Mexico

Mexican coffee culture is rich and diverse, blending traditional methods with popular global trends. While you'll find classic espresso-based drinks, Mexico also boasts unique coffee preparations with distinct flavors.

Here are the different ways to order a coffee in Mexico and what's typically in them:

Traditional Mexican Coffee

• Café de Olla: This is perhaps the most iconic Mexican coffee drink.

• What's in it: Traditionally brewed in a olla de barro (clay pot) with ground coffee, piloncillo (unrefined cane sugar, often shaped like a cone), cinnamon sticks, and sometimes other spices like cloves, star anise, or orange peel. The clay pot is believed to impart a unique earthy flavor.

• Flavor Profile: Sweet, spicy, and aromatic.

Basic Brewed Coffee

Similar to other countries, you can find standard brewed coffee, though the local preference often leans towards specific preparations.

• Café Negro: Black coffee.

• What's in it: Just brewed coffee, without milk or sugar.

• Café Americano: Similar to an Americano elsewhere.

• What's in it: Espresso diluted with hot water.

• Café Descafeinado: Decaffeinated coffee.

• What's in it: Coffee with most of its caffeine removed. May not be available everywhere, especially in smaller, traditional establishments.

• Café Instantáneo / Café Soluble: Instant coffee.

• What's in it: Instant coffee granules dissolved in hot water. This is quite common in many Mexican homes and casual eateries.

Espresso-Based Drinks (Common in urban cafes and modern coffee shops)

These are similar to what you'd find in other parts of the world, reflecting the global spread of coffee culture.

• Espresso / Café Solo: A concentrated shot of coffee.

• What's in it: Finely ground coffee, brewed under high pressure with hot water. "Café Solo" is more common in Spain but understood in Mexico for a single espresso.

• Café Doble / Espresso Doble: A double shot of espresso.

• What's in it: Two shots of espresso.

• Café con Leche: Coffee with milk. This is a very popular staple.

• What's in it: Typically about half brewed coffee (or espresso) and half hot milk. The ratio can vary.

• Cortado: Espresso "cut" with a small amount of steamed milk.

• What's in it: Espresso with a splash of steamed milk, typically served in a small glass. The milk slightly reduces the acidity of the espresso.

• Latte / Café Latte: Espresso with a larger proportion of steamed milk and a thin layer of foam.

• What's in it: Espresso, steamed milk, and a small amount of microfoam on top. Often available with various flavor syrups (vanilla, caramel, chocolate, etc.).

• Capuchino (Cappuccino): Espresso with equal parts steamed milk and foamed milk.

• What's in it: Espresso, steamed milk, and a significant layer of frothy milk foam on top.

• Mocha: A chocolate-flavored latte.

• What's in it: Espresso, chocolate syrup or powder, steamed milk, often topped with whipped cream.

Cold Coffee Drinks

Iced coffee options are available.

• Café con Hielo / Café Frío: Iced coffee.

• What's in it: Brewed coffee served over ice. You can add milk and sugar to your liking.

• Carajillo: A popular coffee cocktail.

• What's in it: Espresso mixed with a shot of Licor 43 (a sweet Spanish liqueur with notes of vanilla and citrus), served over ice. Sometimes other liqueurs like brandy or rum are used, but Licor 43 is common in Mexico.

• Blended Iced Coffees: Similar to frappes or blended coffee drinks found internationally.

• What's in it: Coffee, ice, milk, and flavorings blended together, often topped with whipped cream.

Specialty and Flavored Coffees

• Mexican Coffee (Cocktail): A spirited coffee drink.

• What's in it: Typically brewed coffee, coffee liqueur (like Kahlúa, which originated in Mexico), tequila (often reposado for vanilla/caramel notes), and sometimes chocolate syrup, topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon or cocoa.

• Mexican Spiced Coffee (Modern Take):

• What's in it: Brewed coffee with additions like brown sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of cayenne pepper, mixed with warm milk. This offers a different spice profile than café de olla.

Key elements of Mexican coffee culture:

• Café de Olla: It's a unique and traditional experience.

• Piloncillo and Cinnamon: These are very common sweeteners and spices in Mexican coffee.

• Social Aspect: Coffee is often consumed in the afternoon or evening as part of sobremesa (post-meal conversation and relaxation), rather than just a morning energizer.

• Local Production: Mexico is a significant coffee producer, particularly known for its Arabica beans, with states like Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Veracruz being major growing regions. Many smallholder farmers use organic and sustainable methods.

• Torrefacto: In some parts of Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries, you might encounter torrefacto coffee, which is coffee roasted with sugar. This glazes the beans and creates a unique flavor, though it's less common in specialty coffee shops.

When ordering, a simple "¿Un café, por favor?" (A coffee, please?) is always a good start, and then you can specify how you'd like it. Many baristas in tourist areas will understand English terms as well.

*The content in this document was generated using artificial intelligence, drawing from various online sources, and subsequently refined for accuracy and conciseness in 2025. Users are advised to consult multiple sources to corroborate information and should not rely solely on this document for comprehensive research.