Hot. Thick. Brown.

Oh, of course I am talking about expresso from the sweet spot of Miami known as Little Havana. What did you think I was talking about? 

Recently, my husband and I traveled to Miami, Florida on our much awaited honeymoon. Yes girl, we are newlyweds and married life is a blast so far. We are always up for trying new things in different places, especially food and drinks. 

Picture this, you’re driving down Calle Ocho with one thing on your mind. That talked about Cuban coffee that everyone mentions. Yes, that cup of wake up juice adults long for in the morning as they get ready for their day. What better way to start off the day than grabbing that cup of… Wait. Milk? 

Let me explain something to you. When they ask you if you want coffee and you say yes in Little Havana, they are going to bring you a mug of hot, frothy milk with a side of coffee to add. This is the total reverse of how I have ever had coffee. Hot milk? With a side of coffee? Is that sinking in? 

Jesse and I found this restaurant in Little Havana called La Carreta. This place is a golden cafe. Not only do they have Cuban cuisine but also an outside coffee bar where locals can walk up, order, and then be on their way with their tiny expressos or to-go cafe con leches. 

Attention, local cafes in my surrounding area, DO THIS, PRETTY PLEASE! 

This restaurant was alive with the breakfast dishes clinking and the coffee bubbling. We walked in and realized that this was definitely a local place. The sensual, romantic Spanish language echoed through the narrow dining area. Hola. Bienvenidos. All the kind greetings in Spanish that can be said. Thankfully, Jesse translated as we ordered. 

Soon, our Cuban breakfast was set down in front of us and we embarked on a glorious cultural feast. And the coffee. Oh, the coffee. I think I drank mine and about half of Jesse’s. If you have never had anything like it before, it is hard to stop. I swear it soothes the soul, even in the hot and humid days of Miami riddled with afternoon thunderstorms. 

This experience prompted my curiosity to look in on how Cuban coffee is made, specifically expresso.

Jesse and I stayed in an AirBnB on this trip. It was cute, quaint, had a roaming cat and a few banana leaves that stuck out far from it’s trunk just to whack you has you walked by.

 Inside we discovered what I already knew was going to be a learning project for me. A percolator. A shiny, silver kettle-like pot to brew espresso on the stove top. This was thrilling because of the coffee experience I had at La Carreta but also because it was something I had never made before. 

Yes, I asked Google for help on how to use the perculator. Google followed through. After a few videos I was ready to try it myself. Not as difficult as you might think. The product that poured out of the percolator? AHH-mazing! Our AirBnB host had a set of cute little espresso cups so naturally we drank from them (Picture included). 

Now I want my own percolator so I can experience the hot, thick, and brown essence of Little Havana in my own home. 

Cuban espresso made by yours truly.