Colombian Coffee with Aguapanela (Café con Panela)
Coffee made with aguapanela instead of water, which is how a great many Colombian households drink it. Two cups in five minutes, and it comes out sweet without adding sugar.
Servings: 2
Calories: 417kcal
Ingredients
Instant Coffee
- 2 cups aguapanela panela dissolved in hot water
- 1 teaspoon instant coffee more if you like it stronger
Granulated Coffee
- 2 cups aguapanela panela dissolved in hot water
- 1 teaspoon granulated coffee
Instructions
Instant Coffee
- Put the two cups of aguapanela in a chocolatera or a small pot over medium heat until it is hot, then add the teaspoon of instant coffee. Add more if you prefer it stronger and darker.
- Stir until it has dissolved, and serve.
Granulated Coffee
- Put the two cups of aguapanela in a chocolatera or a small pot over medium heat, add the granulated coffee and let it boil for 3 minutes, or until it rises. Watch it closely: it climbs the pot quickly and will boil over.
- Take it off the heat the moment it rises, let it settle for a minute so the grounds sink, and pour it out.
Notes
The thing that makes this Colombian is that there is no water in it. Coffee is brewed with aguapanela, which is panela dissolved in hot water, so it arrives at the table already sweet and with a molasses note behind the coffee. Adding sugar to it would be redundant. A chocolatera is the tall narrow jug Colombian kitchens use for hot chocolate, and it is what most households reach for here too. Any small pot works. The granulated version needs watching. Coffee grounds boiling in aguapanela climb the sides of the pot fast and go over the top without much warning, and sugar makes the spill worse. Stay with it for the three minutes and take it off the moment it rises. Then let it stand a minute so the grounds sink before pouring. Instant coffee needs none of that: the aguapanela only has to be hot, not boiling.
Nutrition
Calories: 417kcal | Carbohydrates: 103g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 125mg | Sugar: 101g | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg