Cafe Bustelo, sometimes known as Cafe Bustelo Ground Coffee or just Cafe Bustelo, has been in business since 1930 and is one of the most popular coffee brands in the United States today.
The coffee brand got its start after the owner of Cafe Bustelo emigrated from Cuba to New York City at the age of eighteen and brought his family’s secret recipe with him. In this article, we’ll dive into the ins and outs of Cafe Bustelo coffee to see where their beans come from and why they use them in their products.
Bustelo Coffee Beans History or Origin
Cafe Bustelo beans are obtained from coffee growers in Mexico. The coffee beans are grown in the states of Chiapas, Tabasco, Veracruz, and Oaxaca.
They have also been bought from producers in Colombia, Honduras, and Costa Rica. In total there are over 150 farmers involved with Bustelo’s supply chain to produce the beans for their instant coffee.
The origins of Bustelo coffee date back to 1929 when Remo Cazaux created a blend that he would market as Kafe Rio. It wasn’t until 1960, when his family founded their coffee business in Miami, that they began producing their instant coffee. In 1977 they rebranded it as Cafe Bustelo and introduced its signature red canister.
Today it is one of America’s most popular coffee brands and can be found throughout North America.
The red canister with black font and white drawing on it is another unique aspect of Bustelo’s coffee packaging.
It has become a visual symbol of their brand and is reminiscent of some iconic cans in history such as Coca-Cola, Fanta, and 7UP. Although they do not currently sell coffee in any other canisters, they still use their signature one for all their coffee products including ground, iced and K-cup varieties.
Cafe Bustelo Ingredients
Cafe Bustelo is a coffee company that was founded in Brooklyn, New York by Cuban immigrant Rene Camacho in 1960.
Today, the company offers its line of instant coffees as well as ground and whole beans. The question on most people’s minds, however, is from which country does Café Bustelo get their coffee beans? One might think that they import all of their coffee from Cuba; this is not the case.
While Café Bustelo does source their coffee beans from several countries, they do import some of their beans from Cuba.
However, not all Cuban-sourced coffee is created equal. The only way to ensure that your Cuban-sourced coffee comes from an ethical place is to know exactly where and how your beans are sourced.
Today, Café Bustelo is owned by Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group. MZB oversees several beverage companies including Caffè Classico, Chameleon Cold-Brew, and Torani Syrups.
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What Makes Bustelo Coffee Beans Special?
Coffee beans are the seeds of a fruit called coffee cherries.
They’re picked by hand and when roasted, they can be used as the main ingredient in different types of coffee.
Bustelo Coffee Beans are sourced from countries like Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Colombia, and Mexico. This makes Bustelo Coffee Beans special because it’s a blend that includes mild coffees with an acidity that’s not too high or low.
The unique blend of coffee beans has created a type of coffee that can be enjoyed by a variety of people. It’s not too strong or bitter and it doesn’t have an acidic or sour taste to it. The smoothness of Bustelo Coffee makes it a favorite among many.
Where Do Bustelo Coffee Beans Come From?
Cafe Bustelo coffee beans come from the country of Honduras. The company was started in 1961 by Eduardo Bustelo, a Cuban immigrant to the US, who wanted to brew a true Cuban espresso in America.
He started by selling ground coffee and later sold roasts for home brewing. Cafe Bustelo is now owned by Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group, which also owns Gevalia Kaffe and Tim Hortons (Canada).
Besides coffee beans, there are several more varieties of coffee to enjoy. It’s recommended that you try it in its natural state, as well as with cream and sugar.
You can also try substituting your normal morning brew with a cup of cold-brewed Bustelo coffee.
How Are Bustelo Coffee Beans Processed?
Coffee beans are processed in a variety of ways depending on the desired flavor, but they are typically roasted and ground. Bustelo Coffee Beans come from Colombia.
Coffee beans grown in this region have a well-balanced taste and an acidic profile that is very balanced. This area also produces some of the highest-quality Arabica beans in the world.
Once they are harvested and dried, the beans go through a rigorous inspection process to ensure their quality before being shipped to Bustelo for processing and roasting.
Before they can be sold as a final product, coffee beans must first be processed.
The type of processing coffee beans receive will impact their flavor. At Cafe Bustelo, they undergo a highly-refined process that results in a balanced taste and aroma.
As beans are prepared for roasting, they are soaked to remove any moisture that remains in them after drying.
After soaking comes washing, which removes debris and other unwanted materials. Then comes drying, when all remaining water is removed from within each bean.
How to Make Cafe Bustelo Coffee
Cafe Bustelo offers a variety of different types of coffee, including Cafe Bustelo Original Ground Coffee, Cafe Bustelo Decaf Ground Coffee, Cafe Bustelo House Blend Ground Coffee, and Cafe Bustelo Colombian Dark Roast Ground Coffee.
To make coffee using any one of these types of coffee beans, take 2-3 tablespoons of ground coffee beans per 8 ounces of water and brew in your coffee maker.
For example, a classic recipe for an 8-ounce serving of coffee from Cafe Bustelo Original Ground Coffee is 2 to 3 tablespoons of ground coffee per 8 ounces of water. Brew using a drip or French press method, depending on your preference.
Is Cafe Bustelo Espresso?
Cafe Bustelo Espresso is an espresso-based coffee beverage that comes in five varieties: Colombian Dark Roast, Colombian Mild Roast, Mexican Dark Roast, Mexican Decaf, and Decaf Colombian. It’s brewed with Arabica beans from Colombia and Mexico.
One thing to note about Cafe Bustelo is that it does not contain any additives or preservatives. Another thing to note about Cafe Bustelo is that it can be purchased online at Amazon for $6.00 per can of 12 ounces.
It’s no secret that there are many different types of coffee and every coffee has a unique taste. If you don’t like one type of coffee, it doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t like another type of coffee. The same goes for espresso-based drinks! So, although you may not enjoy drinking espresso, you might enjoy drinking a Cafe Bustelo Espresso.