Café de Olla (Mexican Spiced Clay-Pot Coffee)
Local name: Café de olla
In short: Coarsely ground coffee simmered with cinnamon and piloncillo in a pot, then settled and poured through a strainer. Sweet and warmly spiced. It takes about 17 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 12 min
- Total
- 17 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 70 kcal
Café de olla, coffee from the pot, is the sweet, spiced coffee Mexicans traditionally make in a clay pot over a fire, especially in the countryside and at gatherings in cold weather. Water is simmered with cinnamon and piloncillo, then coarse coffee is stirred in and left to steep, never boiled hard. The result is smooth, lightly sweet and aromatic. It is served in small clay mugs and goes well with sweet bread.
Instructions
- Put the water, cinnamon, cloves, piloncillo and orange peel in a clay pot or small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
- Stir for about 5 minutes until the piloncillo has completely dissolved and the water smells of cinnamon.
- Take the pot off the heat and stir in the coffee. Cover and let it steep for 5 minutes.
- Strain through a fine sieve into mugs, leaving the grounds behind. Serve hot.
Tips
- No piloncillo? Use dark brown sugar with 1 tsp of molasses to get the same deep, caramel-like sweetness.
- Grind the coffee coarsely, as for a French press. A fine grind makes the drink bitter and leaves sludge in the cup.
Questions and answers
What is piloncillo?
Unrefined cane sugar pressed into small cones or blocks. It tastes of molasses and caramel and is sold in Latin groceries. Dark brown sugar is the nearest substitute.
Can I add milk to café de olla?
It is traditionally served black. If you like it creamier, add a splash of oat or other plant milk to the cup rather than the pot.
Why is café de olla made in a clay pot?
The clay holds heat evenly and is said to add a mild earthy flavor. A small stainless saucepan gives a very similar result.
How long does it take to make Café de Olla (Mexican Spiced Clay-Pot Coffee)?
About 17 min in total: 5 min of preparation and 12 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Café de Olla (Mexican Spiced Clay-Pot Coffee)?
About 70 kcal per serving, with 0 g of protein, 17 g of carbohydrates and 0 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 70 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 17 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 16 g |
| Sodium | 10 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
