Cuban coffee is known for its strong and bold flavor. Some people may find Cuban coffee too strong or bitter, while others may enjoy its unique flavor.
In my journey of tasting as many different coffee beans as possible, I wanted to try Cuban coffee. I had read about this coffee being particularly strong and thought it would be perfect for milk-based espresso drinks. Soon, I realized that you cannot get real Cuban coffee in the US. So, what is this article about, then? Let me explain.
There are many Cuban coffee beans that you can buy online, but it’s important to note that Cuban coffee is subject to a U.S. trade embargo, so it can be difficult to find true Cuban coffee beans in the United States. However, some companies offer coffee that is Cuban-style, meaning that it is made with beans and methods similar to those used in Cuba.
Our top 3 picks
Best overall: Bustelo Supreme
Affordable option: Kahwa Cuban Coffee
Best pre-ground: Chock full o’Nuts Cuban Roast
Top 10 Best Cuban Coffee beans
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | |
|---|---|---|---|
BEST OVERALL <  | Type: Whoel Bean Flavor Profile: Bold, intense, and smoky with notes of chocolate and caramel Price per ounce: $$$ | ||
 | Type: Whole Bean Flavor Profile: Smooth and balanced with notes of chocolate and caramel Price per ounce: $$ | ||
 | Type: Pre-ground Flavor Profile: Smooth and mild with hints of chocolate and caramel Price per ounce: $$ | ||
 | Type: Whole Bean Flavor Profile: Sweet, earthy, and bold with notes of vanilla and hone Price per ounce: $ | ||
 | Type: Pre-ground Flavor Profile: Rich, full-bodied, and strong with notes of cocoa and spice Price per ounce: $ | ||
 | Type: Pre-ground Flavor Profile: Bold and robust with notes of chocolate and nuts Price per ounce: $ | ||
best pre-ground  | Type: Pre-ground Flavor Profile: Bold and smooth with notes of dark chocolate and smoky undertones Price per ounce: $$ | ||
 | Type: Pre-ground Flavor Profile: Smooth and bold with notes of dark chocolate and caramel Price per ounce: $$ | ||
 | Type: Pre-ground Flavor Profile: Bold and smooth with notes of chocolate and nuts Price per ounce: $$$ | ||
value pick  | Type: Whole Bean Flavor Profile: Sweet and nutty with notes of caramel and dark chocolate Price per ounce: $$ |
1. Bustelo Supreme Whole Bean Espresso Coffee – Best Overall
Type: Whole Bean
Origin: 100% Arabica beans from South America, Central America, and Africa
Flavor profile: Bold, intense, and smoky with notes of chocolate and caramel
Cafe Bustelo is a popular coffee brand that was founded in New York in 1928 by a Spanish immigrant named Gregorio Menendez Bustelo. While the company’s coffee is not sourced from Cuba, it is made using a blend of high-quality beans from Central and South America.
Cafe Bustelo Supreme Whole Bean Espresso Coffee has a bold and robust flavor profile with hints of chocolate and nuttiness. The coffee has a strong and full-bodied taste, making it a great choice for those who enjoy a more intense coffee experience. However, this is not the strongest coffee compared to the other Cuban-styled coffees we tried.
This is the best Cuban-style coffee we tried and probably one that most people would enjoy. It is not too strong for a Cuban coffee so it can be easily enjoyed as an espresso shot. It can be a great choice for someone just getting into Cuban coffee.
2. Mayorga Cafe Cubano Whole Bean Coffee
Type: Whole Bean
Origin: Blend of beans from South and Central America
Flavor profile: Sweet, earthy, and bold with notes of vanilla and honey
Mayorga Organics is a company that specializes in organic and fair-trade coffee. The beans used to make Mayorga Cafe Cubano Whole Bean Coffee are sourced from high-altitude regions in Latin America, such as Peru and Honduras. The coffee is then roasted in the United States.
Mayorga Cafe Cubano Whole Bean Coffee has a bold and intense flavor profile, with hints of chocolate and a smoky finish. It has a strong and full-bodied taste, with a slightly sweet and spicy aftertaste.
We found this to be one of the strongest coffees we tried, which I guess makes it truer to Cuban-style. With its bold and intense flavor profile, this coffee is sure to please those who enjoy a more intense coffee experience. Or it could also be great to enjoy with milk to balance the flavor a bit.
3. Café Bustelo Cuban Espresso Coffee
Type: Pre-ground
Origina: Blend of beans from South America, Central America, and Africa
Flavor profile: Rich, full-bodied, and strong with notes of cocoa and spice
We know that not everyone has a coffee grinder, so we wanted to include a pre-ground coffee option in this list.
