Aguapanela Colombian coffee recipe! Colombian coffee home brewed with aguapanela, a simple syrup made with sugar cane pulp.
Hi, Rhubarbarians! Sharing a Colombian inspired recipe today. Let's make some aguapanela and then make some Colombian coffee, shall we?
First, I like to make the panela syrup, or aguapanela, that I use to brew the coffee. Then I brew ground Colombian coffee with the aguapanela. It's easy, but you'll need these ingredients to make it!
I like to use a french press to make this version of cafe tinto, but it's traditionally made with a cloth filter.
What is aguapanela?
Aguapanela translates from Spanish to English as "panela water." It's a drink common to South American made with panela and water. Panela is hardened sugar cane. Aguapanela is made by boiling panela in water until dissolved and is usually served as a tea or a coffee.
You can read more about panela on Wikipedia.
Step by step instructions
Here's how to make a cup of Colombian cafe tinto at home! Full instructions are listed in the recipe card at the bottom of this article.
- First, make your aguapanela. You can make just enough for one cup or make a larger amount to have on hand for coffee throughout the day or week.
- Grind your Colombian coffee beans (or use pre ground).
- Brew the coffee with the boiling aguapanela using a french press, or adding the grounds to your aguapanela and then straining through a cloth strainer.
- Serve black or add cream if you'd like. Enjoy!
Recipe
Aguapanela Colombian coffee
Ingredients
- 40 oz filtered water
- 12 oz panela broken into small chunks
- 2-3 tablespoon freshly ground Colombian coffee
Instructions
- Bring water and panela to boil in a small saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring regularly to melt panela. Remove from heat, let sit 5 minutes.
- Place ground coffee in a small french press. Pour aguapanela over coffee until french press is full. Reserve remaining aguapanela for another use, or another cup of coffee.
- Brew for 4 minutes, stirring once. Plunge french press and serve coffee immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
If you make this recipe, please let me know on social media or in the comments below! Leave a star rating in your comment or tag me on Instagram with #Rhubarbarians.
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Hope you enjoy,
Trish
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Rebekah
This looks awesome! Is it really a whole 12oz of panela for just 40oz though? That seems like so much. Could you do it with more water and have it be less sweet, or would that be bad...
Patricia Bozeman
Hi Rebekah! Yes, I believe that is the standard for aguapanela. It was definitely on the sweet side. You could try it with as much as you like though!
Tabetha
I've busily bookmarked and pinned the whole feast! I love this whole series, keep up the tasty work!!
Patricia Bozeman
Tabetha you are AWESOME! Thank you so much!