Cafe Con Leche

Cuban coffee is not a single drink. It is a family of four small, sweet, espumita-topped espresso drinks built on the same sugar-whipped technique: the cafecito (the 1.5 oz pure shot), the colada (the 3-4 oz shareable version), the cortadito (the milk-cut version), and Cuban café con leche (the breakfast milk version). All four are everyday drinks in Cuba, Miami, Tampa, Ybor City, and Cuban-American communities across the United States and Latin America. All four share the same Spanish-American medium-dark espresso roast, the same sugar-and-coffee espumita foam, and the same 60-to-90-second preparation rhythm. ...

Café con leche is one of the most satisfying coffee drinks you can make at home — equal parts bold espresso and hot scalded milk, served in a wide cup with sugar stirred in at the end. It is the daily coffee of Spain and Cuba, and once you try it, you will understand why. This guide covers the authentic recipe, the difference between café con leche and café au lait, and five delicious variations. ...