Spanish Coffee: How to Order Your Perfect Cup

Spanish coffee is a part of the daily local life. Many Spaniards start their day with a café con leche or a café solo. But coffee also features throughout the day.

With so many different flavours and processes, local writer Laura Kemp takes a look at the history of Spanish Coffee, the various types available and how to order them.

The history of Spanish coffee

First things first, let’s take a little look back at the history of Spanish coffee.

Coffee was initially brought to Spain by Turkish immigrants in the 16th Century. Although Spain didn’t cultivate much coffee, if any at all, they did develop a roasting technique that results in very dark, almost black, oily beans that make for a very strong cup. These variations are known as Spanish Roast or Dark French Roast.

The majority of Spanish coffee served in Spain comes from Angola and Mozambique and is roasted black to bring out the full flavour. Early Arabic coffee sellers had a tendency to overcharge Spanish coffee merchants, leading to the most expensive cup of coffee in Europe. Although Portugal had colonies in a number of African coffee-growing regions, the quality wasn’t as good, so some importers opted to pay higher prices for Arabic coffee instead.

Torrefacto, natural or mezcla?

If you buy coffee in a supermarket in Spain today, you’ll find three different types: torrefacto, natural, and mezcla. In the early 20th century, coffee was commonly roasted in Spain using the torrefacto process. This involved adding sugar to the beans during roasting to reduce production costs and preserve the coffee for longer. Torrefacto coffee has a caramelized, slightly bitter-sweet flavour. The taste is not for everyone, but Spanish palettes adapted to the flavour and many people still prefer this type of coffee.

Natural coffee is not roasted with sugar and is dried with the fruit intact, giving a smoother taste. This is the most common type of coffee used in Spanish cafes today. Natural coffee is the choice of the modern connoisseur and creates a cup more akin to Italian-style coffee.

Mezcla (mix) is a blend of torrefacto and natural coffee beans. This is more popular than torrefacto but less popular than natural. Spanish households often keep packets of mezcla and natural coffee to drink depending on their mood or time of day. Mezcla is often used for a morning kick, while natural is popular after a meal.

Spanish coffee brands

Spanish coffee brands you’ll find in bars include Marcilla, Candelas, Catunambu, Café Bou, Unic, Santa Cristina, Dibar, and Tupinamba. But there are many more. And you’ll also find foreign brands including Lavazza, Segafredo, and Illy.

Coffee culture in Spain

Many Spaniards kick off their day enjoying a coffee with hot milk, otherwise known as a café con leche.

When 11am comes around, lots of Spaniards will pause for a brief meal known as the Almuerzo. They will often enjoy a café solo and a small bocadillo – a baguette filled with cheese or Spanish ham.

Coffee will also be enjoyed throughout lunchtime (comida), as well as after dinner (cena). As you can see, the Spanish are quite passionate about their coffee!

The best place to experience Spanish coffee culture is in one of those old-fashioned, shabby bars where you can stand at the counter with the locals. However, you can enjoy a good coffee pretty much anywhere in Spain, so let’s have a look at the most popular varieties.

The different types of Spanish coffee and how to order them

When you are at a bar or cafe in Spain, you will usually be met with a large list of coffees on the menu. But what are they, and how do you order them?

Café Solo

First and foremost is the café Solo. This is is a little, extremely potent black coffee that is typically served in a tiny glass.

One for true coffee-lovers, a café solo is ideal for those who really like to taste the flavour of their cup, and is typically enjoyed after a meal.

Café con Leche

The next most common method of consuming coffee is called café con leche, or coffee with milk. This coffee is particularly popular in the morning. It can be served in a small glass or a tall, thin glass and is made up of half café solo and half hot milk.

The best place to sip on a café con leche is a classic Spanish bar, where the milk is poured into a metal jug and heated to a steaming temperature. You will most likely be able to hear this process of making your coffee piping hot!

Café Bombon

Café bombón is a popular coffee drink in Spain that originated in Valencia. It is perfect for those with a sweet tooth!

It consists of a shot of espresso and an equal amount of sweetened condensed milk, served in a small glass or cup. The condensed milk forms a layer at the bottom of the glass, while the espresso creates the distinctive two-layered look.

The name “café bombón” comes from the Spanish word for “candy” as the drink has a sweet but rich taste. The condensed milk provides a creamy and indulgent sweetness that balances the intensity of the espresso.

Café bombón is perfect as a dessert coffee or afternoon treat, and is a popular choice in cafés and restaurants throughout Spain. It’s worth noting that café bombón is a relatively high-calorie coffee drink due to the use of sweetened condensed milk. So it may not be the best choice for those watching their sugar or calorie intake.

Café Americano

Café Americano is a shot or two of espresso that is then diluted with hot water. The resulting drink is a larger, milder coffee than a straight espresso, with a volume like that of a typical drip coffee served in other countries.

In some cafes in Spain, you might also find a variant of Café Americano called “café con agua.” This is like the regular Café Americano, but the espresso shot comes separate from the hot water. Allowing the drinker to mix them to their preferred strength.

Café Americano is available in Spain, but it’s not the most common coffee order. Spaniards prefer shorter, stronger coffee drinks like cortados, café con leche, and espressos.

Café Cortado

Café cortado is a popular coffee drink in Spain that consists of a shot of espresso “cortado” or “cut” with a small amount of hot milk. The term “cortado” refers to the process of “cutting” the intensity of the espresso with a small amount of milk. This result in a milder coffee with a creamy texture.

The proportion of milk to espresso can vary depending on the café and the preferences of the drinker. Buy the typical ratio is around 1:1 or 1:2. The milk used in a café cortado comes steamed or heated, but not frothed like in a cappuccino or latte.

Café cortado is a staple of Spanish coffee culture and serves as a mid-morning or mid-afternoon pick-me-up. It often comes in a small glass or cup.

Café Con Hielo

A favourite of mine on a hot sunny day is the café con hielo, or iced coffee. This one is usually a surprise to many iced coffee drinkers for the unusual way it’s served. The barista will bring you a regular coffee with a separate glass of ice. You should pour the coffee over the ice and wait for it to cool – this can take some practice!

Catalonians refer to it as “cafè amb gel.” While in Valencia and some other coastal locations, it’s called “Cafè del Tiempo” and often comes with lemon.

Café Sombra and Café Manchado

A café sombra or café manchado is usually made up of a small measure of coffee and mostly milk. One of these milky cups is great to enjoy in the evening time, and for those who don’t love the taste of coffee.

Café Carajillo

This is the most famous variety around the world, known as the “Spanish coffee.” However, as we have seen, there are so many variations of coffee in Spain. Outside of Spain, Spanish coffee is often rum-infused and topped with whipped cream.

You might be wondering when this addition began. While it’s not known whether the Spaniards were the first to use the boozy addition, it’s a very common practice – even early in the mornings.

A classic café carajillo in Spain is a café solo with a drop of brandy. You might also substitute rum or whisky. If done correctly, the brandy is lit first to burn off the alcohol, and then the café solo is added.

Final thoughts on Spanish coffee

No matter what your favourite type of coffee is. Be it a simple but rich café solo, or a sweet and creamy café bombon, Spain has so many variations of this classic that you’ll find something for everyone.