Spanish Latte also known as Café con Leche, isn’t something you would find in many coffee shops. However, succumbing to the internet coffee world, this beverage has been a conversation for quite some time.
Strong flavors of espresso incorporated with creamy condensed milk, is a delightful combination, one a coffee lover will not get enough of. Learn all about Spanish Latte and how to make one at home!
What Is A Spanish Latte?
Famously known as Café con Leche, Spanish Latte is a breakfast favorite for people in Spain. An Espresso-based beverage served with scalded whole milk and a hint of sweetened condensed milk; Spanish Latte offers a taste and experience, unlike any other coffee beverage.
It normally serves as a breakfast companion for Spaniards, but it also works great for an afternoon pick-me-up or evening caffeine treat. We will be guiding you on how to make the traditional Spanish Latte along with some fun modern variation options.
Difference Between Latte & Spanish Latte
Cafe Latte, commonly known as “Latte” is known for its Italian origin. It is a combination of strong brewed espresso and freshly steamed milk. Traditionally Cafe Latte is prepared with 1 part of espresso and 2 parts of steamed milk.
Spanish Latte on the other hand is known for its Spanish origin. While the traditional Latte uses steamed milk, Spanish Latte uses scalded milk. Sweetened Condensed milk is used as a base for Spanish Latte, hence making it sweeter than regular lattes.
Spanish Latte Recipe (Step-by-Step Instructions)
Here is how to make a delicious cup of Spanish Latte from the comfort of your home:
Ingredients
- 2 shots of espresso
- 2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
- 100 ml scalded milk
Instructions
1. The first step is to prepare your milk. To make scalded milk, heat milk over medium heat in a saucepan until it is hot but not boiling. If you have a kitchen thermometer heat it upto a 180 degrees
2. Next, pull two shots of espresso. You can also use ½ cup of strong coffee if you do not have an espresso machine or do not prefer an espresso.
3. Take your favorite coffee mug and add 2 tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk. And the coffee. Stir the two together until nicely mixed.
4. Once the milk is hot froth or steam it nicely to get a good fluffy texture. Slowly pour the frothed milk on top of the coffee and condensed milk mixture.
5. Serve hot and enjoy!
Helpful Tips To Keep In Mind While Making Spanish Latte
1. While the recipe suggests 2 espresso shots and espresso is what is predominantly used by Spaniards in their lattes, you can also replace it with ½ cup of strongly brewed coffee. For brewing your coffee, you can use any brewer like Chemex, Aeropress, or Drip brew.
2. If you prefer using instant coffee, you can use that as well. But remember, instant coffee will not bring the same level of intensity that fresh coffee brew has. To use instant coffee take 2 heaped teaspoons of coffee and dilute it in 1/4 cup of warm water.
3. Store-bought coffee grounds work fine, but what works even better is freshly ground coffee. Freshly ground coffee beans keep the flavor and aroma of coffee intact. If you do not have a coffee grinder at home, here are our recommendations of the 8 best coffee grinders for home use.
4. The milk in the Spanish latte needs to be scalded which means, heated to a point it is warm but not boiling. We frothed the milk because we like the airy texture that aerating the milk brings out, you can also skip that step.
Spanish Latte Recipe Variations
We understand that traditional ways of making coffee were different, today people have different preferences and tastes. Some are intolerant to whole milk, some do not prefer condensed milk.
If you think, there were parts of the recipes you could not follow, use these recipe variations instead:
Milk
Spaniards prefer using whole milk in their latte, but if you are lactose intolerant or vegan; you can also replace whole milk with almond, oat, soy, or coconut milk. Make sure to follow the same recipe instructions and quantity throughout even if using other milk alternatives.
Coffee
Espresso is normally considered one of the best forms of coffee, credited to its strong flavor profiles and taste. However, many people do not prefer espresso as their base for coffee. In that case, you can use Moka pot, Aeropress, French Press, Chemex, or any other form of brew.
Sweeteners
While the recipe calls out for sweetened condensed milk and we would highly recommend you use that until you are intolerant to it. In that case, you can use white sugar, brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup as a sweetener alternative. We would not advise you to skip the sweetener altogether as the sweetener is what sets this coffee recipe apart from other recipes.
Additives
The recipe tastes delicious without any additives, but if you are more syrups and flavoring kind of person you can also add some flavorings like vanilla, hazelnut, etc. You can also use chocolate shavings, whipped cream, cocoa powder, cinnamon, or espresso powder to sprinkle on top.
How To Make Iced Spanish Latte?
If you are more of an iced coffee person, here is a version of an iced Spanish latte. The iced Spanish latte does not differ much from the original recipe, apart from the use of ice of course.
Here is how to make an iced Spanish latte at home:
1. Start by adding some condensed milk and coffee to a glass. Stir it properly.
2. Next fill your glass halfway with ice. Begin heating the milk in a saucepan.
3. Once the milk is hot, let it cool for a few seconds. Froth it properly until it becomes nice and frothy.
4. Add the milk on top of the espresso and ice.
Note: You can skip the process of scalding the milk. But we preferred doing it as heating the milk helps break down the sugar molecules in the milk, making it taste sweeter.
What Does The Spanish Latte Taste Like?
