Best Cuban Coffee Shops In Miami

Cuban coffee culture in Greater Miami and Miami Beach dates back to the 1950s, when the first wave of Cuban immigrants arrived in South Florida. They brought with them their traditional Cuban cuisine, including their beloved rich, sweet and aromatic “cafecito.” They began opening “ventanitas,” or little windows, where you can order Cuban coffee to-go, and where many would linger to socialize with fellow customers.

What is Cuban coffee?

Cuban coffee is basically an espresso shot sweetened with sugar. It is made with an espresso machine or the stovetop “cafetera,” otherwise known as a Moka pot.

How to order a Cuban coffee

There are four classic ways you can order a Cuban coffee: 

• Cafecito: Sweetened espresso without milk, served in a “tacita” (tiny cup)
• Café con leche: A shot of espresso with steamed milk
• Cortadito: The same as a cafecito, but with just a splash of steamed milk, served in a shot glass-sized cup
• Colada: A portion of four-to-six espresso shots meant for sharing with family and friends

Cuban coffee comes sweetened, so if you’re choosy about your sweetness levels, order it “sin azúcar” (without sugar) and add your own. (Though it definitely won’t give the same effect.) Here are some of the best spots to enjoy Cuban coffee in Miami.

Sergio’s

One of the best Cuban restaurants in Miami since 1975, Sergio’s brings the same comfort and flavor to the Cuban coffee experience. You will also find a unique extensive iced coffee menu, including various iced cortaditos – Cuban coffee blended with sweet, steamed milk and served over ice.

Spruce up your iced cortadito with a variety of flavors, such as guava, María cookie or a cinnamon coconut cold foam. Smooth, strong and packed with Miami flavor, it’s the perfect refresher for treating yourself or powering through a midday slump. 

Versailles

An iconic institution since it opened in 1971, Versailles in Little Havana is a MICHELIN-recommended go-to for authentic Cuban coffee, pastries and chitchat with locals at the ventanita. The nostalgic décor includes crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, and lines for the restaurant often snake outside the door.

You also have the choice of eating in the dining room, where you can order Cuban entrées and specialities, or the bakery, where you can order the famous croquetas and pastelitos to accompany your classic café con leche or cortadito.

Tinta y Café

Tinta y Café is a mid-century-style MICHELIN Bib Gourmand winner with locations in Coral Gables and Miami Shores. Sit outside among the palm trees, grab a stool at the coffee counter or kick back among the shelves lined with books at this charming Cuban cafe.

The coffee here tastes rich yet comforting, and you can pair it with one of the many pressed sandwiches on the menu. Try the Patria, a scrumptious take on the Cuban sandwich made with ham, pork mortadella, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard. Or go for the Francesita, consisting of ham or turkey, cream cheese and guava preserve. 

La Colada Gourmet

As you walk in, La Colada Gourmet welcomes you with a playlist of cheerful Spanish rock and pop music and a huge, red coffee roaster mixing coffee beans on the spot. Located in the heart of Calle Ocho (Southwest 8th Street) in Little Havana, La Colada Gourmet is an oasis for Cuban coffee lovers.

You can purchase a bag of coffee (made on the premises) to take home, which makes for an excellent gift, as well as cafeteras, local art and Cuban cigars and hats. Stop by for beautifully prepared Cuban coffee concoctions and a wide choice of sweet and savory pastries. 

Puerto Sagua

The perfect place for breakfast, lunch and even dinner, Puerto Sagua is a Cuban diner located only a block away from the ocean in South Beach. The Cuban coffee (also served iced) is consistently delicious, and you can enjoy it at the counter, which takes you back to a slower, old-school Miami Beach.

This family-owned spot opened in 1962 and has maintained its authentic feel. You can find typical Cuban classics like homemade "ropa vieja” (Cuban-style shredded beef served with rice and beans) and see locals reading their newspapers while sipping Cuban coffee. 

Las Olas Café

South Beach locals go to Las Olas Café for a legit cortadito and Cuban sandwich. This cozy corner spot has a very casual vibe and an extensive menu, especially for breakfast and lunch. Order avocado toast, steak and eggs and natural juices to start your day. You can dine indoors or outside, or order to-go from the huge ventanita.

Suite Habana

Nayelis Delisle, the Cuban-born owner of Suite Habana in Wynwood and South Beach, knows many of her customers by name. She founded her coffee shop (specializing in dark roast coffee) in 2018, aiming to bring the real feel of Cuban culture to Miami. (Hence the posters of Cuban movies and the colorful tiles at the bar.)

Delisle says in Cuba, it’s common to open a business in your home (called a “paladar”), where drinking coffee is a welcome chance to slow down and reset. In that vein, Suite Habana Café feels like a living room where you can enjoy Cuban coffee in all its forms. Her bestseller is the iced café con leche, and you can purchase a bag of the shop’s own locally roasted coffee to bring home. 

Mary’s Café & Coin Laundry

If you’re in the Coconut Grove area, you must try the Cuban cafecito at Mary’s Café & Coin Laundry. This corner laundromat has a ventanita, open 24/7, that has been a favorite among locals since the 1980s. This popular spot is also known for its highly-rated “Pan con Bistec” (steak sandwich), Cubanos and “batidos” (fruit-blended milkshakes), as well as its budget-friendly prices.