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Home » Recipes » Drinks » Café de Olla + VIDEO

Café de Olla + VIDEO

Last Updated May 16, 2022. Originally Posted October 17, 2017 By Maggie Unzueta

This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Café de Olla is a traditional Mexican coffee drink made with whole cinnamon and piloncillo. It is a yummy way to start any morning. Perfect for Sunday brunch!
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Café de la Olla served with a cinnamon stick in a decorative Mexican mug.

Café de la Olla in a decorative Mexican clay mug with a whole cinnamon stick.

Café de la Olla … sweet and yummy. The spices and the AROMA… Oooh!

When I was younger (a lot younger), I visited my aunt in Mexico City. It was the first time I ever had this drink. Just a little sip, but it was enough to get me hooked on this delicious drink.

Serve this for Sunday brunch or a special sweet treat. I know you’re going to LOVE this!

How to Make ItA collage showing how to make Café de la Olla.

  • Add water to a stock pot.
  • Add piloncillo, cinnamon, and cloves.

Piloncillo is a must for this recipe, but if you can’t find it, you can use packed brown sugar.

Don’t you mean Cafe de la Hoya?

Cafe de la Olla and Cafe de la Hoya are the exact same thing. Just different spellings.

What does cafe de olla mean?
Literal translation: coffee from the pot.

“Olla” is the correct spelling for “cooking pot.” Where the word Hoya is not correct, but some people will misspell words.

“Cafe de Olla” and “Cafe de la Olla” are the same thing too.

A pot with the piloncillo, cinnamon, and cloves covered with water.

  • Bring the water up to a boil.
  • With your spatula, break up the piloncillo.

Fully melt the piloncillo before proceeding to the next step.

Pro Tip:

Piloncillo is raw sugar cane and extremely sweet.

For a less sweet version: Use a smaller piloncillo cone, or break up a large one and only use half.

Not everyone uses cloves but whole cinnamon is a must for this recipe. Stick with the stick. None of that powdered cinnamon stuff.

A stock pot with a hot piloncillo water cooling down next to cinnamon sticks and ground coffee.

  • Once the piloncillo has melted, remove the stock pot from heat.
  • Let sit for 5 minutes.

No one likes bitter or burnt coffee.

Piloncillo is sugar and boils at a higher degree. If you add the coffee while it’s boiling, you will burn the coffee.

Additions:

Some people will also add other spices like star of anise or anise seeds. If you have some on hand, they make a great addition to this recipe.

Instant Coffee or Real Coffee?

Mexicans love instant coffee. For this recipe, though, you need the real deal coffee. Like the kind that goes in a coffee maker.

Ground coffee sitting inside the piloncillo mixture on top of a white kitchen towel.

  • Add the coffee.
  • Steep for 5 minutes.

Don’t let it steep too long, or you can burn the coffee, resulting in bitter coffee.

Ice Coffee:

How to make iced Café de la Olla:

  • Let the coffee cool completely.
  • Add ice to a glass.
  • Pour coffee over the ice.
  • Add more ice if necessary.

You can also add milk to the iced coffee if you like. Or as is. Typically, this drink is served hot and without milk, but to each their own.

A strainer over a pot removing the cinnamon stick and ground coffee.

  • Strain the coffee, cinnamon stick, and cloves.
  • Serve immediately.

There are restaurants that ONLY serve this type of coffee in Mexico. Be sure to ask before ordering coffee what type it is. You might be greeted with a sweet surprise.

Mexican Breakfast Ideas:

Chorizo con Huevos
Huevos Rancheros
Chilaquiles Verdes
Papas con Huevos

Café de la Olla in a decorative Mexican cup with a cinnamon stick.

This authentic Café de la Olla Recipe is a keeper! Sweet, yummy, and incredibly delicious.

It goes perfectly with Mexican Conchas, Apple Empanadas or what about Lemon Cookies. Perfect for Sunday brunch and special mornings.

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Did you make this recipe? Please rate the recipe below!
Café de la Olla in a decorative Mexican cup with a cinnamon stick.

Café de Olla

Café de Olla is a traditional Mexican coffee drink made with whole cinnamon and piloncillo. It is a yummy way to start any morning. Perfect for Sunday brunch!
5 from 14 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Mexican
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 7 cups
Calories: 2kcal
Author: Maggie Unzueta

Ingredients

  • 8 cups water
  • 1 5-ounce piloncillo cone or 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 whole cinnamon stick
  • 3-4 whole cloves optional
  • 1/2 cup ground coffee

Instructions

  • Add water, piloncillo, cinnamon, and cloves in a stock pot.
  • Bring to boil over high heat, breaking up the piloncillo to help dissolve.
  • Remove from heat.
  • Let sit for 5 minutes.
  • Add coffee.
  • Steep for 5 minutes.
  • Strain through a fine strainer.
  • Pour the coffee into cups.
  • Enjoy!

Video

Notes

Some people will also add star of anise or anise seeds to this recipe. 
You can also warm up the piloncillo in the microwave for 10-seconds and chop it up. That way, it will melt faster. 
Piloncillo is sugar and boils at a higher degree. If you add the coffee while it’s boiling, you will burn the coffee.
For a less sweet version: use a smaller piloncillo cone, or break up a large one and only use half.

Nutrition

Calories: 2kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 12mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @MamaMaggiesKitchen or tag #MamaMaggiesKitchen!

Filed Under: Breakfast, Drinks, Mexican, Recipes

About Maggie Unzueta

Maggie Unzueta is the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer, videographer, and creator of In Mama Maggie's Kitchen. She has been developing easy and authentic Mexican food, Mexican-inspired recipes, and traveling tips since 2010. From family recipes to her extensive travels throughout Mexico, she brings traditional Mexican flavors from South of the Border and into your kitchen. Maggie has been featured in notable culinary websites and other media outlets. For more details, check out her About page.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Debra

    August 23, 2020 at 6:51 pm

    5 stars
    Fun and delicious coffee at home. YAY!

    Reply
    • Maggie U

      August 24, 2020 at 4:03 pm

      It’s delicious indeed. Hope you try it!

      Reply
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