Updated on December 14, 2023
Introduction
Spanish coffee recipes are a delightful blend of tradition, culture, and flavor. They offer a unique perspective on the world of coffee, showcasing the Spanish love for this beverage in various forms. From the traditional café con leche to the fiery spectacle of the American-influenced Spanish coffee, these recipes are a testament to Spain’s rich coffee culture.
The Tradition of Spanish Coffee
Coffee in Spain is more than just a beverage; it’s a form of socializing. Spaniards drink coffee at any time of the day, from breakfast to a midday break, after lunch, and even after dinner. When a Spaniard suggests meeting for a coffee, it’s an invitation to sit and talk about life over a cup of something warm and comforting.
The Spanish coffee culture dates back hundreds of years, with the first Spanish cafe opening in Madrid in 1764. Today, Spain is known for its unique timetable, including notoriously late lunch and dinner times, making coffee a key part of the day. Whether it’s a café con leche to start the day, a café solo for a mid-morning boost, or a café cortado after lunch, coffee is a constant companion in the Spanish day.
Spanish Coffee Recipes
Café Solo
The café solo is the essence of Spanish coffee culture. It’s a strong espresso served in a small ceramic cup, often enjoyed first thing in the morning, after lunch, and late into the afternoon. The Spanish version is slightly taller than its Italian counterpart, filling up half the cup or more. This is a coffee brewing method that yields a cleaner cup with less sediment thanks to the innovative pour-through filter assembly. It brews like an upside-down french press with a fine convex filter that descends into the brewing chamber. The glass brewing container resembles a Chemex, only without the handle. It is covered with a thin neoprene cover that zips up like a sleeping bag. It has all the rich flavor of a french press, but is cleaner tasting.
Café Con Leche
Café con leche, which translates to coffee with milk, is a popular way to start the day in Spain. It’s a 1:1 ratio of coffee to heated milk, although in reality, a little more milk is often used. This drink is similar to a latte and is typically made at home using a moka pot. This is a creamy hot coffee drink typically made with espresso and milk. While some enjoy it lightly sweetened, many people prefer it unsweetened. It’s easier to make than you might think and you don’t need a fancy countertop espresso machine to make it. Cafe con Leche is Spanish for coffee with milk. It is a hot coffee drink made with espresso and scalded milk in approximately a 1:1 ratio. Sugar is added according to taste.
Café Cortado
A café cortado is a single espresso with a touch of milk, similar to a macchiato or piccolo. It’s a popular choice for a small coffee after lunch or in the afternoon. This is an espresso drink with the perfect balance of milk and espresso. It’s a uniquely smooth pairing that’s silky and robust. The Cortado is an espresso drink of equal parts espresso and steamed milk. It’s Spanish in origin: “cortado” means “cut” in Spanish, indicating that the espresso is cut with the milk. In contrast to other coffee drinks, a Cortado is always the same volume: one doubleshot of espresso and 2 ounces milk. A Cortado is always served in a 4.5 ounce glass cup, making it easy to pour. Because it has less milk, the cortado allows the bold espresso flavor to shine through more than a latte.
Café Bombón
The café bombón is a sweet treat that blends espresso with sweetened condensed milk for an off-the-charts flavor experience. It’s one of the unique variations of coffee that you can find in Spain.
Spanish coffee recipes are diverse and offer a variety of flavors and experiences. Here are some popular ones:
Spanish Coffee
This is a showy after-dinner drink that features Kahlua, rum, orange liqueur, and a caramelized sugar rim. The drink is made tableside by lighting high proof rum on fire to caramelize the glass’s sugar rim. Then the glass is filled with coffee, Kahlua, and Triple Sec, and topped with whipped cream and nutmeg. It’s a true dramatic spectacle designed to put on a show.
Cortadito
This is a Cuban variation of the cortado coffee beverage that swaps in warmed sweetened condensed milk for steamed milk. It’s sweet and delicious!
Flavored Cortado
Feel free to add vanilla syrup, caramel sauce, or any other flavored syrup you like to this Spanish drink.
The American Influence: Spanish Coffee
While traditional Spanish coffee recipes focus on simplicity and the pure flavors of coffee and milk, there’s one recipe that stands out for its complexity and spectacle: Spanish Coffee. This drink, despite its name, is an American adaptation of the Spanish concept of carajillo, or spiked coffee.
Invented at Huber’s Bar in Portland, Oregon in the 1970s, Spanish Coffee is a showy after-dinner drink that features Kahlua, rum, orange liqueur, and a caramelized sugar rim. The drink is made tableside by lighting high proof rum on fire to caramelize the glass’s sugar rim. Then the glass is filled with coffee, Kahlua, and Triple Sec, and topped with whipped cream and nutmeg. It’s a dramatic spectacle designed to put on a show, and the combination of burnt caramel, citrus, bitter coffee, and sweet cream creates a symphony of flavor.
FAQ
Q: What is the most popular coffee in Spain?
A: The most popular coffee in Spain is the café con leche, a 1:1 ratio of coffee to heated milk.
Q: What is Spanish Coffee?
A: Spanish Coffee is an American adaptation of the Spanish concept of carajillo, or spiked coffee. It’s a showy after-dinner drink that features Kahlua, rum, orange liqueur, and a caramelized sugar rim.
Q: What is a café solo?
A: A café solo is a strong espresso served in a small ceramic cup. It’s what you’ll see Spaniards sipping on first thing in the morning, after lunch, and late into the afternoon.
Q: What is a café bombón?
A: The café bombón is a sweet treat that blends espresso with sweetened condensed milk for an off-the-charts flavor experience.
In conclusion, Spanish coffee recipes offer a delightful blend of tradition, culture, and flavor. Whether you’re sipping a café solo in the morning, enjoying a café con leche to start your day, or indulging in the spectacle of a Spanish Coffee after dinner, these recipes showcase the rich and diverse coffee culture of Spain.