🍳DailyRecipes
Drinks

Authentic Cafe Con Leche

A simple and comforting Spanish coffee drink made with equal parts strong coffee and creamy steamed milk.

By Daily Recipes Book· 🌍 Spanish· August 17, 2026
Authentic Cafe Con Leche
dailyrecipesbook.com
Prep
2 minutes
Cook
3 minutes
Total
5 minutes
Serves
1

Cafe con leche is a classic Spanish coffee drink that literally translates to coffee with milk. It is a favorite way to start the morning across Spain and many parts of Latin America because of its perfect balance between bold, bittersweet coffee and rich, velvety milk. It is traditional to serve this drink sweetened, which really highlights the depth of the dark roast coffee.

Making this at home is incredibly easy, even if you do not own a professional espresso machine. I personally love using a Moka pot to get that intense coffee flavor I remember from my time in Madrid, but a standard double shot of espresso works just as well. A quick tip, if you want to make this dairy free, oat milk is your best option because it froths beautifully and maintains a creamy texture.

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces strong coffee or double shot of espresso
  • 4 ounces whole milk or oat milk
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons sugar to taste

Instructions

  1. 1

    Brew your coffee using a Moka pot, espresso machine, or your preferred method for a strong cup.

  2. 2

    Steam or froth your milk until it is hot and slightly bubbly, aiming for a bit of foam on top.

  3. 3

    Pour the hot coffee into a mug and stir in the sugar until it is completely dissolved.

  4. 4

    Pour the steamed milk over the coffee and enjoy your drink while it is nice and hot.

💡 Tips

Serve this alongside a slice of Spanish tortilla, a warm scone, or a piece of almond cake for a traditional breakfast. If you have leftovers, keep the milk in the fridge, but it is best enjoyed immediately after frothing to maintain the best texture.

#Coffee#Spanish#Breakfast#Vegetarian#Gluten Free

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