In the past, I used to think all coffee originated from the same place. We did learn that the coffee plant is where the seemingly brown or dark grounded bean originated from. But it wasn’t until I was old enough to shoot up on caffeine that I understood the many twists to the coffee drink. And if you haven’t tried Cuban coffee before, I strongly advise that you shop for Café Cubano when next you visit the store or shop online.
Why Try Coffee in the First Place?
I still can remember my first cup of café as a kid. My dad had been following the news in the sitting room, and I happened to be doing my homework near where he was sitting. ‘‘Bernard, Julio is here to see you.’’ The call came out when I heard my mum’s voice when she opened the kitchen door. “Throw that in the kitchen sink.” My dad said to me as he pointed to the cup on the stool as he hurried to get dressed for their outing.
You can imagine my reaction as I gulped the drink that was still burning hot. I could never forget the experience. Before then, I wasn’t sure that I had ever tasted something bitter. I poured the rest of the drink away as instructed and concluded that coffee must be something that only adults could savor.
Mum wasn’t much of a caffeine addict like my dad and uncles were. They would drink coffee or alcohol whenever they visited. And dad always enjoyed a cup when watching the TV. “It keeps the body warm and the mind awake.” He would say. If it happens that you aren’t sure of why you should drink Cuban café or anyone for that matter, below are some of the health benefits of one of the world’s most popular caffeine drinks.
May Help You Live Longer
Dad is 74 now, and as you may imagine, is as fit as a fiddle. Why he may not be able to chase us down the yard as he often did when we were younger, he can still walk for miles without breaking a sweat. And you can expect he still enjoys his favorite cup of café Cubano as he did in the past. Only he doesn’t take as much.
Experts even support the notion that taking up to three cups of coffee daily could help with prolonging your life span. This is due to the effect it has on heart health. This is by limiting the chances of cardiovascular diseases, which is one of the causes of ailments in old age. Although more study is required to determine the full extent to which caffeine is helpful for the heart, it is nice to know that it is good for the heart—the more reason to love drinking coffee daily. You can check here for more benefits of drinking coffee daily.
Benefits the Brain
It has often been thought that caffeine is good for the brain. And this is no news for people who rely on caffeine to kick start their morning for productivity. It helps maintain the mental alertness required to start the day on the right note. Studies even try to show a relationship between coffee and how it reduces the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. But whether this is likely or not, I can tell you that it is true that you can fuel your brainpower by starting your day with the right amount of café in your cup.
Blood Sugar Balance and Metabolism
Another area where caffeine seems to be beneficial for health and wellness is metabolism and balancing the blood sugar level. Research available online shows that moderate consumption of coffee could be linked with the prevention of type-2 diabetes in adults. There are also finding available that shows that regular consumption of café could help with weight management. This is by way of burning fat which could be a promising treatment for people dealing with obesity. But there is more research needed to know precisely how it could benefit their health.
How to Drink Cuban Coffee?
Now to the matter of the day. How do you drink Cuban coffee like a true Cubano? Well, the first thing you want to do is to source the beans that originated from the Latin American country. This means that it will have to be grown, burnt, and grounded by the locals to have that true Cuban appeal. But you don’t need to travel to the region to enjoy coffee like the locals. While the preparation may be different than what is experienced there, you can expect to get a near-perfect refreshment so long you use the right bean.
Aside from the four different types of strong Cuban coffee drink that you can find everywhere when you visit any Latin American country, those in other parts of the world who crave the authentic Cuban taste can try any of the methods below to prepare the drink.
Plain Dark and Strong
This means that you will just have to pour in your café Cubano in your cup and add in boiling water. That’s all you need for a dark and robust caffeine treatment. Although it could be bitter to the taste, it does have a string brain kick that would undoubtedly get you active as soon as the beans kick in. You will be preparing a Cafecito if you add in sugar to sweeten the drink a bit. This adds more energy to the already strong brew.
With Just the Right Amount of Cream
This is what the locals refer to as Café con Leche which is usually a shot of café with a good amount of boiled milk. You can use cream or liquid milk, depending on your preference. But you want to balance the amount of café and milk in the mix. The Cortadito is what the locals call the drink when there is just a tiny drop of milk added to lighten the strong taste of the cafecito.
A Tiny Bit of Cream and Sugar
Okay, let’s face it, some people like to include cream and sugar in their café. But I wouldn’t say I like this as the outcome always tastes like a variety of tea. But if this is what you prefer, endeavor to use more coffee, less cream, and just the right amount of sugar. So what you get is a sweet drink that is equally strong enough to keep you alert and not sleepy from adding too much milk. This link has more on how sugar and cream affect your coffee.
Final Note
Cuban café is a quality brew that has since won the heart of many coffee lovers in Latin America. And while you can find it available for sale online and in many stores, you want to know precisely how to prepare it to get the suitable Cuban refreshment.