It is very spicy, sweet, and potent. Coffee imported from Cuba is the essential thing in Miami.
Whether you are new to the city, staying in vacation rentals Miami, or staying in short-term rentals Miami for a short time, you may be already acquainted with the ventanitas Miami. These are the ubiquitous walk-up windows where a coffee connoisseur can make you a cup of jet fuel to your exact specifications.
There are only four acceptable ways to order coffee in a ventanita:
- Cafecito: If you ask for “un cafecito,” the teller will bring you a cup and saucer that appear like they were taken straight from a toy box when you place your order. Even though a single serving of Cuban coffee is around an ounce and a half in size, you won’t need any more than that to get you through the morning. When the Cafecito is appropriately prepared, you will recognize it because it will have a thick, velvety, and rich froth, and it will be sweet without being overbearing.
- Colada: Order a “una colada,” The ventanita will serve you a hot and sugary cup of Cuban coffee in a styrofoam cup measuring four ounces. Do not resist the temptation of removing the plastic top and sipping the beverage as if it were your customized version of an espresso drink. You will be given a half dozen corrugated plastic cups the size of thimbles because there is a purpose for this. They are designed to be discussed and enjoyed with your dearest coffee-loving companions.
- Cortadito: It may be too much for some individuals, even those who live in the area, to drink a cup of straight, Cuban solid coffee on an empty stomach. In this case, you should ask for a cortadito, a single serving of Cuban coffee that is served with a cut of steamed whole milk to make the beverage less acidic. You might also ask for a cortadito con evaporada as an alternative to dessert. This would result in the classic cortadito being served with a sweetened, steamed version of evaporated milk. This is an excellent way to end a dinner.
- Cafe Con Leche: A shot of Cuban coffee poured into a mug of steaming hot milk in a cup. Depending on how much coffee you want to add to your beverage to make it darker, you can be asked whether you wish clarito or oscurito (light or dark). If you want perfection, you should ask for a mediano precisely in the center. When your café con Leche is appropriately prepared, the sugar added to the Cuban coffee should be sufficient to sweeten the café con Leche without adding more sugar. However, if you would instead enhance it yourself, you may always ask for it to be served without sugar.
Enriquetas
186 NE 29th St, Miami, FL 33137
At Eriquetas, two sisters who work there together manage the window together. The love that was put into the coffee is palpable. Request the “Frank Martinez,” a cigar given its name in honor of the proprietor of 100 Fires Cigars Wynwood, who can be seen there regularly. It is not included on the menu, but the cortadito with evaporated milk, cinnamon, and sugar is delicious.
Versailles
3555 SW 8th St., Miami
Even while Versailles, one of Miami’s most iconic ventanitas, attracts its fair share of tourists, you can be confident that the Cuban colada served there is always of the highest quality. You won’t be sorry that you went, even if you have to put up with tourists and fight your way through locals who believe that getting a Cuban coffee requires standing at the counter for two hours. You won’t regret going.
La Carreta
Nine locations throughout Miami-Dade County
You can count on La Carreta to provide you with Cuban Coladas that are always of the highest quality. You can be confident that the colada will always be steaming hot, loaded with sugar, and sound like it should. This is true regardless of where you order it. It is a remarkable accomplishment considering that they have nine facilities spread all over South Florida.
Wajiro’s Restaurant
12670 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33184
An iconic staple in Miami, there’s a drink you must order when you go, a cortadito especial. It’s like a colada, but with splashes of evaporated milk and condensed milk, topped with powdered cinnamon, that is out of this world. You can’t have just one.
Sabor Latin Restaurant & Cafe
1880 79th Street Causeway, North Bay Village, FL 33141
A Colombian restaurant that serves delicious cafécito. Straight or con Leche (cortadito), it’s as good as homemade. And right off the 71 Street Causeway, so perfect on your way to the beach or back.
Islas Canarias
13695 SW 26th St, Miami, FL 33175
This is the place to go for authentic Cuban cuisine, but it also serves the city’s most excellent café con Leche and croquetas in one convenient package. The sole reason to visit Islas Canarias is for the croquetas and the Cuban Coladas, neither available anywhere else on the islands. You won’t find anything more suitable.
Manolo and Rene Grill
188 NE 3rd Ave., Miami
Ideal for a pick-me-up in the middle of the night or early in the morning, or just before heading home. The reliability of the quality and, most crucially, the location are both available to UPI. Located in the heart of the downtown area and, perhaps more importantly, is open all the time.
Craving some delicious Cuban food? Read our article: Best Cuban Food South Beach.