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Mexican-Style Sweetened Black Coffee (Café de Olla)

3.8

(2)

If you normally take your coffee with milk, you'll find this particular recipe for black coffee a welcome change—the molasses and cinnamon give it a warm and slightly exotic depth that's simply irresistible. Be sure to use coffee that is not finely ground.

Cooks' note:

Coffee can be made 3 hours ahead. Reheat over moderate heat (do not boil).

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    15 min

  • Yield

    Makes about 8 cups

Ingredients

8 cups water
2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon molasses
2 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks
1 cup medium-grind coffee (not espresso)

Preparation

  1. Bring water, brown sugar, molasses, and cinnamon sticks to a boil in a 4-quart pot over moderate heat, stirring occasionally until sugar is dissolved. Stir in coffee and boil 5 minutes. Pour through a fine-mesh sieve into a heatproof pitcher or clean pot, discarding coffee grinds and cinnamon sticks.

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