Café con leche

Café con leche ('coffee with milk') is a Spanish coffee beverage consisting of strong coffee (usually espresso) mixed with scalded milk in approximately equal amounts. The amount of milk can be higher in café con leche en vaso or café con leche de desayuno. [1] Sugar or sweetener is added to taste. It is similar to the Italian caffè latte and the French café au lait.

This article is about the beverage. For the New York City nightclub event, see Cafe con leche (Sunday Party).
Café con leche
Café con leche from Lugo, Spain
Alternative namesCafebar
CourseBeverage
Place of originSpain
Serving temperatureHot
Main ingredientsCoffee, milk
VariationsCafé au lait, caffè e latte
Food energy
(per serving)
103 kcal (431 kJ)

Origin

The cafe con leche drink originated in Spain, though it is unclear who or when this drink was first created. [2] After becoming popular in Spain, this coffee beverage has spread to other Spanish speaking countries and areas. Café con leche is very common in Spain, Cuba, Latin America, and other Hispanic communities around the world.

Cuban restaurants in Florida often have a walk-up window (ventanita) that serve café con leche.[3]

Current use

Café con leche is considered a breakfast drink in many countries that serve it. Due to its 1:1 ratio of milk to coffee, this drink is heavier and more filling than other types of coffee.[4]

The drink is created by making espresso and then using a steam wand scalding milk to just below the boiling point. Often sugar is added to the milk as it is being heated. The warmed milk is then poured over the espresso and stirred to combine the 2 parts.[2]

Serving Styles
  • When ordering a café con leche, you could be asked if you'd like your drink clarito (light) or oscurito (dark).[5] The lighter option's milk to coffee ratio is higher, whereas the dark option's milk to coffee ratio is lower. Sometimes people add a small sprinkle of salt to the drink to emphasize the sugar within the drink.[5]
  • The typical temperature is to serve the drink hot, however this drink can be ordered iced instead.
  • Whole dairy milk is used to make a café con leche, however other types of dairy and non-dairy milks can be substituted. Plant based milks (such as oat milk or almond milk) can cause the drink to taste different and have a different texture because of the varying reactions the milks can have when scalded.[2]
  • There isn't a standard amount of sugar that is added. Some people prefer the drink with a very small amount of sugar added, while others prefer it sweeter. When made with whole milk, the sugars that naturally occur in the milk sweeten the drink when the milk is scalded.[4]
  • When ordering a cafe con leche, you can ask to combine the 2 parts yourself or yo lo preparo. When ordered this way, the espresso and steamed milk are served in separate cups and then the consumer mixes the drink together. [6]

See also
  •  Coffee portal

References
  1. Coffee Supremacy: Spanish Latte
  2. Kanniah, Janice Chinna (2020-09-14). "What Is A Café Con Leche?". Perfect Daily Grind. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  3. "Best Café Con Leche: Tinta y Café | Best of Miami® 2017: Your Key to the City". Miami New Times. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  4. "How to Make a Cafe Con Leche (Recipe)". Espresso & Coffee Guide. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  5. Frías, Carlos (Mar 21, 2018). "Cuban Coffee 101: Everything to know about ordering coffee in Miami". Miami Herald. Retrieved 17 Nov 2020.
  6. Sentinel, Viviana Carballo, Special to the. "CAFE CON LECHE". OrlandoSentinel.com. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
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