Spanish latte: what it is and how to make one at home

A Spanish latte is a latte sweetened with sweetened condensed milk instead of sugar. You pour hot espresso over a spoonful or two of condensed milk, stir, then add steamed milk or cold milk and ice. The result is a sweet, creamy, caramel-like coffee that is richer than a regular latte.

What is a Spanish latte?

A Spanish latte is a milk coffee made with espresso, milk and sweetened condensed milk. The condensed milk goes in first, so it dissolves into the hot coffee before the rest of the milk is added.

The drink is also called a Spanish iced latte, a Spanish coffee in some places, and in some cafes it is simply listed as a condensed milk latte. It is similar in idea to Vietnamese coffee, which also uses condensed milk, though that drink is brewed through a small metal filter instead of an espresso machine.

Where does the Spanish latte come from?

The origin of the Spanish latte is not firmly documented. The name suggests Spain, and the drink is often linked to the Spanish cafe bombon, a small espresso served with condensed milk in a glass. Cafes in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and North America have popularized the larger milk version in the last decade.

Because the name is a menu label rather than a protected recipe, two cafes may make it differently. Some use a lot of condensed milk, some add a little regular milk, and some serve it only iced.

What does a Spanish latte taste like?

A Spanish latte tastes sweet and creamy, with a caramel-like depth from the cooked milk sugars in condensed milk. The espresso still shows as a roasted bitter note underneath, which keeps the drink from tasting like plain dessert.

Compared with a regular latte, the Spanish latte is thicker on the tongue and clearly sweeter, even without added sugar. People who normally take sugar in coffee often like it. People who prefer unsweetened coffee should ask for less condensed milk.

What do you need to make a Spanish latte?

You need espresso or strong coffee, milk, sweetened condensed milk and ice if you want the iced version. A small jug or a glass for mixing is useful.

• 1 to 2 shots of espresso (about 30 to 60 ml), or the same amount of strong moka pot coffee
• 1 to 2 tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk
• 120 to 180 ml of milk, whole milk gives the creamiest result
• Ice cubes for the iced version

Look for condensed milk that is labelled sweetened condensed milk, not evaporated milk. Evaporated milk is unsweetened and will not give the right taste.

How do you make a hot Spanish latte?

To make a hot Spanish latte, stir condensed milk into fresh espresso until it dissolves, then pour steamed milk over it. The order matters because the hot coffee melts the condensed milk.

1. Put one tablespoon of condensed milk in a warmed cup.
2. Pull a shot of espresso straight into the cup and stir until smooth.
3. Heat the milk to about 60 to 65 degrees Celsius and froth it lightly.
4. Pour the milk into the cup and hold back the foam with a spoon, then spoon the foam on top.
5. Taste, and add more condensed milk only if you want it sweeter.

How do you make an iced Spanish latte?

To make an iced Spanish latte, mix the espresso and condensed milk in a glass, add ice, then pour cold milk over the top. The layers look nice and can be stirred before drinking.

1. Stir one to two tablespoons of condensed milk into the hot espresso in a glass.
2. Fill the glass with ice.
3. Pour in 120 to 150 ml of cold milk slowly so the layers stay visible.
4. Stir right before drinking.

If the espresso is very hot, let it cool for a minute before adding ice, so the ice does not melt too fast and water the drink down.

Spanish latte vs regular latte vs cafe bombon: how do they differ?

A Spanish latte is sweeter than a regular latte because of the condensed milk, and it is larger and milder than a cafe bombon. The three drinks share espresso but differ in what goes with it.

The bombon is a small, intense drink. The Spanish latte is closer to a regular latte that has been made sweeter and thicker.

What milk and condensed milk should you choose?

Whole milk and regular sweetened condensed milk give the classic Spanish latte. Lighter milk makes a thinner drink, and plant versions change the taste, so the choice shapes the result.

Brand matters less than the label. Check that the tin says sweetened condensed milk, and shake or stir the contents before measuring, since the thick milk settles. Store an opened tin in a covered jar in the fridge and use it within a few days.

How can you adjust the strength and sweetness?

Adjust a Spanish latte by changing the condensed milk, the espresso or the milk, one at a time. Small changes are easier to taste than big ones.

• Too sweet: use one teaspoon less condensed milk or add a second shot of espresso.
• Too strong: add 30 to 60 ml more milk.
• Too thin: use whole milk and a double shot.
• Want a cold, layered look: pour the milk over ice slowly and do not stir until serving.
• Want spice: dust a little cinnamon or cardamom on top.

Taste after stirring, because condensed milk sinks to the bottom of an unstirred glass and the last sips can be much sweeter than the first.

Is a Spanish latte on the menu at Maison Sauvage?

A Spanish latte is not on the recorded menu of Maison Sauvage café in Mile End, Montreal. The only drink the cafe is recorded as making is the Cloud Latte, a signature latte topped with meringue that is torched to order, according to The Main directory and the cafe’s Instagram bio.

The two drinks share the idea of a sweetened milk coffee, but they are different: the Cloud Latte gets its sweetness and look from a toasted meringue topping, while the Spanish latte gets it from condensed milk. No prices or full drinks list were found, so check the menu page for what is recorded, and the hours and location page before visiting. This guide is independent and takes no orders.

Common questions

For the address, opening hours and menu, see Maison Sauvage café in Montréal.

This article is general information from an independent guide, not from Maison Sauvage café itself. For the store’s current details see hours and location.