Having tried and tested numerous iced coffee recipes in my quest for the perfect summer drink, the Café Bustelo Iced Coffee stands out as a beacon of hope for the taste buds. It’s the perfect blend of strength and sweetness, join me as I share with you an exclusive recipe that promises to bring the vibrant essence of Latin America into your cup and maybe, just maybe, into your heart.
Café Bustelo Iced Coffee is a ready-to-drink coffee beverage from the popular brand Café Bustelo. Known for its strong, rich flavor, Café Bustelo is a well-regarded name in the world of Latin-style coffee.
Ingredients for Making Café Bustelo Iced Coffee:
To whip up a refreshing serving of Café Bustelo Iced Coffee, you’ll need:
Milk or Creamer (optional): About 1/4 cup, your choice, depending on taste (dairy or non-dairy varieties work)
Sweetener (optional): Sugar, simple syrup, or your preferred sweetener to taste
Instructions:
Follow these steps to create your perfect cup of Café Bustelo Iced Coffee:
Brew the Coffee: If you have an espresso maker, brew the Café Bustelo coffee according to the machine instructions. For those using a regular coffee maker, simply prepare the coffee slightly stronger than usual to compensate for the dilution caused by ice.
Cool the Coffee: Allow the coffee to cool to room temperature after brewing. This prevents the ice from melting too quickly and diluting your coffee. For a faster cooling process, you can place the brewed coffee in the refrigerator.
Prepare the Glass: Fill your serving glass with ice cubes to the brim.
Customize Your Coffee: If you like your coffee with milk, pour the cooled coffee over the ice first, then add the milk or creamer. Add sweetener if you prefer. Stir well to ensure everything is mixed thoroughly.
Serve: Give the iced coffee a final stir and serve immediately. Enjoy the robust and refreshing taste of Café Bustelo.
Tips
Strong Brew: Ensure that the coffee is brewed strong. This is vital as the ice will melt and dilute the coffee to some extent.
Flavorings: Experiment with different syrups or spices, such as vanilla, caramel, or cinnamon, to add a unique twist to your iced coffee.
Prepared Ice: To avoid your coffee getting too diluted, consider making ice cubes out of brewed coffee instead of water.
Cold Brew Method: For an even smoother taste, use the cold brew method by steeping Café Bustelo ground coffee in cold water overnight (12 hours), then strain it and use this concentrated brew to make your iced coffee.
Serving Suggestions: Serve with a sprig of mint or a cinnamon stick for enhanced aroma and visual appeal.
What to serve with
When serving Café Bustelo Iced Coffee, pairing it with the right accompaniments can elevate your coffee break to a charming and delightful experience. The robust Latin flavors of this coffee go particularly well with sweet, savory, or fruity complements that balance the boldness of the brew. Here are some delectable suggestions:
Pastries: Croissants, Danish pastries, or sweet bread like brioche offer a buttery texture that complements the coffee’s richness. Churros dredged in sugar and cinnamon can also be a nod to the coffee’s Hispanic roots.
Biscotti: A classic coffee companion, biscotti’s crunchy texture and nutty flavor make it ideal for dunking into iced coffee for a satisfying snack.
Coffee Cakes or Muffins: Items like blueberry muffins or crumb-topped coffee cakes are excellent with iced coffee. The sweetness of the cake balances the strong, bold flavors of the Cafe Bustelo coffee.
Chocolate: Dark chocolate or a chocolate dessert like brownies or chocolate chip cookies are a divine match, as the bitterness of the chocolate harmonizes with the coffee’s robust profile.
Savory Options
Sandwiches: A light sandwich, such as a ham and cheese croissant or a turkey and avocado wrap, complements an afternoon iced coffee and provides a more substantial snack.
Quiches or Savory Pies: The richness of egg-based dishes like quiches or small savory pies pairs pleasantly with the cool, bold coffee.
Cheese and Crackers: A simple and elegant option, a cheese platter with a variety of cheeses alongside a mix of crackers or bread serves as a beautiful contrast to the chilled beverage.
Fresh Companions
Fruit Salad: A bowl of fresh fruit salad, especially tropical fruits like mango, pineapple, or papaya, offers a refreshing balance and highlights the coffee’s lively character.
Yogurt Parfaits: A yogurt parfait layered with granola and fresh berries or other fruits can provide a lighter option that still satisfies.
