Start your mornings with this easy traditional Mexican café de olla (spiced coffee). Café de olla is made with cinnamon sticks, piloncillo and ground coffee. Typically this Mexican spiced coffee is made in a clay pot which gives it that earthy flavor from the pot. However you can make it in a regular pot as well. This recipe is perfect for one, but you can always double the recipe for more.
Why you'll love this Mexican spiced coffee
- This recipe is perfect if you want to do a small batch of coffee for one
- The coffee is infused with cinnamon and piloncillo which makes it so cozy and perfect to sip on a cold morning
- No coffee pot or fancy machine needed here - just a small saucepan.
Ingredients you'll need
- Ground coffee - I like using medium roast coffee, but you can use dark roast
- Water - two cups of water is all that is needed for a small batch of coffee for one
- Cinnamon sticks - if you can use Mexican cinnamon sticks or regular cinnamon sticks work too
- Piloncillo Is a Mexican style unrefined whole cane brown sugar. Piloncillo can be found in the hispanic aisle of most large grocery stores. I have also found piloncillo in Asian markets. If you can't find piloncillo, brown sugar is a great alternative.
How to make café de olla
Step 1: Start by adding 2 cups of water in a small saucepan with a cinnamon stick and piloncillo. To easily cut a small piece of piloncillo just place the cone in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds to soften and make it easier to cut with a knife. I use about .5 oz (2tbsp), but add more to your liking and sweet tooth. Cover saucepan with a lid and bring to a boil.
Step 2: Once the water is boiling and piloncillo has dissolved remove from heat. Stir in ground coffee, cover with lid again and steep for 5 minutes. Discard cinnamon stick and using a double mesh strainer strain coffee into a large cup and serve hot.
How to serve Mexican coffee drink
You can add milk or creamer, but this Mexican coffee is best enjoyed black, since it's already spiced with cinnamon and sugar. Adding milk will take away from the spice cinnamon flavor.
Serve café de olla with pan dulce (sweet bread), tamales de rajas, red salsa chilaquiles, your favorite meal and really just sip by itself which is my favorite way to sip coffee.
Variations and substitutions
The most common way to make this spiced coffee is simply with piloncillo and cinnamon stick. However, some café de olla versions are spiced with additional ingredients like star anise, orange peels and whole cloves. I like to keep it simple and a cinnamon stick and piloncillo is the way to go. You can adjust sugar depending on your sweet tooth. If you can't find piloncillo you can substitute dark brown sugar or regular brown sugar.
Make an Iced Café de Olla
The beauty about coffee is you can drink it hot or cold. If you are craving an iced coffee just add ice in a tall glass and pour in your spiced coffee and creamer of choice and enjoy.
Café de Olla
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon ground coffee
- 0.5 oz piloncillo (*or 2 tablespoon brown sugar)
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- Add 2 cups of water in a small saucepan with a cinnamon stick and piloncillo and cover with lid and heat in medium high heat.
- Once the water is boiling and piloncillo has dissolved remove from heat and stir in ground coffee, cover with lid and steep for 5 minutes.
- Discard cinnamon stick and using a double mesh strainer strain coffee into a large cup and serve hot.
Notes
Other coffee drinks you need to try
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