is a
coffee
Coffee is a beverage brewed from roasted, ground coffee beans. Darkly colored, bitter, and slightly acidic, coffee has a stimulating effect on humans, primarily due to its caffeine content, but decaffeinated coffee is also commercially a ...
beverage common throughout
Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
and
Latin America
Latin America is the cultural region of the Americas where Romance languages are predominantly spoken, primarily Spanish language, Spanish and Portuguese language, Portuguese. Latin America is defined according to cultural identity, not geogr ...
consisting of strong coffee (usually
espresso
Espresso (, ) is a concentrated form of coffee produced by forcing hot water under high pressure through finely ground coffee beans. Originating in Italy, espresso has become one of the most popular coffee-brewing methods worldwide. It is cha ...
) mixed with
scalded milk
Scalded milk is dairy milk that has been heated to . At this temperature, bacteria are killed, enzymes in the milk are destroyed, and many of the proteins are denatured. Since most milk sold today is pasteurized, which accomplishes the first two ...
in approximately equal amounts. The amount of milk can be higher in a ''café con leche en vaso'' or a ''café con leche de desayuno''.
Cuban and
Puerto Rican establishments often prepare the drink with sugar. Sugar or
sweetener
A sweetener is a substance added to food or drink to impart the flavor of sweetness, either because it contains a type of sugar, or because it contains a sweet-tasting sugar substitute. Various natural non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) and artificial s ...
is added to taste. It is similar to the
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance languag ...
''
caffè latte'' and the
French ''
café au lait
''Café au lait'' (; ; French for "coffee with milk") is coffee with hot milk added. It differs from white coffee, which is coffee with cold milk or other whiteners added.
In France, it is typically served as a breakfast drink, often as a la ...
''.
Origin
Café con leche came from Spain, but its exact origin is unclear.
After becoming popular in Spain, this coffee beverage has spread to other Spanish-speaking countries and areas. Café con leche is very common in Spain and Latin America, as well as diasporic
Latin American
Latin Americans (; ) are the citizenship, citizens of Latin American countries (or people with cultural, ancestral or national origins in Latin America).
Latin American countries and their Latin American diaspora, diasporas are Metroethnicity, ...
communities around the world.
Cuban restaurants in
South Florida
South Florida, sometimes colloquially shortened to SoFlo, is the Regions of the United States#Florida, southernmost region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is one of Florida's three most commonly referred to directional regions; the two others are ...
often have a walk-up window (''ventanita'') that serve café con leche.
Current use
''Café con leche'' is considered a breakfast drink in many countries that serve it. Because of the milk, it is heavier and more filling than coffee drinks.
The drink is created by making espresso and then using a steam wand scalding milk to just below the boiling point. Often sugar is added to the milk as it is being heated. The warmed milk is then poured over the espresso and stirred.
Serving styles
* Café con leche can be ''clarito'' or ''manchado'' (light, more milk) or ''oscurito'' (dark, less milk).
* Sometimes a little salt is added.
* Café con leche is typically served hot, but can also be made iced.
* Whole dairy milk is the usual, but other types of dairy and non-dairy milks can be used, with a change in taste and texture.
* The amount of sugar used varies.
* A cafe con leche ordered ''yo lo preparo'' consists of espresso and steamed milk served separately, and mixed by the consumer.
Prepared café con leche
Café con leche
coffee pods,
instant coffee
Instant coffee is a beverage derived from brewed coffee beans that enables people to quickly prepare hot coffee by adding hot water or milk to coffee solids in powdered or crystallized form and stirring. The product was first invented in Inver ...
, and
canned coffee
is a pre-brewed version of the beverage, sold ready to drink. It is particularly popular in Japan, South Korea, and elsewhere across Asia, and produced in a number of styles and by a large number of companies. Canning, Canned coffee is available ...
are available.
See also
*
References
Spanish cuisine
Latin American cuisine
Coffee drinks
Cuban drinks
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