The smell and glamorous taste of coffee in the morning or evening after a long day at work is unsavory and unequal to no other. The caffeine hits different, especially when you enjoy a cup of freshly brewed Mexican coffee with friends or loved ones.
Unlike other coffee options, a cup of Mexican coffee is usually brewed with sugar and cinnamon. The two ingredients are not added after the brewing process; they are part of the brewing process. They complement each other to create a sweet yet spicy taste that will excite your taste buds and raise your dopamine levels in preparation for the day ahead.
Here is two simple Mexican coffee recipe that you can prepare using your coffee grinder at home today.
Contents
Recipe 1
Ingredients
- 5 ounces of Piloncillo
- 8 cups of water
- 2/3 cup of medium-coarse grounded coffee grains
- One cinnamon stick
- One orange peel (optional)
You are probably wondering what Piloncillo is. Piloncillo is a famous meeting place in Mexico, but it’s also a name for unrefined sugar cane grown in the country. It is packaged and sold in small cones across Mexico. It’s available in virtually all the Mexican groceries stores and supermarkets here in the United States.
However, if you cannot find Piloncillo, you can substitute it with one cup of brown sugar. You notice we listed orange peel as an optional ingredient – use it to add sweetness to the beverage.
How to Brew Mexican Coffee the Right Way?
Step 1
Boil the eight cups of water in a medium saucepan and add the brown sugar or piloncillo. Gentle stir until all the sugar dissolves in the water.
Step 2
Add in the ground medium-coarse coffee into the water. Add the cinnamon stick and the orange peel.
Step 3
Turn off the heat and let the mixture steep for ten minutes. This allows all the flavors to be transferred to the coffee mixture.
Step 4
Strain out the orange peel and cinnamon using either a cheesecloth or a fine-mesh strainer. If you don’t have the two, you can use a French Press. Then, proceed to filter the grounds using the French Press.
Step 5
With everything filtered out, serve and enjoy your freshly prepared Mexican cup coffee. Make the experience even more memorable by garnishing with more orange peels and extra cinnamon. The amount you use is dependent on your taste and preferences.
Recipe 2
Ingredients
- Cinnamon sticks
- Chocolate
- Brown sugar
- Freshly brewed hot coffee
- Whipped cream
Before we proceed and look at the specific steps you should take to prepare a Mexican coffee using this method, let’s briefly look at why we need the above ingredients.
Adding whipped cream on top of coffee gives it an awful taste similar to the decadent hot chocolate that we all love. The cinnamon sticks blend perfectly with the chocolate to create a lovely flavor that will leave you asking for more. The two are the best for garnishing coffee after pouring it up.
It’s recommendable to use dark brown sugar instead of regular sugar as it has a more authentic flavor that exhumes the natural taste of Mexican coffee. Lastly, use dark coffee grounds to brew. If you can, purchase the whole beans online or at the local coffee store and grind them using your coffee grinder.
Now, the market is packed with different brands and types of coffee grinders. Finding the right coffee grinder is not easy for most people as most of them are similar or have the same features. Luckily, we stumbled across an informative article online that has a detailed analysis of the top coffee grinder brands in the market. Check it out to purchase the best coffee grinder in the market today.
How to Brew Mexican Coffee the Right Way – Recipe 2
Step 1
Pour the brewed hot coffee into a small saucepan and add cinnamon, chopped chocolate, and brown sugar.
Step 2
Bring the coffee to boil on medium-high heat, then reduce the heat and let the coffee simmer for ten minutes.
Step 3
Remove the cinnamon sticks and stir in a generous scoop of vanilla.
Step 4
Pour the coffee into two mugs and add fresh whipped cream toppings.
Additional Tips for Making Mexican Coffee
Like any other delicacy, there are different ways of making Mexican coffee more flavorful and remarkable. Here are some insights you can use to surprise your guests.
- Add a unique and delicious flavor by adding a pinch of homemade coffee syrup or chili powder.
- Add tequila or the famous coffee liqueur to make the perfect coffee drink for after dinner. You can also use this hack during a cocktail party.
- Transform the cup of coffee you prepared into the perfect iced coffee by pouring it into a mason jar. Place the mason jar in the fridge to cool off, then add ice before serving.
- Add an authentic taste that your guests will remember for many years to come by adding several orange peels when brewing the coffee.
How to Select the Perfect Mexican Coffee Grains?
The taste of Mexican coffee you prepare depends on the quality of coffee beans that you purchase. Here are five tips to help you select the perfect Mexican coffee grains next time you go shopping.
1. What’s your Preferred Coffee Variety?
There are two primary categories of commercial coffee beans, namely, Arabica and Robusta. The Arabica coffee variety is grown in high-altitude areas and is known for its slightly acidic and smooth taste. On the other hand, the Robusta is cultivated in the low-altitude regions and is known for its distinct solid and bitter taste.
Arabica coffee beans are considered top grade than the Robusta, but it all boils down to the growing techniques used by the farmer. The quality also depends on the treatment procedures done before the coffee is delivered to the store or shipped to customers.
2. The Desired Taste
When it comes to coffee, different people have varied tastes and preferences. Some people want their first cup of coffee in the morning to have a consistently delicious taste, some enjoy it with food, while others want a smooth taste that is a bit acidic.
If you fall in the latter group, purchase the dry and light-colored coffee beans as they are roasted for a shorter period than the dark-colored coffee beans.
Ideally, if you want a cup of coffee with a strong taste and high concentration of caffeine, choose coffee grains that have been roasted for extended periods before packaging. These beans have a dark hue and appear shiny. When brewed, the grains produce a bitter and bold taste. Also, the coffee oils tend to float on the surface.
3. Concentration of Caffeine
Contrary to popular belief, dark roasted coffee beans have lower levels of caffeine than medium or lightly roasted beans. The lightly roasted beans have the highest concentration of caffeine.
In most cases, the coffee beans used to prepare Espresso fall in the medium roasted category. For the best experience, experts recommend sticking to the medium and light roasted beans. One cup has enough caffeine to keep you going throughout the day or help you unwind after a long day.
4. Check Credibility of the Brand
There is absolutely no shortage of brands that sell coffee beans in the market today. The high demand for quality coffee beans fuels the growth of the industry. Take time to do a background check of the brand to know its credibility before placing your order. Steer clear of brands with negative reviews to get value for money.
Concisely, increase your chances of getting the best by purchasing the coffee beans from a renowned roaster. Go ahead and consult other customers to get a clear idea of what to expect from a particular roaster. Don’t shy away from asking questions if you are unsure of details such as the coffee variety.
5. Check the Roast Date
For the best cup of coffee, it’s prudent to purchase freshly roasted coffee. Therefore, before buying, check the date when the beans were roasted. This information is usually printed on the label. For people who don’t have a coffee grinder at home, we recommend purchasing a whole bean bag and requesting the supermarket or café grind them either for free or at an extra cost.
Avoid purchasing coffee that is already packaged in ground form, as the supplier may have omitted some essential treatment processes.
More importantly, avoid purchasing coffee beans whose label reads 100% coffee. Brands use this phrase to lure unsuspecting customers who are laser-focused on buying only top-quality beans. The truth is that not all Arabica or Robusta beans are produced the same way. Also, variety does not always guarantee or depict quality.
Final Thoughts
The quality of the coffee beans directly impacts taste and flavor. Consult widely to make the right decision when shopping. While there, consider purchasing a modern coffee grinder that is best known for durability, high performance, and efficiency.