Breakfast Pairing
Breakfast Burritos: If you enjoy Café Bustelo iced coffee in the morning, a breakfast burrito filled with eggs, cheese, and your choice of breakfast meat or vegetables makes a hearty companion.
Bagels and Cream Cheese: Try an assortment of bagels and flavored cream cheeses to cater to differing tastes and textures. These combine a satisfying chew with crisp coffee.
Dessert
Flan or Tres Leches Cake: To fully embrace the Hispanic heritage of Café Bustelo, a sweet and creamy treat like flan or a slice of tres leches cake beautifully rounds out the coffee experience.
Sorbet or Gelato: A scoop of lemon sorbet or your favorite flavor of gelato adds a delightful and cooling touch, especially on a hot day.
Ingredients Substitutes
When making Café Bustelo Iced Coffee, you may sometimes need to substitute certain ingredients due to dietary restrictions, personal preferences, or simply because you’ve run out of something. Below are various ingredients typically used in making iced coffee and suitable substitutes for each.
Coffee
Café Bustelo: Obviously, for an authentic taste, you’d use Café Bustelo coffee. However, if you don’t have any on hand, any strong espresso or a dark roast coffee can be used as a substitute. The aim is to have a concentrated coffee flavor that won’t become too diluted when iced.
Milk or Cream
Whole Milk: For a dairy-free alternative, you can use almond milk, soy milk, oat milk, or coconut milk. Each will impart its unique flavor and nutritional profile.
Cream: If you are looking for a lighter option, half-and-half or even whole milk can be used in place of cream. For a non-dairy substitute, there are many non-dairy creamers available that are made from almonds, soy, or oats.
Sweeteners
Sugar: If you’re avoiding refined sugar, you can opt for alternatives like honey, agave syrup, or maple syrup. These sweeteners may change the flavor profile slightly but can add exciting notes to your coffee. For a sugar-free option, consider stevia, erythritol, or monk fruit sweetener.
Simple Syrup: For a low-calorie option, you could use a sugar-free simple syrup made with a sugar substitute. You can also make simple syrup with coconut sugar or honey for a different taste.
Ice
Regular Ice: Regular ice can be replaced with coffee ice cubes to prevent your drink from becoming watered down as the ice melts. Simply pour coffee into an ice cube tray and freeze.
Flavorings
Vanilla Extract: If you do not have vanilla extract, you can use other extracts such as almond or hazelnut to add a different dimension of flavor.
Cocoa Powder or Chocolate Syrup: If making a mocha-flavored iced coffee and you’re out of chocolate syrup, you can mix in a bit of cocoa powder with your sweetener of choice or use a chocolate-flavored non-dairy creamer.
Spices: If you’re looking to add a bit of warmth to your iced coffee without vanilla, consider spices like cinnamon or nutmeg. A small pinch goes a long way.
Toppings
Whipped Cream: You can substitute dairy whipped cream for coconut whipped cream or any store-bought non-dairy whipped topping.
Caramel Drizzle: If you don’t have caramel, try a drizzle of honey, maple syrup, or chocolate syrup instead.
Final Thoughts
Creating Café Bustelo Iced Coffee is a delightful and refreshing way to enjoy coffee, especially in warm weather. By tweaking the ingredients and preparation methods to match your preferences, you can elevate this simple beverage into a personalized coffee experience.
Milk or Creamer (optional): About 1/4 cup, your choice, depending on taste (dairy or non-dairy varieties work)
Sweetener (optional): Sugar, simple syrup, or your preferred sweetener to taste
Instructions
Brew the Coffee: If you have an espresso maker, brew the Café Bustelo coffee according to the machine instructions. For those using a regular coffee maker, simply prepare the coffee slightly stronger than usual to compensate for the dilution caused by ice.
Cool the Coffee: Allow the coffee to cool to room temperature after brewing. This prevents the ice from melting too quickly and diluting your coffee. For a faster cooling process, you can place the brewed coffee in the refrigerator.
Prepare the Glass: Fill your serving glass with ice cubes to the brim.
Customize Your Coffee: If you like your coffee with milk, pour the cooled coffee over the ice first, then add the milk or creamer. Add sweetener if you prefer. Stir well to ensure everything is mixed thoroughly.
Serve: Give the iced coffee a final stir and serve immediately. Enjoy the robust and refreshing taste of Café Bustelo.
Meet Sandra, a bartender with a passion for mixology and storytelling. Born and raised in Miami, Sandra's fascination with flavors and spirits began at a young age, inspired by the vibrant culture of her hometown.
