Why Coffee is So Important in Miami
Cuban coffee is one of Miami’s most important everyday rituals, especially in Little Havana. It’s tied to the city’s strong Cuban-American identity, including family routines, social culture, and daily life on Calle Ocho. If you want to experience the culture in Little Havana, enjoying a coffee is one of the easiest points of entry.
Before venturing to try Cuban coffee, visitors should know the difference between a cafecito, cortadito, colada, and cafe con leche, because each variation offers a different way to experience Miami’s coffee culture. At Bobby’s Bike Hike, Cuban coffee is not treated as just another Miami drink. On the Little Havana Food & Culture Walking Tour, guests experience coffee alongside authentic Cuban food, neighborhood landmarks, and cigar culture. Our local expert guides also help visitors understand the history behind the tradition.
Table Of Contents
Quick Answer: What Cuban Coffee Should You Order in Miami?
Where to Try Cuban Coffee in Miami
Why a Little Havana Food Tour is the Best Way to Try Cuban Coffee
Common Mistakes Visitors Make With Cuban Coffee
Sample Cuban Coffee and More on Your Visit to Miami
Quick Answer: What Cuban Coffee Should You Order in Miami?
| Coffee type | What it is | Who the drink is best for |
| Cafecito/Café Cubano | A creamy, strong Latin espresso sweetened with whipped sugar | Those who want a quick, small coffee beverage |
| Cortadito | Equal parts cafecito and steamed milk | Those who prefer a milkier coffee to dilute the espresso |
| Colada | 3-6 shots of Café Cubano in a styrofoam cup, served with multiple thimble-sized cups to divide and share with others | Families or groups that want a social experience sharing coffee |
| Café con Leche | Literally “coffee with milk”, this is a full-sized beverage with dark-roast espresso, hot milk, and sugar | Those who want a beverage to sip on while enjoying breakfast |
Breaking Down Cuban Coffee
Cafecito: The Classic Cuban Coffee
Cafecito or Café Cubano (Cuban coffee) is a strong espresso brewed in a moka pot and sweetened with espumita, which is made with whipped sugar combined with the first few drops of espresso. Cafecito is tiny, but it’s enough to energize you. This small drink is usually the best starting point for visitors looking to delve into the world of Cuban-style coffee. For the best place to get cafecito, go to any ventanita in Little Havana.
Cortadito: Cuban Coffee “Cut” With Milk
A cortadito is part Cuban coffee, part steamed milk, which helps dilute the strong espresso. This is best for visitors who want to try Cuban coffee but prefer a more mellow taste.
Colada: The Cuban Coffee Made for Sharing
A colada—not to be confused with a piña colada—is a social coffee order. This beverage is simply multiple shots of Cuban coffee in a four-ounce styrofoam cup, served with small thimble-sized plastic cups to divide and share. Coladas are the perfect item to order when visiting a ventanita with friends or family, or if you want to connect with strangers over an energizing refreshment. This drink best represents Cuban coffee’s history as a social routine rather than a quick morning pick-me-up.
Cafe con Leche: The Breakfast Classic
Cafe con leche, literally “coffee with milk”, is a larger, creamier morning beverage best paired with breakfast items like pastelitos or Cuban toast. Pastelitos are puff pastries with sweet or savory fillings, and Cuban toast is light and crispy bread toasted in a panini press and flavored with a generous amount of butter. You can even dip the toast in your cafe con leche!
What is a Ventanita?
Ventanitas are literally “little windows”, but in Miami they are walk up windows attached to restaurants and bakeries where you can order a coffee. But that’s not all they are—ventanitas are part of Miami’s social culture, providing a place to engage in conversation while sipping on coffee. Ordering at a ventanita might feel intimidating as a visitor at first because of the intimate nature, but knowing what to order ahead of time can help put you at ease. Some ventanitas to consider include Versailles or Tinta y Cafe.
What to Eat With Cuban Coffee
Cuban coffee is best experienced with a bite to eat, and there are a few traditional items that are common to find at coffee shops:
Pastelitos: Puff pastries with sweet or savory fillings, including guava and cream cheese, beef, coconut, and more
Cuban Toast: Cuban bread sliced, liberally buttered, and then pressed on a griddle to create a light and crispy texture. This is commonly dipped in cafe con leche.
Croquetas: Deep-fried snacks filled with things like meat, seafood, vegetables, and/or cheese with a perfectly crispy exterior
Empanadas: A baked or fried handheld pastry with savory or sweet fillings
Churros: Sweet, tube-like pastries fried and dusted with cinnamon sugar
Cuban Sandwiches or Media Noche: An elevated ham and cheese sandwich with roasted pork, ham, swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard, layered on Cuban bread and pressed until crispy. Media Noche is a sweeter, softer version served on egg bread.
Where to Try Cuban Coffee in Miami
You can find Cuban coffee all over Miami, but for the best experience, head to Little Havana’s Calle Ocho. Otherwise, check out places like:
- Pasion Del Cielo
- Versailles
- La Colada Gourmet
- Tinta y Cafe
Why a Little Havana Food Tour is the Best Way to Try Cuban Coffee
A food tour provides context behind the items you sample that you otherwise would miss out on by just trying them on your own. In the case of Cuban coffee, you get to sample a sweet cafecito alongside pastries, empanadas, Cuban sandwiches, and other local flavors to get the full Little Havana experience within just a few hours. In addition, Cuban coffee is a social tradition, so trying it with a group is the best way to experience the drink.
Joining a tour is an easier way for first-time visitors, couples, families, and groups to explore the neighborhood, and it removes the pressure of finding restaurants and figuring out what to order at a ventanita. As a major bonus, along the way you get to learn about Little Havana’s rich history, Cuban migration, cigar culture, and more.
Common Mistakes Visitors Make With Cuban Coffee
- Ordering a colada for one person without realizing it is meant to share.
- Expecting Cuban coffee to taste like a regular latte or cappuccino.
- Forgetting that Cuban coffee is usually sweet.
- Only trying coffee without pairing it with a pastry.
- Visiting Little Havana without learning the cultural context.
Sample Cuban Coffee and More on Your Visit to Miami!
For those who want to try Cuban coffee but desire more context behind the drink rather than treating it as a quick coffee window stop, Bobby’s Bike Hike offers a guided Little Havana Food & Culture Walking Tour that combines cafecito, local bites, neighborhood landmarks, and stories from Miami’s Cuban-American culture. You’ll learn more about how to order Cuban coffee in Miami and why it’s an essential part of the community.
Looking for more things to do in Miami? Check out our other Miami blogs.
FAQs: Cuban Coffee in Miami
Cuban coffee, otherwise known as cafecito, is a strong espresso sweetened with whipped sugar.
Cafecito is a shot-sized beverage for one person, while a cortadito is qual parts cafecito and steamed milk.
A colada is multiple shots of Cuban coffee meant to be shared with others.
Yes, Cuban coffee is stronger than regular drip coffee since it is espresso-based.
It’s best to try Cuban coffee from any ventanita in Little Havana.
Pair Cuban coffee with Cuban toast, pastelitos, or a Cuban sandwich.
Yes, you can try Cuban coffee on Bobby’s Bike Hike’s Little Havana Food & Culture Walking Tour.
Literally “little windows”, ventanitas are walk up windows attached to restaurants and bakeries where you can order an espresso beverage.
To keep things simple, a cafecito is the best Cuban espresso beverage to try for first-time visitors.
