As someone who was born and raised in Miami, coffee is very important to me. Lovingly referred to as cafecito, coffee is essential to everyday life back home. From the mandatory 3 p.m. cafecito break that every workplace abides by, to an evening cafe con leche after a late night out, I am yet to live in a place where coffee is more culturally important. There are many different ways to prepare a proper Cuban coffee, but there is one rendition that is my absolute favorite. The cure for my homesickness: the Cuban cortadito.
4 cortaditos being served at Versailles in Miami.
Photo by Anna Arriaga
A cortado is a coffee drink that is equal parts espresso to equal parts milk. It’s the stereotypical order of a hipster or very chic Brooklynite (or a very chic hipster Brooklynite). Because it has less milk than the more modest latte, the espresso is less diluted, and the flavor of the coffee comes through more. It’s usually served in a cute little glass or paper cup and, for me, it’s far more satisfying in flavor than a latte because I can actually taste the espresso. Read More >>
