Mistela is a traditional Colombian drink made with Aguardiente, (a Colombian alcoholic drink), syrup, herbs, spices, fruit or coffee. It's very easy to make, you just need a little patience.
Mistela de Café (Coffee Liqueur)
Ingredients
- ½ cup dark roast ground coffee
- 2 ½ cups of water
- ¾ cups sugar or to your taste
- 1 cup aguardiente
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place the coffee and 2 cups of the water in a jar or a pitcher, stir well. Cover and let sit at room temperature for at least 12 hours and up to 1 day. Strain through a coffee filter or strainer into a bowl working in batches.
- Discard the grounds and transfer the coffee to a glass jar and set it aside.
- To make the syrup, place the remaining ½ cup of water and sugar in a small pot over high heat and bring it to a simmer, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove from heat and let this syrup cool to room temperature.
- Add the syrup, vanilla extract and aguardiente to the glass jar that contains the coffee and stir to combine. Tightly cover the jar and let it sit at room temperature for at least 2 weeks, shaking once per week.
There many variations of Mistela in Colombia depending on the region. Some of them are, Mistela de Mora (flavored with berries), Mistela de Mejorana (marjoram), Mistela de Naranja (orange), Mistela de Mandarina (tangerine) and Mistela de Café (flavored with coffee). The technique to make them is simple and can be easily adapted to personal taste by swapping out any of the herbs, spices and fruits.
This Mistela de Café is traditionally served chilled after meals, or sometimes as a welcome drink. While it's typically served straight, it also makes for a wonderful cocktail ingredient.
Buen provecho!
Alan Bowman
Hola Erica from Spain,
How do you think it got to Colombia in the first place? - we have it here in Spain. In Andalucía (from where many of the Spaniards who went to the Americas, came) we have aguardiente (Yes, it is called that here as well) and it is aniseed flavoured.- grows wild all around us. In the village they make a "cherry wine" with aguardiente and cherries. A tot here, still reminds me of my time in Colombia.
Saludos
Alan
Erica Dinho
Thanks for the information,Alan! I love all your comments 🙂
Angie@Angie's Recipes
Homemade coffee liqueur is something I have always wanted to try. It looks awesome, Erica.
Norma Torres
As I love aguardiente, I am so sure I will love this.
grace
right off the bat, i can think of at least ten ways to use this glorious stuff!
Howard E
Something else to do with aguardiente besides shots with limón and a gulp of water! Mil gracias. Hay que prober...lástima tengo que esperar dos semanas y pico!
Juliana
Awesome...making my own coffee liqueur...looks delicious, specially after dinner.
Have a great week Erica 😀
Jeannie Tay
THat sounds lovely! Unfortunately I do not have aguardiente here.
Fred
Hi Erika, I love your site, your Colombian recipes are authentic and very tasty. Congratulations!!! You are woirking for our country.
Erica Dinho
Thanks,Fred!
Evelyne@cheapethniceatz
I could swear I had something similar in Peru? Well the coffee drink looks just amazing.