Spaniards have a way to make their coffee taste strong and creamy. The bold flavors of espresso when combined with sweetened condensed milk, tastes like a concoction made in heaven.
The whole milk when scalded and frothed only adds to the beauty of this beverage. To put it into simple words, this coffee recipe is our all-time favorite coffee. It has the perfect hint of sweetness not overpowering and strong coffee and the rich milk bring out every single flavor.
How Many Calories Does A Spanish Latte Have?
2 tablespoons of condensed milk contain around 123 calories and 100 ml of whole milk has around 62 calories. The total calories in a Spanish Latte are 185.
If you are using other milk alternatives the calorie would differ. Here is a table that shows calories for different milk options:
| Milk (100ml) | Total Calories |
| Whole Milk | 62 |
| Oat Milk | 42 |
| Almond Milk | 20 |
| Soy Milk | 45 |
| Coconut Milk | 20 |
If you add additional sugar or flavoring alternatives the calories would be different.
Sweetener Ideas For Spanish Latte
Many people prefer their coffee black and without any sugar. We absolutely love adding sweeteners and flavors to any coffee. Adding a sweet element to your daily coffee is a fun way to experiment with the flavors and taste.
There are a lot of ways through which you can sweeten your coffee, including-
1. Simple Syrup – Simple syrup is one of the most commonly used methods to sweeten coffee. It is basically a syrup made with equal parts of water and sugar. You will find a lot of baristas using this to add sugar to your coffee. If you want to go simple and not experiment this is the way to go!
2. Honey – Honey is another very famous alternative for sweetening coffee. The flavor of honey with coffee is really an individual preference. Some like the taste and some do not. Try it out for yourself to see if it works for you or not.
3. Maple Syrup – You’ve probably heard of Iced Maple Latte- Maple Syrup is a common way of adding some sweetness to coffee. Many people who are health conscious and do not prefer adding simple syrup use this as an alternative. It is sweet, and delicious and adds a beautiful flavor profile to your coffee.
4. Flavored Coffee Syrup – The final form of sweetener on our list is flavored coffee syrup. One of our favorite methods to have some fun with regular coffee is to add some flavors to it. Our personal favorite is – hazelnut, caramel, and french vanilla. If you are someone who prefers flavored coffee, we suggest you go all-in with it. It is too much fun to be missed out on!
Here is our recommendation on the 10 Best Flavored Syrups for Coffee!
Other Coffee Recipes You Might Like!
1. Iced Caramel Macchiato
If you enjoy your coffee sweet and flavored, then Caramel Macchiato is one beverage you have to try. Perfect for summer, a chill, and refreshing drink to satisfy your sweet tooth and coffee cravings. Find the recipe here!
2. Chilled Mocha Frappuccino
Apart from being extremely refreshing and incredibly delicious, a great thing about the Mocha Frappuccino recipe is that it is very simple to make, it requires only a few ingredients and it is really quick too! Try this extremely simple mocha frappuccino recipe at home. Here’s how you can make a mocha frappuccino at home!
3. Refreshing Mocha Cappuccino
Mocha cappuccino is a beautiful combination of coffee and chocolate, and we can guarantee it is the coziest and the most delicious coffee recipe you’ll ever make. In this article, we will talk about everything you need to know about cappuccino, what is a mocha and how to make a mocha cappuccino at home by following a few simple steps! Learn how to make mocha cappuccino.
4. Delicious Iced Cappuccino
Iced strong coffee with a thick layer of milk foam. Iced Cappuccino is everything coffee dreams are made of. There are a few things in life that cannot be missed. The joy of having an iced cappuccino is one of them. Click here to learn how to make iced cappuccino at home.
5. Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew Recipe at Home
The deadly combination of chilled Cold Brew and vanilla-flavored sweet cream is to die for! This easy recipe will help you make this amazing coffee at home! Find this delicious recipe here.
6. Delicious Iced Biscoff Latte Recipe
Biscoff is the one ingredient that we didn’t know we needed for cozy morning coffee. Here is how to make a delicious iced biscoff latte. Find the recipe for biscoff iced latte here.
7. Quick & Delicious Iced Espresso Recipe
Iced Espresso is the perfect recipe when you are in need of a strong caffeine buzz. Learn how to make one in under 5 minutes. Read the recipe here.
Final Thoughts: Get Brewing!
We have answered all your questions about Spanish Latte, get brewing and make yourself this delicious beverage. Also, try adding different ingredients and flavors and have fun with the recipe. Happy Caffeinating!
Spanish Latte Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Shots Espresso
- 2 tbsp Sweetened condensed milk
- 100 ml Scalded milk
Instructions
- Heat milk on medium heat in a saucepan. Do not let it boil.
- Pull 2 shots of espresso.
- Add the sweetened condensed milk and espresso in a coffee mug. Give it a good stir.
- Aerate the warm milk for a thick and frothy texture.
- Once frothy, pour it slowly on top of the coffee and condensed milk.
- Drizzle cinnamon powder, or some cocoa powder. Serve hot and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Spanish Latte is said to have found its origin in Spain. Spaniards have this latte as a breakfast staple and therefore this beverage was named Spanish Latte.
Spanish Latte is commonly known as Cafe con Leche in Span.
Traditionally Spanish Latte contains condensed milk as a sweetener. It is slightly sweetened and not too overpowering.
