Ask for “a latte” in a Madrid bar and you might get a glass of milk. Latte means milk in Italian, and in Spain, leche. Here’s how to get the coffee you actually want.
Spanish coffees explained
| Order | What it is |
|---|---|
| Café solo | A short espresso, no milk |
| Cortado | Espresso “cut” with a little milk |
| Café con leche | Coffee with a lot of hot milk, the Spanish breakfast classic |
| Leche manchada | Mostly milk, “stained” with a bit of coffee |
| Café americano | Espresso with extra hot water |
| Café con hielo | Coffee served with a separate glass of ice. Pour it yourself |
| Carajillo | Coffee with a shot of brandy or rum |
| Café bombón | Espresso with condensed milk |
| Descafeinado | Decaf. They may ask: ¿de máquina o de sobre? (machine or instant) |
Phrases to order coffee
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Me pones un cortado? | Can I have a cortado? |
| Con leche de avena / sin lactosa | With oat milk / lactose-free |
| Con la leche templada / del tiempo | With warm / room-temperature milk |
| Muy caliente, por favor | Very hot, please |
| Para llevar | To take away |
| Y una tostada con tomate | And toast with tomato |
| ¿Me cobras? | Can I pay? |
Coffee culture in Spain
Coffee in Spain is quick, cheap and often taken standing at the bar. Breakfast is a café con leche with a tostada con tomate (toast with tomato and olive oil), and mid-morning there’s another coffee break. “To go” exists, but most people drink it right there in two minutes.
In Madrid, the most famous alternative is hot chocolate with churros. And yes, you can also say “¿me pones…?” for that. Same trick as ordering a beer in Spain and ordering tapas in Madrid.
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How do you order coffee in Spain?
Say “¿Me pones un café con leche?” or “un cortado”. Café solo is an espresso.
What is a cortado in Spain?
An espresso with a small amount of milk.
What is the difference between café con leche and cortado?
Café con leche has much more milk; a cortado is mostly espresso with a dash of milk.
How do you get iced coffee in Spain?
Ask for a café con hielo: you get a hot coffee and a glass with ice to pour it over.
Can I ask for a latte in Spain?
Better not: you might get a glass of milk. Ask for a café con leche.
— Monica Bernabe Perez
$20 symbolic price · 30 minutes · with Mónica
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