Just got done with a Cafe Cubano or Cuban coffee. Espresso grind in a moka, mound at top, don't tamp or even out. Place the top on and screw hard. Use chilled water. High heat until you can smell the infusion, low heat then. Pour 2 tsp out into a mug or small bowl containing 3-4 tbsp (45-60 g) white castor sugar. You may use other sugar, but it needs to liquefy a bit. Use a teaspoon, preferably a cocktail spoon, and whip the coffee into the sugar until it's a light crema color with a faint taste of coffee. Some granules will remain. The coffee should be ready now. Place on a chilled towel and then pour the coffee into the bowl, or spoon the mixture into demitasse cups and slowly pour the coffee into them. It should result in a faux crema. The coffee will be sweet, but due to the aeration of the sugar mixture, the sweetness won't overpower the strong coffee. Drink piping hot.
I believe Cubans and Cuban Americans consume this form of '
espresso' 3-4 times a day. A lot of sugar for some of us. I consider this a special once a month drink to be had after a heavy meal. Which was roast lamb shoulder with new potatoes and root vegetables.
Having made it before and had this made for me before, I do enjoy the rarity but it is a lot of effort to do every day let alone so many times a day. Hat's off to the Cubans. Anyway, I'll be having a cappuccino later on.
Yes, I have found that such blends need more of the Ethiopian (around 60% if blended with Kenyan) otherwise its brightness and clean notes tend to be overwhelmed.
Mhmm. Lesson learned.
I also like Moroccan green tea, which is fresh mint, lots of sugar and gunpowder green tea. A very soothing and delicious drink, but they drink it far too sweet. I cheat by using stevia leaves from the garden. It results in an even sweeter drink, but due to the plants natural sweetness without containing sugar, the calories gained from using stevia leaf is less than 20 kcal compared to 120-400 calories from sugar. It, much like sugar alcohols, is non-cariogenic.