Coffee in Miami Reference Guide

 Here is a quick  Coffee in Miami Reference Guide to help you discover your perfect cup of coffee in Miami. When in Rome…..In Miami and ready for a coffee?  With so many Latin coffee producing nations under the Florida Sunshine you are bound to find the cup of coffee that appeals to your heart.  Miamians get their energia via the Cuban style cafecito.  But coffee is not only for that jolt, it is also a great excuse for a break, to make friends, share a laugh or create a memory.   It is a daily ritual and definitely a social event.  Which Latin style coffee recipe appeals to you?  Here is your Miami Latin Coffee Guide.

South Florida Latin Coffee Guide 

Did you know, most coffee cups  are traditionally sold at the “Ventanita”.  These are are walk-up windows at cafeterias and Latin restaurants.  Definitively, here is where the Latin coffee names we are about to share with you will come very handy!  Before getting into coffee cups, you will see a brown thick frothy layer over most cups.  This is “Espumita” (little foam)  which is made out of the first drops of brew vigorously mixed in with lots of sugar to make a syrupy espumita. Oh yes, it is sweet heaven.

Latin Coffee in Miami Reference Guide

Here are the basic terms to know:

• Cafecito:  Someone described it to me as sweet molasses but it is not as thick.  The cafecito  is like an espresso with a thick foamy sugary layer. Basically espresso Cuban style with all that sweetness.  It is twice as strong as American coffee and very sweet coffee served in a small shot cup.  You can sip it or down it in one gulp.  Get ready to strike up a conversation with other cafecito drinkers at the ventanita
• Colada:  is your same cafecito served in a regular sizes Styrofoam cup.  You get lots of small shot cuts so you can spread the joy around, friends, and get cookie points at the office.
• Cortadito: your cafectio with evaporated milk and sugar.
• Cafe con leche cuban style: the cuban version of a latter or a cafe au lait.  You get a shot of colada in  steamed milk.  It is served in a demitasse. This one you can request without sugar.

Latin Coffee Country Specific Favorites Around Miami

Because you will find many Colombian and Venezuelan restaurants around town, keep in mind these coffees as well:

• Tinto:  a stronger  and smoother American coffee in a cup, not a mug.  You sweeten to taste.
• Carajillo: aguardiente con tinto.  This is a Latin moonshine splash in your tinto.  Not to worry, the moonshine can be replaced by brandy, whisky or rum.
• Tetero:  Tetero is baby bottle in Spanish. So, this is like a cafe au lait with much more milk than coffee.  This is also know as a lagrima (a tear) by the Argentinians.
• Guayoyo: black coffee that has been watered down

Where to Drink Latin Coffee Recipes in Miami

Now the question is, what ventanita should you go to?  Well the busiest ones around town for sure are:

• Versailles, 3555 SW 8th St., Miami (Little Havana), 305-444-0240.
• Latin American Cafeteria, 9608 SW 72nd St., Miami (West Miami-Dade County), 305-279-4353.
• Enriqueta’s, 2830 NE 2nd Ave., Miami (Wynwood), 305-573-4681.
• Los Pinarenos Fruteria, 1334 SW 8th St., Miami (Little Havana), 305-285-1135.
• La Carreta 8650 Bird Road Miami, FL 33155, 305-553-8383

One final thing, while any time is a good time for coffee, the afternoon pause makes reference to the area code of the city, so many love a cup of Joe at 3:05 pm.

So, it’s cafecito time! Which coffee will you try first when in Miami?  Maybe you want to try out our Mexican Coffee Recipe too 

 

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