Glenn Lindgren: Many visitors to Miami are a little intimidated by the many walk-up windows (ventanitas) serving Cuban snacks, sandwiches, and the ever popular Cuban coffee.
Jorge Castillo: For Cubans, sharing a coffee with friends is a social event -- a daily ritual!
Raúl Musibay: It's an act of friendship.
Glenn Lindgren: Learn a little bit about the traditions of drinking Cuban coffee and you will be quickly welcomed.
Jorge Castillo: Café Cubano or just a "cafecito" is espresso coffee Cuban style. It is very strong and sweet -- as it brews, the coffee actually drips into a little pot with several teaspoons of white table sugar.
Glenn Lindgren: Once the pot begins to fill, the person making the café uses a spoon to stir up the first few drops of coffee with the white sugar in the pot to create a sweet, frothy foam -- called "espumita." This will rise to the top when the coffee is poured into the cup.
Jorge Castillo: Cuban coffee is served in a small cup -- like a shot of espresso. Step up to the walk up window, order a "café Cubano" or a cafecito.
Raúl Musibay: You can also order Cuban coffee to go. If you order a "colada," you'll get a Styrofoam cup with a lid and several small plastic cups so you can share with friends.
Jorge Castillo: You'll also notice that most café take out windows provide cold water and paper cups. Some people drink the cold water first, to clear the palate, others drink it last to dilute the coffee in the stomach -- it's a topic of much debate.
Glenn Lindgren: For many non-Cubans, it takes a while to develop a taste for Cuban coffee. I never liked American-style coffee, but I quickly learned to LOVE Cuban coffee. It's the only kind of coffee that I drink now.
Raúl Musibay: If you need to get used to the taste, try ordering a "cortadito."
Jorge Castillo: Café con leche is usually drunk at breakfast, with many people dunking Cuban bread or pastries into it.
Raúl Musibay: No matter how you drink, it tastes good!
Jorge Castillo: Next time you're in Miami, step up to the counter and order a cafecito.
Glenn Lindgren: You pay for the café when you get it -- you'll be surprised at how cheap it is. Most places in Miami sell it for 50 or 60 cents. Try getting a deal like that at Starbucks! A small tip for the server is also expected.
Jorge Castillo: Once your cafecito arrives, you normally drink it at the counter. Don't be surprised if your fellow cafecito drinkers strike up a conversation. A cafecito and conversation go hand in hand.
Glenn Lindgren: The last way to drink Cuban coffee is in a "Café con Leche." In most places you get a small cup of hot milk and a shot of Cuban coffee in a demitasse cup. At the table or counter, you dump the coffee into the milk and stir with a spoon.
Most casual restaurants in Miami have a walk-up window. Some popular spots for some "adrenaline in a cup" include:
HOURS: Sunday through Thursday: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. | Friday and Saturday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 a.m.
PRICES: Moderate
ATMOSPHERE: Casual
HOURS: Daily, 24 hours
PRICES: Low to moderate
ATMOSPHERE: Casual
This downtown restaurant is a great place to go just for the sheer variety of people who stop here. A typical day sees a mix of Latins and Anglos: lawyers decked out in three-piece suits; beggars in rags; a guayabera-clad assortment of businessmen and merchants; and a bevy of multiracial beauties resplendent in their finest go-to-work miniskirts, arriving in a tangy cloud of sweet perfume. Extremely noisy and very urban.
HOURS: Daily, 24 hours
PRICES: Low to moderate
ATMOSPHERE: Casual
HOURS: Daily for breakfast and lunch
PRICES: Low
ATMOSPHERE: Casual to business attire
People come here not just for the cortaditos, but also to watch live Cuban street theater.
Learn how to make your own Cuban coffee here:
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Drinks | Appetizers | Salads | Main Dishes
Soups | Side Dishes | Desserts | Index
