Carajillo (Puesto)
4.0 80 ratings
Ingredients
How to make
Serve in a old-fashioned glass
Prepare
- 1 Select and pre-chill an OLD-FASHIONED GLASS.
- 2 Prepare garnish of 3 coffee beans.
Method
- 3 POUR liqueur into ice-filled glass.
- 4 Carefully FLOAT coffee over the liqueur.
Garnish
- 5 Garnish with 3 coffee beans.
Flavour profile
14.1% alc./vol. · 0.8 standard drinks · 127 calories
History
Carajillo, a coffee and spirit mix, is popular in Mexico. Licor 43, with its vanilla and spice notes, complements coffee well. The coffee's bitterness should balance the sweet liqueur; espresso is recommended.
The Carajillo, a Spanish cocktail, is believed to have originated with Spanish soldiers in Cuba, then a Spanish province. These soldiers purportedly mixed coffee with rum to bolster their courage, with "coraje" meaning courage in Spanish, and "corajillo" being its diminutive. In Catalan, this drink is known as Cigaló. Across Spain, the Carajillo is enjoyed in various regional preparations. Some involve merely adding brandy to an espresso, while others heat brandy with elements like lemon juice or zest, sugar, and cinnamon before incorporating coffee. A straightforward version is also common in Latin American nations, including Colombia and Venezuela, and in Cuba, where rum is typically used instead of brandy. An American interpretation of the Carajillo features a double shot of espresso mixed with chocolate liqueur, served in a brandy balloon glass filled with ice and crowned with whipped cream. Alternatively, a version exists with a caramelized sugar rim, made with rum, triple sec, coffee, and whipped cream. The Carajillo has seen a surge in popularity in Mexico, particularly since approximately 2015. In this country, it is prepared either shaken, referred to as "shakeado," or layered, known as "puesto." The increased popularity in Mexico has been significantly boosted by promotional efforts from Licor 43 Liqueur, which is the most frequently used liqueur for crafting a Carajillo.