A review of CAFE BUSTELO

 

 

The article written by Arturo Conde, “In the Iconic Café Bustelo, A Story of New York's Spanish Immigrant Community,” I am reminded how how Latin cultures in the United States stick together. Bustelo made that possible. He explains how all Latin cultures came to the United States and bonded over a cup of Café Bustelo. Conde tells us how many Spanish-speaking immigrants came from Spanish speaking countries and formed a Latino community in Harlem, New York.  Many of these Latinos were Boricuas (Puerto Ricans) who arrived at El Barrio (Spanish Harlem, NYC), after gaining citizenship through the Jones Act in 1917. Most of the community bonded while they created the little mom and pop shops. Bustelo was one of those small shops who kicked off their business in Spanish Harlem.

 

Café Bustelo is an icon in most Latin households.  I can remember as a very young child, my grandmother giving me some Café Bustelo when my mother was not around.  This coffee reminds me of my family because as soon as you walk in any of their homes, the first thing they ask you is, “Do you want some cafecito?” (Do you want some coffee?). Never did I hear them ask if someone wanted tea.  The coffee of choice was always Café Bustelo. Whether it was black coffee or coffee with some milk. Café Bustelo was always around in every household I went to. It is still around in my house. I truly believe this coffee has created a bond amongst Latino(s) in general. Café Bustelo is consumed by all Latin nationalities, that it is hard to tell where it originated from.  Having come from a Puerto Rican and Colombian background, I could not tell whether the coffee was either Puerto Rico or Colombian because both my parents and all my grandparents drank this coffee.  Although they say Colombian coffee is one of the best coffees in the world, my grandparents who were born in Colombia prefer this Cuban-style espresso coffee. After reading this article by Arturo Conde, now I know that this coffee’s founder is a Spaniard.