This tequila shot with coffee grounds is the best shot you'll ever have
RecipesMexico's history with coffee (with a tequila shot recipe) to celebrate Cinco de Mayo
Most people don't know the history behind Cinco de Mayo outside of treating it as a drinking holiday. Honoring this day means truly understanding the importance of Cinco de Mayo — so before you (responsibly and respectfully) start celebrating, let's dive into its history.
Cinco de Mayo celebrates the Mexican Army's May 5, 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. It was a pivotal moment in Mexican history, and is still celebrated 162 years later. In Puebla, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated with speeches, parades and reenactments. Most of the rest of the country does not recognize the holiday.
The date of this battle also coincides with the growth of Mexican coffee and its overall impact on the country's economy, even though it didn't arrive in the country until the late 1700s. Mexico is known for its bright, earthy-tasting coffees with notes of chocolate, and is a staple of Mexican culture.
Coffee first arrived west of the port of Veracruz, where coffee plants were placed in high-altitude cloud forests and in the cities of Córdoba and Orizaba. By 1874 — just 12 years after the Battle of Puebla — more than 3 million coffee trees were being grown across the country.
By the 1870s, coffee started being exported out of Mexico and by the 1980s it became one of Mexico's most valuable export crop.
In 2023 alone, Mexico exported $433 million worth of coffee beans. Mexico is also a top consumer of coffee, so many high-quality beans are kept in the country for its domestic market (we get it — who wants to share their coffee in general?)
RECIPE: Tequila Shot with Finely Ground Coffee
We decided to celebrate today by combining two things: Coffee and tequila. Because believe it or not, coffee goes great with a tequila shot. Seriously. I was skeptical, too.
What you need:
- Shot glass
- Lime wedge
- Sugar
- Finely ground coffee (as fine as you can grind it)
- Tequila of your choice (we recommend blanco)
How to make it:
- Add finely ground coffee to a small plate
- Add sugar to a small plate
- Coat one half of our lime in coffee, and the other half in sugar
- Fill your shot glass up with tequila
- Shoot it back!
The combination of lime, coffee and sugar following your shot creates a party in your mouth that tastes like a spiked iced coffee. Give it a shot (pun very intended) and let us know what you think. Drink responsibly!
[Feature Photo credit: Alena Plotnikova via Unsplash]