched everywhere to try and find Cuban coffee brands.
That’s why we wrote this article to help you find where to buy Cuban coffee –listing three of the best brands of Cuban coffee that you can purchase right now on Amazon.
Along with these three recommendations, we’ve also detailed the different Cuban coffee types. This aims to inform you about everything Cuban coffee-related and the flavor notes of Cuban coffee beans and grounds.
The Beauty That is Cuban Coffee Brands
If you’ve ever been to a Cuban coffee shop in the Little Havana section of Miami, you’d understand Cuban coffee. There’s a certain beauty that comes from drinking Cuban-style coffee.
You know that the farmers that grew the beans took great care to make the best cups of coffee possible. Once you drink a style of authentic coffee, you’d understand the appeal.
The Different Cuban Coffee Types
You may be curious to know about the different Cuban coffee types. There are actually four different styles of Cuban coffee.
- Cafe Cubano
- Colada
- Cortadito
- Cafe con leche
Cafe Cuban
Cafe Cubano or Cafecito is the signature type of Cuban coffee the country is known for. It’s a version of an espresso that is super sweetened and has a thick texture.
A Cafe Cubano is one of the strongest Cuban coffee that you can try that’s double the caffeine of American coffee.
Colada
Another strong Cuban roast coffee is the Colada which comes in a shared foam-sized cup. Traditionally, between two to four people drink the Colada in separate thimble cups.
Don’t try to drink an entire foam cup by yourself, or you’ll be jittery throughout the day.
Cortadito
A Cortadito is a Cuban version of a half-and-half coffee with sugar already added. It comes in three different versions that are Clarito, Oscurito, or Mediano (light roast, dark roast, and medium roast).
Cafe con Leche
Cafe con Leche is the Cuban version of a latte that’s coffee mixed with milk. It’s an incredibly popular style of Cuban coffee that gets you hooked once you try it.
The Origins of Cuban Coffee
The coffee plant originally got an introduction in Cuba in 1748, but coffee didn’t become an industry until the 1790s. This was when French refugees came fleeing the Haitian Revolution.
When the French arrived in Cuba, they brought their love of coffee with them. This led to the creation of the Cuban coffee industry. Gradually over time, coffee beans would be as big of an export as Cuban sugar cane.
By 1940, Cuba was the biggest exporter in the world of coffee until the Cuban Revolution a decade later. The economy was nationalized, which destroyed the Cuban coffee industry and most of the Cuban coffee brands in Cuba.
To make things worse, the US would implement trade embargos on Cuba that are still in place. Authentic Cuban coffee brands are not available in the US but are available almost everywhere else in the world online.
What Makes Cuban Coffee Different?
Cuban coffee may seem similar to other coffees from other Latino countries, but there are subtle differences. The two biggest are the preparation and the specific sugar that Cubans use.
They make their coffee with a type of brown sugar called “demerara.” This type of raw brown sugar is thicker than traditional brown sugar.
During the brewing process, the demerara sugar is whisked together and beaten together with a small amount of espresso. This creates a cream-like substance that is then put into a pot of coffee.
When put together, this gives Cuban coffee its defining texture and flavor.
Where to Buy Cuban Coffee
Outside of the US, you can buy almost anything from Cuba online. For those that don’t have access to authentic Cuban coffee, this is the next best thing.
Here are three coffee brands that sell a Cuban style of coffee, with Amazon links provided to each one below.
Mayorga Coffee Cafe Cubano Roast
Mayorga Coffee is a US-based coffee company specializing in making Latin American-style coffees. This includes the Mayorga Coffee Cafe Cubano Roast.
Their take on Cuban roast coffee is a mixture of coffee grounds from Peru, Nicaragua, and Honduras. All of these beans come from 100% organic and non-GMO arabica beans.
When they mix these coffee grounds together, they use a slow roasting process that gives the coffee its signature taste. Making you think you are drinking a cafe Cubano at a coffee shop in Havana.
Right now, Mayorga currently sells their Cuban coffee roast in 12-oz (340.2g) packs and 2-lb (0.9kg) bags.
Cafe Bustelo Espresso Style Dark Roast Coffee
Cafe Bustelo makes some of the best Latin-style coffees that they offer in K-cups. This includes their espresso-style dark roast blend, which is their take on a Cuban-style espresso.
They made their grounds with 100% pure coffee beans with no chemicals or preservatives added during the roasting process. What they made is a full-bodied coffee that has a robust flavor and is the strongest Cuban coffee of our recommendations.
This is a great choice for those that love using Keurigs to make coffee. You’ll get a perfect cup of Cuban-style coffee in every pod. Read our article and find out How Long Do Keurig’s Last?
On Amazon, Cafe Bustelo currently offers this style of coffee in 12, 24, and 32 counts.
Cafe Bustelo Cafe Con Leche Flavored Espresso Style Coffee
Another style of Cuban coffee that Cafe Bustelo makes is their take on Cafe con Leche. Also sold in K-cups like their espresso-style dark roast blend.
Cafe con Leche is a style of coffee that is the most popular not only in Cuba but throughout Latin America. It has that authentic Cafe con Leche taste with a vibrant sweet flavor and creamy texture.
Put into a convenient K-cup that is 100% recyclable. If you want to try a Cuban-style espresso, Cafe Bustelo currently offers this flavor in packs of 10 on Amazon.
That’s A Wrap!
Cuban-style coffee had a big impact on the world and how people like to drink their coffee. Even though many of us are unable to get true Cuban Coffee brands, we do have some good alternatives.
If you’re looking for the closest thing to authentic Cuban coffee, the brands listed above are excellent choices. They are so good that you’ll think you’re drinking real Cuban coffee.
