If you’re looking for a sweet coffee drink to sip this weekend, I’ve got a great one for you!
Café Con Leche is a Spanish coffee drink made with sweetened condensed milk and espresso.
The name actually means “coffee with milk” in Spanish, so if you’re ever ordering this at a cafe, don’t be surprised if they ask if you want it “con Leche.”
How to make Cafe Con Leche? The café recipe uses only three ingredients, but the results are unforgettable.
You can make your delicious café con Leche as strong or as mild as you like, depending on how many shots of espresso you use to prepare it.
You’ll need the following:
- A shot of espresso
- 2 tablespoons sugar (or more if desired)
- 10-12 oz. (295-354 ml) of whole milk
Equipment to Use:
- Moka pot or Espresso Machine
- Milk steamer/microwave/stovetop
- Milk frother
- Small bowl or creamer
Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1
Nutrition Value
Nutrition Calories: 117.37 kcal
Carbohydrates: 22.7g
Protein: 4.35g
Saturated Fat: 0.59g
Cholesterol: 2.84mg
Sodium: 22.68mg
Potassium: 1039.59mg
Sugar: 1.43g
Calcium: 72.01mg
Iron:1.25mg
Procedure – Easy Prepare Instructions:
Step 1: Brew Your Espresso
The first step in making café con Leche is brewing your own espresso shot, which is one of the most important ingredients of this coffee.
Brewing an espresso shot would be very easy if you have an espresso machine at home and you’re familiar with how to use it.
(However, if you don’t have an espresso machine, you can use a moka pot as a substitute for this recipes.)
Step 2: Steam or heat milk
After making your espresso on the espresso maker, you’ll need to steam or heat up your milk. You can use any type of milk you prefer—whole milk/fat-free/skimmed.
Put it in a saucepan or electric Moka pot over medium heat until it starts to get warm and steam. You can also use a milk steamer or microwave.
Don’t let it come to a full boil—you don’t want the milk to burn! Once it’s bubbling gently but steadily, remove it from the heat.
Step 3: Pour the milk over the espresso
The next step is to pour the milk over the espresso shot you’ve made. You can also create latte art if you’re experienced in doing it.
Step 4: Add sugar or sweetener (Optional)
Next, add sugar and cinnamon sticks (optional). Adjust how much sugar you want by how sweet or bitter you like your coffee.
If you prefer non-dairy milk like almond or coconut, feel free to substitute those instead!
Remember that this step in the instructions is optional to do, so if you don’t like sugar in your cup, then just skip this step.
Is Café Con Leche the same as a Latte?
No. A Spanish latte is made with espresso and frothed milk, while Cafe Con Leche is made with espresso and scalded milk.
They both do have a similar taste, but Café Con Leche is richer in flavor and texture than lattes.
Is Cafe Con Leche the same as a Cappuccino?
Cafe Con Leche is like a cappuccino or Spanish latte on steroids, but it’s not quite the same thing.
The biggest difference between the two drinks is that a cappuccino uses steamed milk, while café con Leche adds hot milk. They both do have strong coffee flavors and foamy tops.
Is Cafe Con Leche the same as a Macchiato?
While both beverages are made with espresso and milk, the macchiato has more foam than the café con Leche.
But they’re similar in that they are both served in small cups and generally have similar ingredients to prepare.
Where did this delicious drink come from?
Cafe con Leche is a popular coffee-based beverage found in both South America and Spain. It’s typically made with sweetened condensed milk, but you can also use evaporated milk.
The simple recipe calls for strong coffee and hot milk, but many people will add a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg to give it a little extra kick.
Cafe con Leche is often served as part of breakfast in South America and Spain, but it’s also a popular drink to enjoy during the afternoon or evening hours. It can be served hot or cold depending on what time of the year it is.
Though Cafe con Leche comes from Spain, it’s also a popular drink in Latin American countries, including Colombia, Brazil, and Mexico.
It was brought to the U.S. by Spanish immigrants who settled in Florida and Texas after the Spanish-American War.
Nowadays, it’s a staple at Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts—so you can get your cafe con Leche to fix pretty much anywhere.
How to Make Cafe Con Leche Final Thoughts
Café con Leche is a great recipe to learn. You can make it in so many different ways, depending on what you do have available to you.
This recipe is simple and classic, but feel free to experiment with your flavors and spices, or even feel free to add a shot of chocolate if you really want to get crazy with your coffee. Enjoy!
FAQs
Why is this called Cafe Con Leche?
Café con Leche is a much-loved drink in the Spanish-speaking world, where it’s served as a breakfast drink or afternoon pick-me-up treat. It’s made by combining Cuban espresso with hot, sweetened milk and can be enjoyed alone or with a snack of cookies or cake.
Is Cafe Con Leche hard or easy to make?
It’s super easy. You just have to have the right ingredients, and then you can make a delicious coffee in just a few minutes.
Why do people put sugar in their Cafe Con Leche?
Sugar helps balance out the bitterness or strong taste of coffee, especially brown sugar, by giving it more sweetness and flavor. It also helps mellow out the acidity of coffee, which can cause heartburn if consumed regularly in large quantities.
