Spanish Café Con Leche Recipe

5 from 8 votes

Try this Spanish café con leche recipe to get a taste of Spain's classic coffee at home!

Cook Time5

Total Time5

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: Spanish

Diet: Vegetarian

Servings: servings

Calories: 117.37kcal

Brew the coffee with an espresso or Nespresso machine. If you don't have one, use a moka pot or French press to brew some strong coffee.
Scald the milk by heating it until it's steaming and hot but not simmering, about 155-165°F (68-73°C). This can be done on the stovetop in a small saucepan, in the microwave, or with a steam wand on an espresso machine.
If desired, froth the milk with a steam wand, milk frother, whisk, or French press until it's doubled in volume.
Pour the milk into the coffee and add sugar to taste. Enjoy immediately with a couple of cookies!

For a more authentic Spanish flavor, use shelf-stable, Ultra-High Temperature Pasteurized milk instead of fresh, refrigerated milk.
Try using torrefacto coffee for an authentic flair. This popular type of Spanish coffee beans are coated in about 15% sugar, which burns during the roasting process. Many people enjoy the strong, dark flavor of torrefacto coffee, but if you're used to arabica beans, you may not like it!
Don't want to use 100% torrefacto beans? Try a mezcla (mixture) of torrefacto and arabica beans for a lighter taste. You can also use 100% arabica beans for a richer flavor profile.
Grind the beans yourself right before brewing for the best flavor. If you don't have an espresso machine, use a moka pot (stovetop espresso maker) instead.