Is Cafe Bustelo Cuban? (Discovering Its Origins)

Cafe Bustelo is one of the most popular brands available for Cuban coffee. But is Cafe Bustelo Cuban? Or is it Puerto Rican, Dominican, or even Colombian?

Cafe Bustelo is not a uniquely Cuban coffee. Its recipe and blend are inspired by the traditional espresso-style coffees that are found across Latin America. However, the founder of Cafe Bustelo did spend time in Cuba and Puerto Rico before moving to the U.S., where he founded the company.

While Cafe Bustelo is not specific to Cuba, that doesn’t mean it’s not a legit brand for making authentic Cuban coffee. If you’d like to learn more about this popular coffee and where you can find other authentic Cuban-style coffees, keep reading!

Top Recommended Cuban-Style Coffees

Is Cafe Bustelo Cuban?

While Cafe Bustelo isn’t a coffee that’s unique to Cuba, it is widely known as a Latin-style coffee because this strong espresso-style coffee is enjoyed in several places across Latin America.

The coffee’s origins are complex and can’t really be tied to a single country. However, there are at least two good reasons people associate Cafe Bustelo with Cuba.

Cafe Bustelo’s History, and
The brand’s popularity in Miami

Let’s quickly talk about each of these.

Is Cafe Bustelo Cuban? — ***Image: Is cafe Bustelo Cuban Coffee?***

Cafe Bustelo’s History May Have Begun In Cuba

According to Cafe Bustelo’s history (link to Cafe Bustelo’s site), its founder, Gregorio Bustelo, was from Spain but spent some of his time traveling throughout Latin America. During his travels, he fell in love with the robust, espresso-style coffee that’s famous throughout the region.

Details of the places he visited are scarce, but it’s specifically noted that he lived in Havana where he met his wife. Eventually, they both moved to Puerto Rico and then to America.

Cafe Cubano - Cuban Coffee - Miami Espresso — ***Image: Volcanica’s Cafe Cubano***

Gregorio’s time in Cuba is often connected with his love of espresso-style coffee, and the company’s beans may have even been sourced from Cuba early on, which is why Cafe Bustelo is often described as Cuban coffee. However, his wife (who was Puerto Rican) is said to have had an influence on the brand as well.

In addition, Cafe Bustelo quickly became a staple among Cuban immigrants in New York before becoming popular among Puerto Ricans and Dominicans.

It’s likely that every place he visited had an impact on Gregorio’s tastes, preferences, and coffee preparation methods and that the brand was made with everyone in mind.

FYI: The woman on the can of Cafe Bustelo is the founder’s wife, Angela.

Cafe Bustelo Is Considered Cuban Because It’s Popular In Miami

Although Cafe Bustelo began in New York as a Latin-style coffee. It was purchased by Rowland Coffee Roasters in the year 2000.

Rowland was owned by a Cuban family that was already famous for making other authentic Cuban coffees such as Pilon (link to Pilon’s site). The fact that Rowland Coffee Roasters was also headquartered in Miami (a.k.a. Little Havana) helped increase Cafe Bustelo’s popularity in the area.

Rowland was purchased by Smuckers in 2011, but by that time, Cafe Bustelo’s reputation as a true Cuban coffee had already been solidified and it remains a staple in many Cuban homes.

Related Posts:

Top Recommended Cuban-Style Coffees

Is Cafe Bustelo Good?

Cafe Bustelo is good coffee. And it’s an excellent choice if you love Cuban coffee.

The coffee is typically sold espresso-style, which is a very dark roast. And the beans are pre-ground very finely, which makes them excellent for Moka Pots. However, they do have a whole bean option called Supreme by Cafe Bustelo (check it out on Amazon).

If you’re going to buy Cafe Bustelo, you can expect it to have a wonderful aroma with an intense and sharply smoky taste.

FYI: If you love Cuban coffee, we recommend getting a good Moka Pot like Bialetti’s Moka Express (link to Amazon). We’ve used this Moka Pot for several years to make amazing Cuban coffee!

Where Can I Buy Authentic Cuban Coffee?

Since America doesn’t receive Cuban imports, the best way to get authentic Cuban coffee is to buy a few bags on the island of Cuba.

