Spice & Tradition: The Creation of 'Café de Olla'

The journey to create 'Café de Olla' began when DJ Wedoo + the Glitches were performing at a music festival in Mexico City. After their set, instead of heading straight to their next tour stop, they decided to take a detour through the rural highlands where traditional Mexican coffee is grown.

In a small village, they were invited into the home of Doña Elena, a 92-year-old woman renowned locally for making the best café de olla—traditional Mexican coffee brewed in a clay pot with cinnamon and piloncillo (unrefined cane sugar). As she prepared her specialty over an open fire, she shared stories of how this coffee tradition had been passed down through generations in her family.

Moved by her stories and the rich, spiced aroma filling the small kitchen, DJ Wedoo asked if he could record both her stories and the sounds of her coffee-making process. Using just a field recorder and a portable synth, the band began building a beat around the gentle bubbling of the clay pot, the crack of cinnamon sticks, and the rhythmic scraping of the piloncillo.

What makes this track special is that it incorporates an actual recording of Doña Elena humming a traditional folk song as she worked—a melody that became the foundation for the track's hook. The band later brought in local musicians to add authentic regional instruments, creating a unique fusion of electronic and traditional Mexican sounds.

When the album was released, DJ Wedoo arranged for Doña Elena to receive royalties from the track. She used the funds to start a small coffee cooperative in her village, teaching younger generations the traditional methods she had mastered over decades. The band returns to visit whenever they tour in Mexico, always making time to share a pot of café de olla with the woman who inspired one of their most culturally rich tracks.

Lyrics

Al chile mariachi
Desde el barro y el fogón
Canelita y corazón
Café de olla tradición

En la cocina de mi abuela
Se escucha el agua hervir
El barro canta con el fuego
Y el aroma empieza a abrir
Con canelita bien dorada
Piloncillo pa' endulzar
Café de olla en la mañana
Un abrazo pa' empezar
Hierve lento, dale amor
Que su aroma tenga sabor
Sírvelo en taza de barro
Y que baile el corazón

Café de olla
Dulce y fuerte
Como el alma de mi gente
Hierve lento, sabe amor
Es tradición, es mi calor
Café de olla, México entero
Con cada sorbo va un te quiero
Tómalo bien, gózalo más
Que este orgullo es inmortal

Desde Chiapas hasta el norte
El café nos da sabor
En la mesa de los grandes
O del pobre trabajador
No hay tristeza que resista
Una taza con amor
Es el alma de mi patria
Su perfume y su calor
Hierve lento, dale amor
Que su aroma tenga sabor
Sírvelo en taza de barro
Y que baile el corazón

Café de olla
Dulce y fuerte
Como el alma de mi gente
Hierve lento, sabe amor
Es tradición, es mi calor
Café de olla, México entero
Con cada sorbo va un te quiero
Tómalo bien, gózalo más
Que este orgullo es inmortal

Si un día lejos yo me voy
En mi pecho llevo yo
El sabor de mi tierra
Su café y su calor

Café de olla
Dulce y fuerte
Como el alma de mi gente
Hierve lento, sabe amor
Es tradición, es mi calor
Café de olla, México entero
Con cada sorbo va un te quiero
Tómalo bien, gózalo más
Que este orgullo es inmortal

DJ Wedoo
Chusss!
Ay ay ay

Qué orgullo mi México

Listen to the Track

Experience the warmth and tradition of Mexican coffee culture. Listen to 'Café de Olla' on Spotify and immerse yourself in the spiced, soulful sounds inspired by generations of coffee craftsmanship.

About the Author

DJ Wedoo is a music producer specializing in custom compositions and audio branding for businesses across various industries. With over a decade of experience, DJ Wedoo helps brands create memorable audio identities that resonate with their audiences.