International Coffee Drinks
Café de Olla for Two
Quick answer
The method simmers water, sugar, and cinnamon before the coffee is added. This separates the spice infusion from the coffee steep and makes it easier to control the flavor. Keep the simmer gentle and stir until the sweetener dissolves; a hard boil is not needed for the cinnamon to perfume the water.
Key takeaways
- The method simmers water, sugar, and cinnamon before the coffee is added.
- Piloncillo has a deeper, less refined sweetness than many brown sugars, while packaged brown sugar can be more uniform.
- After the coffee steeps, strain it through a fine filter so grounds and cinnamon fragments stay out of the cups.
Ingredients
- 20 g medium-coarse ground coffee
- 400 ml water
- 20 g piloncillo or dark brown sugar
- 1 small cinnamon stick.
Method
- Simmer the water, sugar and cinnamon for 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat, stir in coffee and steep for 4 minutes.
- Strain through a fine filter into two cups.
Choose piloncillo or brown sugar
Piloncillo has a deeper, less refined sweetness than many brown sugars, while packaged brown sugar can be more uniform. Either follows the listed recipe. Taste the infusion before adding coffee, and remember that sweetness can seem less pronounced once the drink cools.
Strain and serve
After the coffee steeps, strain it through a fine filter so grounds and cinnamon fragments stay out of the cups. Serve hot in small mugs. If you are brewing for guests, keep the pot covered after straining so the coffee stays warm without continuing to steep. For another sweet, spiced preparation, compare the café de olla guide.
Serving the coffee hot
Strain the coffee into warm cups so the drink stays comfortable to sip. If you make it ahead, remove the cinnamon after steeping and keep the pot covered; leaving spices in the liquid can make the aroma stronger over time. Reheat gently rather than boiling the finished coffee.
The listed recipe yields two small servings. To make a larger batch, scale the ingredients together and taste before serving; do not add extra coffee alone or the balance of sugar and cinnamon will change.
Adjusting the batch for serving
Pour through the filter slowly so the coffee does not splash into the cups. If you prepare both servings at once, stir the pot before pouring so the sweetened spice infusion is evenly distributed. Let guests add milk only if they want it; the listed version is served without dairy.