However, this isn’t possible for everyone and isn’t practical even if you can visit the country on occasion.

The next best option is to purchase coffee beans made with traditional Cuban roasting methods, or at least buy beans that Cubans say are legit.

The big three brands of authentic Cuban coffee are:

Cafe Bustelo

While Cafe Bustelo wasn’t founded by a Cuban and it’s unknown if they use a Cuban roasting formula (the recipe is a secret), it’s certain that this is one of the most popular brands available for Cuban coffee.

Pilon

Pilon actually originated in Cuba and was very popular there for over 100 years. Eventually, the owners moved to Miami and brought their formula for coffee roasting with them.

La Llave

La Llave was also founded by Cubans who left the island during the revolution. The family had been cultivating and roasting coffee for several years in Cuba before starting a company in the U.S.

To learn more about the best authentic Cuban coffees out there, check out our post “Cuban Coffee Brands“!

Related Posts:

Is Cafe Bustelo Cuban Or Colombian?

Cafe Bustelo isn’t a Colombian coffee. It’s true that Colombia may be one of the sources for Cafe Bustelo’s blend of beans, however, it’s not connected to the country in any other way.

This may be a popular question because Cafe Bustelo has released a Colombian coffee (link to Amazon) that is made from exclusively Colombian coffee beans.

This is part of their “Origins” line that includes coffees made with single-origin beans from Colombia, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Brazil.

If you want to know how to make Cuban coffee without a Moka Pot, check out our post “How To Make Cuban Coffee Without A Moka Pot“

Is Cafe Bustelo Espresso?

Cafe Bustelo is not necessarily espresso. Espresso refers to a coffee preparation method, while Cafe Bustelo is just a brand of coffee beans.

It’s true that when Cafe Bustelo is used to make Cuban coffee, the result is a small, strong coffee that’s similar to espresso. However, there are several differences between the two.

	Cafe Bustelo (Cuban Coffee)	Espresso
Pressure	Typically made in a Moka Pot, which uses 1.5-2 bars of pressure.	Made in an espresso machine that uses up to 9 bars of pressure.
Heat	Is placed over direct heat during the brewing process.	Pre-heated water is forced through the coffee grinds.
Time	Takes 2-3 minutes to brew.	Espresso is pulled in 20-30 seconds.
Crema	Crema is made from sugar.	Crema is made from oils within the coffee

Table: Comparison Between Cafe Bustelo And Espresso

These differences in brewing affect the taste of the coffee. However, they both result in strong, concentrated drinks.

One last thing to mention – Cafe Bustelo could be used in an espresso machine. In that case, it would be espresso.

Is Cafe Bustelo From Cuba? – Key Takeaways:

Cafe Bustelo did not originate in Cuba, however, it’s a popular brand for making Cuban coffee.
Other popular brands for Cuban coffee are Pilon and La Llave.
Cafe Bustelo is an excellent choice to make great coffee

Cheers Coffee Lovers!

KEEP READING

Idalmis Holmes

Idalmis is co-owner of Coffee Break Lovers. She is a Cuban coffee enthusiast that is passionate about coffee and coffee culture.

Brand	Flavor Profile	Image	Buy
Cafe Bustelo	Sharp and smoky with a rich and bold. slightly bitter aftertaste.		Buy On Amazon
Pilon	Aromatic with hints of chocolate. Robust, with a heavy mouth feel.		Buy On Amazon
La Llave	Strong smoky aroma with hints of cocoa. It’s smooth and robust.		Buy On Amazon
La Carreta	Highly aromatic with a sharp and authentically Cuban smell. Flavorful, smooth, and mildly bitter.		Buy On Amazon

Brand	Flavor Profile	Image	Buy
Cafe Bustelo	Sharp and smoky with a rich and bold. slightly bitter aftertaste.		Buy On Amazon
Pilon	Aromatic with hints of chocolate. Robust, with a heavy mouth feel.		Buy On Amazon
La Llave	Strong smoky aroma with hints of cocoa. It’s smooth and robust.		Buy On Amazon
La Carreta	Highly aromatic with a sharp and authentically Cuban smell. Flavorful, smooth, and mildly bitter.		Buy On Amazon