A traditional Guatemalan dish — Café de Olla is the spiced, sweet coffee that fills Guatemalan kitchens with the scent of cinnamon and panela. Coffee grounds simmer with raw cane sugar and spices, producing a rich, aromatic brew that is more ritual than beverage. It is the perfect end to a meal of tamales or a slow morning in the highlands.
Café de Olla Guatemalteco
A traditional Guatemalan dish — Café de Olla is the spiced, sweet coffee that fills Guatemalan kitchens with the scent of cinnamon and panela.

Step by stepInstructions
- Combine the water, panela, cinnamon, cloves, and star anise in a pot and bring to a simmer, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
- Simmer gently for 10 minutes so the spices infuse the water.
- Stir in the coffee grounds and simmer for 3 minutes more, without boiling hard.
- Remove from the heat, cover, and let steep for 5 minutes.
- Strain through a fine sieve or coffee filter and serve hot, in clay mugs if you have them.
💡 Chef tips & storage
Traditional café de olla is brewed in a clay pot, which adds a subtle earthiness — a stainless pot works, but keep the heat low. Sweeten to taste; some like it quite sweet, others barely.

Join the conversation
Only members can comment — it takes a few seconds to create a free account.
Log in Create an account