One of my very first memories is of sitting in my Abuela Alicia’s tiny apartment in San Juan. I was five years old and the roar of the highway just outside her window was a sort of soundtrack to her morning routine. The cars honked angrily as she prepared her café colao the same way she had ten thousand times before. I would watch, mesmerized, as she held the well-worn mesh strainer over her coffee cup and let the coffee slowly drip out. Abuela would take these moments to talk to me about some of the challenges that I would face in life. The biggest of which would be surviving El Cuco.
El Cuco is Puerto Rico’s version of the boogeyman. He is a snarling, shapeless monster that runs rampant through the streets snatching misbehaving children and eating them alive. According to my Abuela he lived in the hallway outside her apartment.
“You must never go out there without my permission. He’ll get you. Look at your chubby cheeks. You’d be a tasty treat for El Cuco.” I stared at my reflection in the toaster terrified.
Abuela Alicia taught me a valuable lesson. Life is hard and El Cuco comes in many shapes and sizes. A cup of Puerto Rican coffee is the best way to sharpen your senses and make sure El Cuco doesn’t eat you alive.
For this preparation I chose Café Yaucono, in honor of my Abuela. It’s one of Puerto Rico’s most popular coffees and my Abuela’s favorite ‘til this day. My soundtrack is Eddie Palmieri’s Café.
Tools
- mesh strainer / colador
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Yaucono Puerto Rican Coffee
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk
Directions
- Place a tablespoon of Yaucono or your favorite brand of coffee into a mesh strainer or colador. Hold the strainer over an empty coffee cup.
- Pour 1 cup of hot water into the strainer little by little, allowing it to slowly drip into your coffee cup.
- When the strainer is empty hold it over the now empty cup that you used to hold the hot water and pour your full cup of coffee into it slowly. Straining the coffee through the grounds a second time develops more flavor.
- For a more intense cup of coffee repeat the straining process again. Remember you can always pass the time by telling your child horrifying stories.
- You can drink your coffee black like my Abuela, but I prefer to stir in a tablespoon of condensed milk for the mother of all wake up calls.
Yeah, blame it on grandma to give me a bad rap. Well jokes on you, sista… wait till my lawyers here about this. I’ll be suing you for defamation. #cucolivesmatter
I don’t hate the player Cuco, I hate the game.
I cried a bit remembering my abuelita Thank you for the memories ! And you are so funny!!! ” 3 times for a body like Beyonce?” “You can always pass the time by telling your children horrifying stories?!” You’re absolutely hilarious
Thank you Melanie!
Hi I’m Monty!! Too!! Love this site already. As another And I thought the only other Puerto Rican named Monty I can appreciate this site. Can’t wait to see your foods and stories that go along with them. Puerto Rico is a big part of my heart. I live in Las Vegas now but go back every year to visit Mami, Papi & Los abuelos. I miss the food dearly since there is nowhere I can get Puerto Rican food in Las Vegas. Someone needs to open a great Puerto Rican food place in Vegas that serves some killer mofongo, maybe someday you’ll be the one. Good luck on this endeavor and may your success continue. #boricuasay #wepa
Monty!! Thanks so much for checking it out! We have more content coming soon! I’m working on sweet plantain ice cream!
Sweet Plantain Ice Cream sounds interesting. Would love to try that. When I was in Puerto Rico I saw on the menu at El Meson Plantain Soup which I wanted to try but was a bit skeptical about it so I didn’t. Thought that was interesting too. Anyway good luck with the ice cream.
Buen recuerdo! y se llenaba la tasa de café con galletas “Sporti sodas”
Sporti Sodas!!! Nice!!
El CUCO! Hilarious! It’s been a long time since I’ve heard him mentioned. I remember many times waking up in the middle of the night needing to go pee but scared the Cuco was hiding in the closet and would snatch me.
I’m a PR girl but born and raised in the states. I would spend my summers in PR with my grandparents. I now have a 17 year old son, who has never been to PR, but I always tell him little antics and stories.
I think I’m going to love this blog! Looking forward to seeing all you post.
~V
P.S. Do you happen to have a recipe for Tembleque? My husband loves it and gets it anytime we go to a Spanish restaurant or bakery but I haven’t a clue how to make it.
Vanessa you read my mind! I’ve been thinking about tembleque for a while now. I’m working on my first round of recipes but will definitely put that on the list. Right now I’m perfecting sweet plantain ice cream. I want to try Malta ice cream as well!
Oh god, MALTA ICE CREAM!!!! I will be indebted to you for life on that one. I have to have that!! But you know the age old question Malta Goya or Malta India. India for me.
India for me too!
Your site looks great. Miss you in Mesa/Phoenix.
Miss my Arizona peeps!! Thanks David!
I cried a bit remembering my abuelita Thank you for the memories ! And you are so funny!!! ” 3 times for a body like Beyonce?” “You can always pass the time by telling your children horrifying stories?!” You’re absolutely hilarious
Thanks so much for reading this Melanie!!