Café Bustelo Cuban Espresso Coffee is a dark roast coffee that is designed to be used for making espresso. Café Bustelo Cuban Espresso Coffee has a bold and intense flavor profile with notes of cocoa and a smoky finish. It has a strong and full-bodied taste, with a slightly sweet and bitter aftertaste.
We found this coffee to be not as bold as other Cuban-style coffees, so it is likely to be a crowd pleaser.
4. Café La Llave Cuban Espresso
Type: Pre-ground
Origin: Blend of beans from South America and Central America
Flavor profile: Bold and robust with notes of chocolate and nuts
Café La Llave is a popular coffee brand that was founded by the Baez family, Cuban immigrants who settled in Los Angeles in the 1960s. The coffee is made using a blend of high-quality beans from Central and South America, roasted in a traditional Cuban style to produce a dark and intense flavor.
Café La Llave Cuban Espresso has a bold and full-bodied flavor with notes of caramel and dark chocolate. It has a rich and creamy texture and a slightly sweet finish.
This is one of the most affordable options we found, so it is a great choice if this is your first time buying Cuban coffee.
5. Pilon Cuban Coffee/Espresso Blend
Type: Whole Bean
Origin: Blend of beans from the Caribbean and Latin America
Flavor profile: Smooth and balanced with notes of chocolate and caramel
Another whole bean coffee option is the Pilon Cuban Coffee. It has a bold and full-bodied flavor with notes of caramel and dark chocolate. These coffee beans are 100% Arabica sourced from the Caribbean and Latin America.
Compared to other Cuban-style coffees in the list, this one is not as intense. It’s a great choice for making both coffee and espresso, and is versatile enough to be enjoyed in a variety of coffee preparations.
6. Naviera Cuban Style Coffee
Type: Pre-ground
Origin: Blend of beans from Central and South America
Flavor profile: Smooth and mild with hints of chocolate and caramel
The Naviera coffee is a pre-ground coffee option that is different to the other coffees in our list. It is actually a mix of coffee and chicory, which many people are not aware of before buying. Chicory is a plant that is grown for its roots. Chicory root has a slightly sweet and nutty flavor, and when it is roasted, it takes on a rich and robust flavor that is similar to coffee. Chicory is often added to coffee to enhance its flavor and add a bit of complexity to the brew.
We have seen some really great reviews for this coffee. Some people swear by it and really like how unique this blend is. Of course, we had to try this coffee.
We found it to be a lot milder than the regular Cuban-style coffee. It was smooth, complex and with a touch of sweetness. This is the kind of coffee that we would prefer to have as brewed coffee rather than espresso.
7. Chock full o’Nuts Cuban Roast – Best Ground Coffee
Roast: Medium Dark
Region: Huila
Flavor profile: Bright, ripe cherry, toasted nuts
This pre-ground coffee has a rich and full-bodied flavor, with notes of dark chocolate and smoky undertones. It is well-balanced and not overly bitter, making it a great choice for those who enjoy strong coffee that is still smooth and easy to drink. The dark roast profile brings out the natural sweetness of the beans while also adding a subtle bitterness that is offset by the chocolate notes.
Chock full o’Nuts Cuban Roast coffee is pre-ground and ready to use, making it a convenient choice for drip coffee makers, French presses, and other coffee brewing methods. It is a great option for those who are looking for a bold and complex coffee that is not overly acidic or bitter. If you enjoy a dark roast coffee with a rich and satisfying flavor, you might want to give Chock full o’Nuts Cuban Roast a try!
8. Pilon Espresso 100% Coffee
Type: Pre-ground
Origin: Blend of Arabica beans from Central and South America
Flavor profile: Smooth and bold with notes of dark chocolate and caramel
Pilon Espresso 100% Coffee is a pre-ground coffee that is made from a blend of Arabica and Robusta beans. As expected, this blend is one of the most affordable options in our list.
This coffee has a dark roast profile that brings out the natural sweetness of the beans while also adding a subtle bitterness that is characteristic of a good espresso. It has a smooth and rich flavor, with notes of chocolate and caramel that add complexity to the brew.
This coffee is perfect for espresso lovers who are looking for a convenient, affordable and high-quality option that delivers a classic espresso flavor with a velvety crema.
9. La Carreta
Type: Pre-ground
Origin: Blend of beans from South America and Central America
Flavor profile: Bold and smooth with notes of chocolate and nuts
La Carreta is a popular brand of Cuban coffee that is known for its rich and bold flavor. It is a dark roast coffee that is made from a blend of high-quality beans sourced from Central and South America. This coffee is a favorite among those who appreciate the unique taste of Cuban coffee, which is known for its bold flavor and smooth finish.
