🎉 Cinco de Mayo Meets Taco Tuesday – Mexican Coffee Recipes Worth Celebrating Year-Round
While Cinco de Mayo doesn’t fall on a Tuesday this year, we’re still seizing the moment to combine two of our favorite things: bold, beautiful coffee and flavor-packed tacos. Whether you're hosting a party, planning your next Taco Tuesday, or just want a festive pick-me-up, these Mexican-inspired coffee drinks are a celebration in every sip.
🇲🇽 What is Cinco de Mayo?
Cinco de Mayo, or the fifth of May, commemorates the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. While it’s a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the U.S. it has become a spirited celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, especially in areas with vibrant Mexican-American communities. (source)
☕ A Bit About Mexican Coffee Beans
Mexico’s coffee is grown primarily in southern regions like Chiapas, Oaxaca, Pluma, and Veracruz — all known for their lush mountain climates and nutrient-rich soils. These beans tend to be smooth, slightly sweet, and often chocolatey, making them perfect for spiced and flavored coffee drinks.
🧡 The Star of the Show: Authentic Café de Olla
Café de Olla is a traditional Mexican coffee brewed with cinnamon, clove, piloncillo (unrefined sugar), and sometimes orange peel — often in a clay pot, which enhances the flavor over time.
Hot Café de Olla Recipe
- 4 cups water
- 3 oz piloncillo or ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2–3 whole cloves
- Optional: orange peel
- 4 tbsp ground Mexican coffee (medium to dark roast)
Instructions: Simmer the spices and sugar in water until dissolved. Add coffee grounds, simmer briefly, then strain and serve hot.
Cold Brew Twist
Create a spiced syrup first (half the water with the spices and sugar), then add cold water and steep with coarse ground coffee for 12–16 hours. Strain and pour over ice. Add milk or cream if you like it rich.
🌟 More Mexican Coffee Recipes to Try
Take your Café de Olla and level it up — or branch out with entirely new creations inspired by the bold, warm flavors of Mexican cuisine.
1. Iced Mexican Coffee
- Pour Café de Olla over ice
- Stir in 1 tbsp chocolate syrup + 1 tbsp milk or cream
- Optional: top with cinnamon whipped cream
2. Decadent Café de Olla
- Top your hot brew with whipped cream
- Dust with cinnamon or grated chocolate
3. Tipsy Café de Olla
- Add a splash of Kahlúa or coffee liqueur
- Serve warm in your favorite mug
4. Mexican Mocha
- Espresso or strong coffee
- Cocoa powder, cayenne, cinnamon
- Milk of choice
- Sweetener to taste
- Heat and froth, top with whipped cream and chili dust
5. Horchata Cold Brew
- 50/50 horchata and cold brew
- Optional condensed milk swirl
- Serve over ice with a cinnamon stick stirrer
6. Tequila Espresso Martini
- Espresso, tequila, coffee liqueur, agave syrup
- Shake with ice and serve in a cinnamon-sugar rimmed glass
7. Dulce de Leche Iced Coffee
- Iced coffee + dulce de leche
- A splash of milk or cream
- Pinch of salt
- Garnish with caramel drizzle on the rim
8. Churro Latte
- Espresso
- Steamed milk with cinnamon syrup
- Rim mug with cinnamon sugar
- Optional: mini churro skewer for garnish
🌮 Bonus Pairings: Coffee + Tacos = Yes, Always
These drinks are made for more than just special occasions — they’re perfect pairings for Taco Tuesdays all year long:
- Mexican Mocha + Chicken Mole Tacos
- Horchata Cold Brew + Carnitas
- Dulce de Leche Iced Coffee + Churros
🥳 Celebrate with Coffee, Culture, and Flavor
Whether you’re toasting to Cinco de Mayo, throwing a themed brunch, or just adding something special to Taco Tuesday, these Mexican coffee recipes are a flavorful, festive way to raise your mug. Bookmark this post, try them all, and share your creations with us!
You can watch this video below for 3 more Café de Olla recipe variations and watch the process for making the authentic Mexican coffee recipe.
Want More Ideas? Check out these recipes on Pinterest
