I recently took a vacay to Puerto Rico and made sure I came back with a coffee bean grinder (like the one pictured here) for my cafécito-obsessed dad. My dad actually never been a fan of fancy coffee machines. Like most Latinos, he swears the best coffee is made using old school Latino methods like the greca or the coffee sock. Remember those?
Read more ¿Qué más?: 8 Shocking health benefits of your morning cafecito
In fact, whenever he invites someone over for coffee he whips up some café con leche by just pouring a little Café Bustelo espresso into an old sauce pan and heating it up with some milk. He even uses an egg beater to get it nice and foamy on top. And believe me it tastes WAY better than any latte you've had at Starbucks.
I couldn't help but think about some of the other ways Latinos like to prepare their coffee that doesn't include a modern K-Cup machine. Check out a few of them below! Leave it to us Latinos to find ways to make a hot cup of coffee a cultural and traditional experience!
Image via Amazon.com
The greca
I think every Latino in existence owns a greca machine. It not only makes the best expresso known to man, but it’s super easy to use. Just add some coffee powder and water into the bottom compartments and then heat it up over the stove. You’ll know it’s ready once you hear that kettle-like sound.
The sock
My abuelito used to love making coffee from a coffee sock. You know what I’m talking about, right? Those Colador Coffee Strainers. They might seem strange, but they sure make some delicious café. Talk about old school right?
Instant coffee
Growing up I remember always seeing a jar of instant coffee in my dad’s dental office. Like I mentioned earlier, he’s never really liked fancy coffee machines, so since there wasn’t a stove for his greca he used instant coffee instead. These days he’s drinking Café Organo Gold, because God forbid he drinks coffee that doesn’t come from Latin America!
Coffee bean grinder
A coffee bean grinder might sound impractical, but you’d be surprised how many Latinos actually own one. And it’s usually never the fancy electrical ones they have these days.
French press
I’ve been fortunate enough to have had quite a few jobs where I’ve worked with Latinos. I remember one in particular, where this Dominicana would come in every morning with her French press coffee maker. You never found her without a cup of fresh, perfectly brewed Caribbean coffee!