La Carreta coffee has a strong and complex flavor profile, with notes of chocolate and caramel that give it a rich and satisfying taste. It is well-balanced and not overly bitter, making it a great choice for those who enjoy strong coffee that is still smooth and easy to drink. This coffee is best brewed as a strong shot of espresso or as a cortadito (a Cuban-style latte).
La Carreta coffee is available in both whole bean and pre-ground options, making it a versatile choice for a variety of brewing methods. It is also a popular choice for those who enjoy making their own Cuban-style coffee at home.
10. Kahwa Cuban Coffee Beans
Type: Whole Bean
Origin: Blend of beans from South America and Central America
Flavor profile: Sweet and nutty with notes of caramel and dark chocolate
Kahwa Cubano Dark Roast is a more affordable alternative to Bustelo Supreme. We found the flavor profile and texture to be pretty similar.
Espresso Blend is a premium coffee that is known for its robust and intense flavor. It is a dark roast coffee that is made from a blend of high-quality Arabica and Robusta beans sourced from Central and South America.
This coffee has a rich and full-bodied flavor with notes of dark chocolate, nuttiness, and hints of smokiness. It has a well-balanced flavor profile, with a bold and very roasty taste but not overly bitter or acidic.
More About Cuban Coffee
Do you want to know how to brew Cuban coffee? Do you know what exactly is a “cafe cubano”? Keep reading to learn more about Cuban coffee.
Flavor Profile
Cuban coffee is known for its bold and robust flavor profile that is characterized by a strong and sweet taste with a smooth finish. It is typically made from a blend of high-quality coffee beans that are roasted to a dark or medium-dark level, giving the coffee a rich and intense flavor.
Roast
Many Cuban coffee varieties are roasted to a dark or medium-dark level, as this helps to bring out the full-bodied and complex flavor profile that is characteristic of Cuban coffee. The dark roast helps to develop the natural oils and sugars in the coffee beans, giving the coffee a rich and intense flavor with notes of chocolate, nuttiness, and sometimes even a subtle hint of smokiness.
That being said, some Cuban coffee roasters prefer to roast their beans to a medium or medium-light level, which can result in a slightly lighter and more nuanced flavor profile. It’s all a matter of personal taste and the specific roasting techniques used by the coffee roaster.
Can you buy Cuban coffee in the US?
It is possible to buy Cuban coffee in the US. But, it can be challenging to find authentic Cuban coffee due to the embargo and limited supply.
While the embargo makes it illegal to import goods from Cuba into the US, there is an exception for certain products, including coffee. However, even with this exception, it can still be difficult to find authentic Cuban coffee in the US, as the supply is limited and the market is relatively small.
One option for buying Cuban coffee in the US is to look for coffee companies that specialize in Cuban coffee or that offer blends that include Cuban beans. Some well-known brands that offer Cuban-style coffee include Café Bustelo, Pilon, and La Llave, among others. These companies use beans from other countries, such as Brazil or Colombia, to produce coffee blends that are similar in flavor profile to traditional Cuban coffee.
How to brew Cuban coffee?
You can actually use any brew method to make coffee with Cuban-style coffee. However, Cuban coffee is commonly used to make “cafe cubano” or “cafecito”
What is “Cafe Cubano”?
“Café Cubano,” also known as “cafecito,” is a type of strong and sweet espresso-like coffee that is popular in Cuba and among Cuban communities around the world. It is made by brewing a small amount of finely ground coffee beans with sugar to create a thick and syrupy espresso shot.
The traditional way of making café cubano involves adding a spoonful of sugar to the coffee grounds before brewing, so that the sugar melts and mixes with the coffee as it is brewed. The result is a sweet and creamy coffee with a thick layer of foam on top, similar to an espresso shot.
Café cubano is typically served in small espresso cups, and it is often enjoyed as a mid-morning or mid-afternoon pick-me-up. In Cuba, it is a popular social drink and is often enjoyed with friends or colleagues as a way of taking a break from work and catching up on the latest news and gossip.
Conclusion
Cuban coffee is renowned for its bold and complex flavor profile, and it’s no wonder why coffee lovers around the world seek out the best Cuban coffee beans to brew at home.
From the rich and chocolatey notes of a dark Cuban espresso to the subtle sweetness of a medium roast, there are many different varieties of Cuban coffee to explore and enjoy. Our favorite Cuban coffee is Bustelo Supreme. But, if you are looking for a similar but more affordable option, we would recommend Kahwa Cuban Coffee.
Whether you prefer to grind your own beans or opt for a pre-ground coffee blend, there are many great options available that offer the unique and satisfying flavor of Cuban coffee. Our number one choice when it comes to pre-ground options is the Chock full o’Nuts Cuban Roast.
So why not try out some of the best Cuban coffee beans on the market today and discover your new favorite cup of joe? With so many great options available, there’s never been a better time to indulge in the bold and delicious world of Cuban coffee.