From Café de Olla to Cold Brew: Mexico’s Lasting Influence on Texas Coffee

When you think about Texas coffee culture, you can’t separate it from the deep Mexican roots woven into our state’s history. Texas is a blend of cultures, flavors, and traditions—and nowhere is that more obvious than in the way we drink our coffee.

Café de Olla: The Original Texas Comfort Cup

Long before lattes and cold brew made their way into coffee shops, Mexican households were brewing café de olla—a rich, spiced coffee simmered with cinnamon and piloncillo (raw cane sugar) in a traditional clay pot. For many families along the border and throughout Texas, this wasn’t just coffee—it was community. A drink that welcomed neighbors, fueled early mornings, and brought warmth to the table.

Today, you’ll find versions of café de olla in restaurants, coffee shops, and even food trucks across Texas. That familiar cinnamon-sweet aroma? It’s one of the most recognizable flavors tying Texas coffee to its Mexican heritage.

Sweetness and Spice in Every Sip

Beyond café de olla, Mexican influence shows up in flavored coffees and café drinks across the state. Think: horchata lattes, Mexican mocha with a kick of chili and cinnamon, or cold brew sweetened with vanilla and piloncillo syrup. These aren’t “trendy” drinks for Texans—they’re part of our cultural DNA.

The Borderless Bean

Another thing worth remembering: Mexico itself is a major coffee-growing country. Chiapas, Veracruz, and Oaxaca produce beans known worldwide for their balance, smoothness, and chocolatey undertones. Many Texas roasters we highlight at TX Coffee Can proudly source beans from across the border, roasting them right here in the Lone Star State. It’s the best of both worlds: Mexican soil, Texas fire.

Why It Matters to Us

At TX Coffee Can, part of our mission is to showcase what makes Texas coffee unique—and that story can’t be told without acknowledging the Mexican influence. From traditional recipes to sourcing practices, Mexican coffee culture has shaped the way Texans brew, serve, and share coffee for generations.

So next time you sip a cinnamon-spiced latte or try a roast with origins in Mexico, know you’re tasting more than coffee—you’re tasting history, heritage, and the beautiful blend of cultures that makes Texas what it is.

Here’s to keeping that tradition alive, one cup at a time.

– Jacob