Cultural traditions come to life over the holidays, and we should showcase them at the table and in the glass. Every holiday has its own menu, and cultures in every part of the world bring their own festive twist to their tables. Today, we’ll be talking about a boozy and bright Puerto Rican Christmas tradition brought to you by ¡Wepa! Coffee Co.: Coquito de Café.
This recipe is a caffeinated twist on the classic coquito and combines 100% Puerto Rican coffee with creamy coconut and a good helping of rum. Whether fireside or beachside, bundled up or in a bathing suit, every sip will bring that Island energy to your holiday season!
A Traditional Drink with a ¡Wepa! Twist
Coquito is a beloved Puerto Rican holiday beverage traditionally made with coconut milk, condensed milk, and rum. Every family has its own recipe, and each version tells a little bit about the people and history behind it. In that spirit, ¡Wepa! Coffee Co. put its own spin on this Christmas classic by adding its signature 100% Puerto Rican Arabica coffee to the recipe and combining two rich Puerto Rican traditions, coffee and coquito, into one delicious drink.
This unique take on coquito is an homage to Puerto Rican coffee and culture created by its founding team, Brittany, Jeff Didra, and Pedro De León. Pedro grew up on the Island to the smell of rich, dark-roast coffee brewing in the Greca, and Britt and Jeff discovered the exceptional brew after getting married on the Island. Upon returning home, the couple realized there was no option for authentic Puerto Rican coffee in the American market. On their yearly trips back to the Island, they would return with suitcases full of their favorite beans. Their love for the Island and Puerto Rican coffee eventually led to a serendipitous meeting with Pedro, and together, they created ¡Wepa! Coffee Co. is a company dedicated to showcasing the world-class quality of the Island’s coffee.
Coquito de Café Recipe
Ready to bring a taste of the Puerto Rican holidays to your home? The Coquito de Café recipe is exceptionally simple to prepare. Here’s how to do it:
Ingredients:
- Two cans of evaporated milk
- One can condensed milk
- One can of coconut cream
- ½ cup Wepa Coffee (strongly brewed)
- 2 oz coffee liqueur
- White Rum (to taste. *Local favorite is Rincon Rum)
- Cinnamon (for garnish)
Instructions:
- Combine the evaporated milk, condensed milk, and coconut cream in a blender.
- Add the freshly brewed ¡Wepa! Coffee and the coffee liqueur, and blend until smooth.
- Taste and adjust with rum to your preferred level of strength.
- Pour into glasses, garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon, and enjoy!
Coquito can be served chilled or at room temperature. Its creamy coconut flavor, mixed with rich, low-acid coffee and smooth rum, makes it dangerously easy to drink and immediately transports you to the sandy beaches and misty mountains of Puerto Rico.
Why Coquito de Café?
Coquito is eggnog’s sexier, cooler cousin – the one with swagger and effortless dance moves. It’s a tropical twist on a Christmas favorite that will enliven your glasses and your conversation about its Island origin. Each sip will bring satisfied smiles as its smooth coconut flavor, creamy consistency, sweet rum, hints of warm chocolate and cinnamon, and distinctive Puerto Rican coffee glide across the palette.
The holiday tradition that spans all cultures is also the most important: togetherness. The spirit of people coming together to share love, stories, and good times over tasty drinks and comfort food is the true magic of the season, and ¡Wepa! Coffee’s Coquito de Café will become a holiday staple on any table no matter where in the world you are.
For that, you’ll need genuine 100% Puerto Rican coffee, which you can find at the ¡Wepa! Coffee Co. store. Consider picking up some beans for your coquito (and maybe a few extra for any last-minute gifts) before the Christmas shipping deadline on 12/19.
Published by: Jon H.
