Table of Contents
There’s no denying that coffee is one of the world’s most beloved beverages. But when it comes to choosing between two of the most iconic coffee brands, Café La Llave and Café Bustelo, it can be difficult to decide which one to choose. In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at the differences between these two coffee brands and help you decide which one is right for you.
The owners of both Café La Llave and Café Bustelo were originally from Cuba, although both companies are based in the US now. You can often find both either in the coffee section or in the Latin food section of most major grocery stores. If you’re looking for an authentic cup of coffee at a reasonable price, they are both worth a try. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to enjoy a true Cuban coffee experience right at home!
Café La Lave and Café Bustelo Brand History
Café La Lave
Jose Maria and Ramon Gavina arrived in southern Cuba from Spain in 1870. With a passion for coffee, the two brothers began cultivating their own beans and then roasting them. Francisco, the son born on the estate, was taught the family business from a young age and continued to help his father grow the coffee beans. In 1967, during the Cuban revolution, the family moved to Los Angeles, and the Gavina business continued in the hands of Francisco and his four children. To this day, the Gavina family continues the tradition of growing and roasting their own coffee beans.
Café Bustelo
Gregorio Menéndez Bustelo had a remarkable journey. After traveling from Spain to Cuba, he took his love of Cuban culture with him and went on to settle in the United States in 1917. His passion for Cuban coffee inspired him to create Café Bustelo in 1928, and his coffee quickly became a hit among Cuban immigrants, who appreciated the unique way that Bustelo prepared their coffee. Thanks to Bustelo’s traditional approach to making coffee, Café Bustelo remains a beloved staple for those of Cuban heritage to this day.
Best Selling Café La Llave Coffee Options
- AN ESPRESSO WITH A LATIN SPIRIT; whether along the sunny beaches of Miami or in the cool canyons of Southern California, this is a favorite of Latin espresso lovers.
- PURE 100% coffee.
- OUR DIRECT IMPACT INITIATIVE influences every business decision we make so that we can preserve natural resources and our environment for future generations of our family and yours.
- INTENSELY AROMATIC, RICH AND BOLD: a dark-roasted Latin-style espresso. It is a full-bodied, highly aromatic and balanced espresso. Intensity Level 11.
- NOW IN ALUMINUM CAPSULES: Aluminum provides the best barrier against oxidation and maintains coffee freshness, aroma, and flavor.
- RECYCLABLE COFFEE PODS: Café La Llave aluminum capsules are recyclable through our partnership with TerraCycle.
- THIS BONUS PACK- includes 7 Cafe La Llave espresso dark roast coffee bricks (10 oz.) + 1 Cafe Gaviña espresso brick (10 oz).
- CAFÉ LA LLAVE ESPRESSO- dark-roasted and intensely aromatic with a rich, strong, bold flavor and consistently delivers that classic Latin-style espresso. 100% Pure Coffee.
- CAFÉ GAVINA ESPRESSO- spicy, with dark chocolate notes, full body and rich flavored. This espresso is a blend of South & Central American 100% arabica coffees.
Best Selling Café Bustelo Coffee Options
- Contains 6- 22 ounce cans of Café Bustelo Espresso-Style Dark Roast Ground Coffee
- Made from 100% pure, high-quality coffee beans roasted to perfection
- Dark roast coffee with a robust, full-bodied flavor and captivating aroma
- Contains six (6) twelve (12) count boxes of Café Bustelo Espresso Style, Dark Roast Coffee Keurig K-Cup pods
- Variety of Latin coffee blends made with coffee beans sourced from Latin American countries
- Dark roast coffee blends with fruity flavor notes that hint of the wild
- Treat your senses to the delicious taste and aroma of Cafe Bustelo coffee.
Differences Between Café La Llave and Café Bustelo Coffee
Both coffees have a strong link to Latino roots but with a difference in how you can brew your favorite cup.
For convenience, many coffee lovers enjoy popping a unique capsule into their coffee machines and just pressing the brew button.
Café La Llave
If you have a Nespresso Original coffee machine, you can choose from Espresso, Espresso Clasico, Espresso Old Havana, or Espresso Organic. There are also Espresso Style capsules for Keurig coffee machines.
Café Bustelo
Cafe Bustelo has a broader range of Keurig K-Cups. There is a Café con Leche, Café con Chocolate, Espresso, Columbian, and Brazilian capsules. They also have one Nespresso option, a traditional espresso.
Specialty Coffees
If you are looking for more than espresso-style coffees, one brand has a distinct advantage.
Café La Llave
Unfortunately, there are no specialty flavors with this coffee brand.
Café Bustelo
Pop one of the Café Bustelo iced coffee cans in the fridge for a refreshing pick me up. There is a choice of Café con Leche, Café con Chocolate, and Café con Dulce de Leche.
Ground Coffee
For some, ground coffee is the perfect solution that isn’t instant but also doesn’t require manual grinding.
Café La Llave
There is an Espresso coffee grind as well as Espresso Decaffeinated. If you prefer, Café La Lave has an instant coffee grind too.
Café Bustelo
We have an Espresso Dark Roast, Supreme Style dark Roast, And Espresso Style Decaffeinated. For instant coffees, there is a Freeze Dried, Mexican Instant, and Café con Leche instant grind.
Whole Coffee Beans
On the other hand, nothing beats the aroma and taste of freshly ground coffee beans.
Café La Llave
There are no whole coffee beans available to buy.
Café Bustelo
To grind your own coffee, there is a bag of Supreme Style Dark Roast coffee beans.
Vacuum Packed Bricks
Coffee bricks are ground coffee that has been vacuum-packed.
Café La Lave
You can buy Espresso and Espresso Decaffeinated coffee bricks.
Café Bustelo
Similarly, there is a Dark Coffee Espresso. However, instead of the decaffeinated brick, there is a Supreme Espresso-style brick.
If you’ve read this far, you might also be interested in finding out more about how Café Bustelo compares with Café Pilon, Medaglia d’Oro, and Folgers.
The Final Verdict
As these are both Cuban-style coffees, you will notice that the aroma and taste are similar. Both are very bold and for some, just the smell is enough to prepare you for that coffee hit we love and need. There might be a tiny difference in taste. You may find that Café La Llave has a hint of acidity, and this might be too much for some. As soon as you add cream or sugar, the boldness of both are tamed but we would recommend starting with Café Bustelo.
Last update on 2024-03-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API