When Mexico is mentioned, tequila and guacamole often steal the spotlight. However, the country’s rich heritage extends to coffee, a vital ingredient in iconic cocktails like the Espresso Martini. Let’s journey through the history of Mexican coffee and its rise in the world of specialty beverages.
Today, bartenders receive orders for classic drinks like Margaritas or Paloma cocktails. Craft mezcal in jicaras and traditional dishes like mole, quesadillas, burritos, or tamales are familiar to many.
Mexican coffee liqueur, pivotal in creating the Espresso Martini, signifies the importance of coffee in Mexico. This is evident in the high-quality coffee produced by world-class roasteries from Mexican beans.
Introduced by the Spanish, coffee struggled for recognition until the late 19th century. Confined to areas near Guatemala initially, it gained momentum among small farmers who recognized its quality desired by overseas sellers.
Mexico offers optimal conditions for cultivating Arabica varieties due to its diverse climates, allowing multiple harvests annually. Most of the coffee production, especially organic varieties, thrives in regions like Oaxaca, Pluma, Chiapas, and Veracruz.
Mexican coffee, renowned for its complexity, diversity, and quality, captivates global attention. Its rising prominence in the gastronomic scene, particularly in the coffee sector, is commendable. Fresh coffee from Mexico is revered by influential roasters globally and has found its place in cafes and among home baristas.
Mexican Coffee and Its Perception in the Specialty Coffee World
Coffee is a versatile ingredient in cocktails, offering numerous possibilities. At the 2022 London Coffee Festival’s Coffee Masters competition, Rastislav Kasár, representing Four Boroughs Cafe, Crystal Palace, London, showcased his winning drink, “The Essence of Oaxaca.”
His innovative cocktail fuses Mexican cuisine, specialty coffee, and Ojo de Dios mezcal, highlighting flavors of cocoa butter, mango puree, grapefruit juice, protein, xanthan gum, pineapple soda, and redistilled Mexican mole sauce. The concentrated brew, extracted aggressively using a thermos, results in a rich, creamy texture complemented by umami from the mezcal and enhanced by the mole-infused spirit.
Mexican Coffee in Cocktails
Coffee is a versatile ingredient in cocktails, offering numerous possibilities. At the 2022 London Coffee Festival’s Coffee Masters competition, Rastislav Kasár, representing Four Boroughs Cafe, Crystal Palace, London, showcased his winning drink, “The Essence of Oaxaca.”
His innovative cocktail fuses Mexican cuisine, specialty coffee, and Ojo de Dios mezcal, highlighting flavors of cocoa butter, mango puree, grapefruit juice, protein, xanthan gum, pineapple soda, and redistilled Mexican mole sauce. The concentrated brew, extracted aggressively using a thermos, results in a rich, creamy texture complemented by umami from the mezcal and enhanced by the mole-infused spirit.
Rastislav, the 2022 Coffee Masters champion, brings his expertise from renowned London establishments like The American Bar at the Savoy, Scarfes Bar at Rosewood, and Kwānt, displaying a passion for bartending, coffee, and tea throughout his career.
