How to prepare Café de Olla – a traditional Mexican coffee

Step by step recipe to prepare the iconic Mexican coffee 

There are two types of people in the world: those who drink coffee and those who don’t. If you are one of those who do drink a delicious cup of coffee every morning, you won’t let me lie, we are always open to trying it in its different presentations. Surely you already have your favorite, maybe an American, a cappuccino, café au lite, espresso, cold brew… but that doesn’t mean that you don’t like to try it once in a while with a twist of flavor to vary it. 

Personally, I love trying different coffees the most when I travel, either to other countries or right here in my beloved Mexico. Each place, however cosmopolitan or remote from modern life it is, hides unique flavors that are worth trying out. 

One of the coffees that you cannot miss when visiting Mexico, is Café de Olla, a delicacy that we Mexicans are proud of for its original flavor. It has an aroma that will make you feel that you are in a little cabin in the middle of the forest, or walking peacefully in a small old town, no matter where you are.

For us Mexicans, this aroma is also very likely to remind us of our grandparents’ house, since it is a traditional recipe that has been passed down through generations. 

Read more: The secrets of Mexican coffee

The best thing about this coffee is that you don’t need a complex machine to prepare it and the ingredients are usually easy to get. If you are at home and you need a little break from reality to escape a few minutes to the place in Mexico that makes you the happiest, here is the recipe: 

Preparation time: 25 minutes 

Recipe for 5 cups 

Ingredients for Café de Olla: 

5 cups of water 

3 small brown sugar cones (also known as “piloncillo” or “panela” in Latinamerican countries) 

1 cinnamon stick 

5 tablespoons of ground coffee 

 Other ingredients that can be added are orange zest, a little star anise, and clove 

Step-by-step instructions to prepare the iconic Mexican coffee Café de Olla: 

1.- Heat the water, the cinnamon, the piloncillo (brown sugar cones) and the clove (optional) in a medium cooking pot (made from clay, preferably). 

2.- Bring to a boil, preferably over medium heat and cook until the piloncillo has completely dissolved (approximately 5 to 7 minutes). 

3.- Turn off the fire when the water is boiling, add the ground coffee and stir well. 

4.- Cover the pot and let it rest out of the fire for 10 minutes. 

5.- Before serving, pass the coffee through a strainer and serve it hot. 

Ready to drink!  

Other Mexican hot drink, read: Traditional Mexican hot chocolate recipe

Facts about this Mexican coffee that may interest you  

It is known as Café de Olla because you don’t need a coffee maker to prepare it, a pot is enough. Traditionally it is made in a clay pot and offered in cups or jugs of this same material, however, that shouldn’t modify its delicious flavor. 

Although we are not completely sure of its origin, this coffee is said to have emerged during the Mexican Revolution. The stories tell that it was the Adelitas who added piloncillo and cinnamon to the basic preparation of coffee for the first time. They used to prepare it every night to give energy to all the revolutionaries who were in the fight. 

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When you visit Xcaret, you can taste this delicious traditional Mexican drink in our restaurant “La Cocina”. Accompany it with a delicious dessert such as churros, a flan or any of the variety that we offer in our buffet. Another place where you can try it is at the Mayan Village bakery. In addition to selling delicious freshly baked bread, we have café de olla. 

Also, onboard our trajineras in Xoximilco you can try this delicious Mexican coffee when desserts are served. Ask your guide and don’t miss out on trying this delicious drink. 

Would you like to read more Mexican recipes? Write a comment.