How to make Spanish Cafe con Leche

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A few years ago, my little sister vacationed in Spain with her husband. They both returned home with a love for cafe con leche. I have never been a coffee drinker, but that changed as soon as I tasted this drink. The very next morning after I returned from visiting them, I ordered my own stovetop espresso pot and a milk frother. For the past year, I have been brewing my own cafe con leche almost every morning. I love it.

I have served this to friends and family numerous times and it has been much loved. I have a couple friends that joke about coming back to visit and staying longer, just to enjoy this every morning. This is not merely an at home substitute for fancy coffee-shop lattes, this drink puts those coffees to shame.

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. I like mine fairly sweet and my sister prefers hers barely sweetened at all.


I am providing links to some of the equipment I use, but I am not an affiliate of any of the companies. I bought both of my sets through Amazon, although I have recently seen the Bialetti Moka Express at Target as well. (yes, I have an espresso maker and milk frother for the cabin as well - I mentioned I was hooked on this drink, right?)

Cafe con Leche
yield: 1 large or 2 small cups

Equipment needed:
Bialetti Moka Express stovetop espresso maker (directions are for the 3 cup size*)
1 milk frother, I use this simple battery operated frother and this style works as well

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon good quality espresso, I use Lavazza
1-3 teaspoons sugar (If I have it on hand, I use this homemade vanilla sugar.)
2/3 cup milk

Fill the bottom portion of the espresso pot with water, to just below the valve. Place the filter into the pot and scoop 1 tablespoon of espresso into the pot. Screw the top half of the espresso make onto the bottom half and then place the filled pot onto a stove burner. Place it with the handle facing off the side of the burner, so that it doesn't get too hot. (You will still need a hot pad!)


Set the burner to medium (medium high on my current stove, but I used medium on my other stove). Within about 10 minutes, the espresso will have pushed through the filter and filled the top of the pot. Remove it from the heat as soon as the pot is full, do not let the espresso boil or it will burn.


While the espresso is heating, place the sugar in a large cup or divide it between two small cups. Pour the milk into a large 2 cup measuring cup and warm it for about 90 seconds in the microwave. Or if you are using the stovetop to scald the milk, start it on low when you start the espresso.

When the espresso is finished, pour it over the sugar and stir for a few moments to dissolve the sugar. Froth the milk until it has doubled in size and then pour the foamy milk over the coffee. Stir to combine. Serve hot and Enjoy!

* Please note that this is an espresso maker, not a regular coffee pot. The "3 cup" size produces only 6 ounces of espresso, enough for 1 large or 2 small cups of cafe con leche.

Click here for printable recipe

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