Coffee

Orgullo Latino

Martin Mayorga: "I saw the farmers’ hard work was just enough to keep them alive"
“I didn’t see the industry solely based on product and brand the same way everyone else did. I saw people and communities that had personally been impacted by the industry.”
In the US, Latino brands are reclaiming the ‘specialty’ coffee narrative
"...if Latinos can stay true to the authenticity of their heritage and avoid being sucked into a specialty coffee machine that whitewashes coffee, then success awaits."
Breaking down the business of coffee cooperatives
For roasters, as well as providing an easier entry point to buy coffee directly, cooperatives make delivering impact in coffee-growing countries more effective.
Relationships are about more than just paying a good price for specialty coffee
A holistic approach focused on healthy, stable, long-term trading relationships will support and empower smallholder coffee farmers to invest and improve in the long term.
Did the Aztecs drink coffee?

Xocolātl raised mood levels and provided a welcome morning boost for many inhabitants of the Aztec Empire – much like coffee today.

Why do Latinos prefer coffee to hot cocoa?

Although hot chocolate has a longer history, coffee has made its way into the hearts of Latinos as a symbol of heritage, comfort, and cultural significance.

How is organic decaf coffee made?

Swiss Water has transformed perceptions around decaf coffee. But how does it work?

How to prepare an authentic Cuban coffee (café cubano)

The ultimate guide to making Cuba’s most iconic drink.

Is decaf coffee a diuretic?

We all know that drinking coffee makes us need to use the bathroom. But do the same rules apply for decaffeinated coffee?

What's the difference between café con leche and cortado?

Clearing up confusion around two of the world’s favorite coffees.

What is café chorreado? Understanding Costa Rica's pour-over coffee
Behind Costa Rica’s rich coffee culture is a brewing method that unlocks all the incredible flavors of coffee without the need for expensive gadgets.
Does coffee contain mycotoxins?
A food safety expert discusses the relationship between mold, mycotoxins, and the coffee in your kitchen cupboard.
Coffee... an industry built on colonialism and slavery
Coffee originated in Africa before making its way to Asia and Latin America. How did it travel so far? Through colonization and slave trade.
From colada to café con leche: Four of the best Latino coffees
"I started drinking café con leche with sugar from a 'sippy cup' when I was three years old," says our founder Martin Mayorga. "This seems to be a pretty standard childhood memory for people that grew up in Latin America." For us, coffee is something that's all around us, often before we can even walk. It's an experience that is shared, whether we are three or 93.
Miami's ventanitas: Focal points for friendships and political discourse
Take a stroll down any street in Miami's Little Havana district and, chances are, you'll stumble across a ventanita: a small window serving piping-hot coladas and cortaditos to customers who eagerly chat away about everything from local gossip to Cuban politics.
"Café con leche in a bottle… a staple of Latin American childhood!"

As retail centers and streets become more and more saturated with coffee shop after coffee shop looking to carve out a space, one drink has stood the test of time: café con leche.

Its creaminess and sweetness are partly responsible. But, for most of us, it's the comfort that it provides which has made it so important.

Cafecito is home
¿Nos tomamos un cafecito? For us, having a cafecito is often a ritual, a special moment, and an experience. It gives us the opportunity to discuss important things – or chismear. The cafecito experience is part of what it means to be Latino and has crossed borders with us.
How has Colombian coffee culture changed? We asked an abuelo to find out
If not for hindsight, we would be hard-pressed to believe that a Jesuit priest smuggling in a coffee plant in 1723 would bring about a boom of economic development for what is now known as Colombia. Since then, a whole culture has developed around the bean which is deeply ingrained in our identities. A culture that has, just like all other cultures, evolved over time. These changes have been witnessed by generations of Colombians whose lives are intertwined with the bean from crop to cup.
Conventional coffee farming is poisoning local communities
When it comes to chemicals, coffee is one of the most heavily treated food crops in the world. According to recent estimates, more than five million tons of pesticides are applied to crops globally, with around 250lbs applied per acre of conventionally grown coffee.
Can Salvadoran coffee bounce back on the world stage?
Like cream rising to the top, El Salvador is slowly ascending to reclaim its spot as one of the top coffee producers in the world, this time with a focus on quality above all else.
Searching for love: The perfect pastries to pair with your cafecito
Like peanut butter and jelly, cafecito and pastries are just better together. Denisse Coquet tracks down the best authentic Latin American bites to go with a good Cuban coffee.