In the ever-expanding world of craft coffee culture, there’s a new player in South Florida that reflects both the visual nostalgia of mid-century Miami and the flavors we embrace in powerful, dark cafecitos that fuel home and the workplace.
Roasted in Miami, Abuela Mami Coffee is a medium-dark roast of certified organic, 100% arabica whole beans, the latest offering from Kiki Valdes, who founded his subscription box service with his brother three years ago. “This is how our grandparents enjoyed coffee in 1950s Cuba,” he says. “It’s smooth, non-acidic, and doesn’t give you the jitters, just a nice energy.” The beans are certified organic and come from Honduras, which Valdes says is “the most like Cuba” of coffee-producing countries.
Valdes has wanted to create his own coffee brand for the past three years. Unlike his subscription service, aimed at Cubans living outside of South Florida who are longing for guava paste, Maria cookies, Jupiña and sazon completa, Abuela Mami Coffee is meant for everyone – locals who want a good cafecito but also great drip coffee. The whimsically designed bags show directions for making both, from grinding the beans (medium setting for Americano, very fine for cafecito cubano) to making the espuma, the caramel-colored foam at the top of a cafecito.
Abuela Mami (center) with Kiki (left) and his cousin David (Photo: Kiki Valdes)
And yes, there is an Abuela Mami, their 93-year-old grandmother who lives in Westchester, who was introduced to the product before it launches. “She thinks it’s fun.”
Right now, Abuela Mami Coffee is available online. Valdes is looking for retailers and plans on doing pop-ups. “We’re really excited because we’ll be a lot more involved in Miami,” he says.
