Coffee with milk
in SpanishUn café con leche
/oon kah-FEH kohn LEH-cheh/
The standard, universal way to order coffee with milk. It usually implies a 50/50 ratio of coffee to steamed milk.
A classic 'café con leche' served in a traditional cup.
💬Other Ways to Say It
Un cortado
/oon kohr-TAH-doh/
An espresso 'cut' with a small splash of warm milk. Stronger than a café con leche.
Un perico
/oon peh-REE-koh/
The specific Colombian term for a small coffee with milk. Note: In other countries, this word can mean 'parakeet' or even 'cocaine,' so only use it for coffee in Colombia!
Una lágrima
/OO-nah LAH-gree-mah/
Literally 'a tear.' It is a cup of hot milk with just a 'teardrop' or splash of coffee added for color.
Un café con leche oscuro
/oon kah-FEH kohn LEH-cheh ohs-KOO-roh/
Dark coffee with milk. Specifies that you want more coffee than milk.
Un café manchado
/oon kah-FEH mahn-CHAH-doh/
Literally 'stained coffee.' In Spain, this is mostly hot milk 'stained' with a little bit of coffee (similar to the Argentine 'lágrima').
Un café bombón
/oon kah-FEH bohm-BOHN/
A sweet treat made of espresso and sweetened condensed milk.
🔑Key Words
Key Words to learn:
📊Quick Comparison
Understanding the ratio of coffee to milk is crucial in Spanish coffee culture.
| Phrase | Ratio (Coffee:Milk) | Best For | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Café con leche | 50:50 | Breakfast or afternoon snack | Universal |
| Cortado | 75:25 | After a meal digestif | Spain/Argentina |
| Lágrima / Manchado | 10:90 | Those who dislike strong coffee flavor | Argentina/Spain |
| Café solo / Tinto | 100:0 | Pure energy boost | Universal |
📈Difficulty Level
Very phonetic. The only challenge is the 'ch' in 'leche' and rolling the 'r' in variations like 'cortado'.
It's a simple noun phrase. No conjugation required.
While saying it is easy, knowing WHICH variation to order (cortado vs manchado vs con leche) varies heavily by country.
Key Challenges:
- Understanding the regional names for different milk ratios
- Ordering the correct temperature in Spain
💡Examples in Action
Buenos días, ¿me pone un café con leche, por favor?
Good morning, could you get me a coffee with milk, please?
Yo prefiero el café con leche de almendras.
I prefer coffee with almond milk.
Para mí, un cortado corto de café.
For me, a cortado with very little coffee (short shot).
¿El café con leche lo quieres caliente o templado?
Do you want the coffee with milk hot or warm (lukewarm)?
🌍Cultural Context
The 'Latte' Confusion
If you ask for a 'Latte' in many parts of Spain or Latin America, you might just get a glass of plain milk (leche). The Italian concept of a Latte exists in modern specialty shops, but in a traditional bar, 'Café con leche' is the closest equivalent, though usually smaller and stronger than an American latte.
The 'Merienda' Tradition
In Spain and the Southern Cone (Argentina/Uruguay), coffee with milk isn't just for breakfast. It's a staple of 'la merienda,' a late afternoon snack (around 5-7 PM) often accompanied by a pastry or toast.
Temperature Matters in Spain
In Spain, milk is often steamed to nuclear temperatures. Locals often specify if they want it 'templado' (warm/lukewarm) so they can drink it immediately, or 'caliente' (hot) if they want it piping hot.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Ordering 'Un Latte'
Mistake: "Asking for 'Un Latte' at a traditional village bar."
Correction: Un café con leche
Expecting a 20oz Cup
Mistake: "Expecting a 'Grande' or 'Venti' size when ordering a standard coffee."
Correction: Understanding standard sizes
Saying 'Con leche café'
Mistake: "Reversing the word order."
Correction: Café con leche
💡Pro Tips
Specify Your Milk Type
Plant-based milks are common in cities now. You can ask for 'leche de soja' (soy), 'leche de avena' (oat), or 'leche de almendras' (almond). For dairy, 'leche desnatada' is skim milk and 'leche entera' is whole milk.
The 'Vaso' vs. 'Taza' Debate
In Spain, you might be asked: '¿En vaso o en taza?' (In a glass or a cup?). Older generations often prefer drinking coffee from a small glass (vaso), while a cup (taza) is more formal or modern.
🗺️Regional Variations
Spain
Spain has a very specific coffee culture. Coffee is usually strong espresso. 'Café con leche' is often drunk at breakfast, while 'cortado' is for after lunch.
Colombia
In Bogotá and the Andes, 'Un perico' is the standard way to ask for a small milk coffee. Coffee is often milder and larger than the intense Spanish espresso shots.
Argentina
Argentine cafes are institutions. A 'Café con leche' is usually served with 'medialunas' (croissants). If you want a small cup with a bit of milk, ask for a 'cortado in a jarrito' (small glass jar).
Mexico
In traditional places (like La Parroquia in Veracruz), 'Lechero' involves a waiter pouring hot milk from a kettle held high above the glass to create foam.
💬What Comes Next?
The waiter asks about sugar
¿Azúcar o sacarina?
Sugar or artificial sweetener?
Sacarina, por favor.
Sweetener, please.
The waiter asks about temperature (Spain)
¿Cómo quieres la leche?
How do you want the milk (temperature)?
Templada, por favor.
Lukewarm/Warm (drinkable now), please.
🧠Memory Tricks
Think of 'Cortado' as the coffee being 'cut' with a knife of milk. It's sharp (strong) with just a little cut.
A 'Lágrima' is just a 'teardrop' of coffee crying into a sea of milk.
🔄How It Differs from English
In English/American culture, coffee is often a grab-and-go fuel served in massive cups (12-20oz). In Spanish culture, coffee is a 'moment'—usually seated, served in ceramic cups or glass (6-8oz), and meant to be sipped, not chugged. Milk is almost always heated; cold milk in hot coffee is rare.
False Friends & Common Confusions:
Why it's different: While 'café con leche' is the translation, a 'Latte' in the US is much milkier and larger than a Spanish 'café con leche'.
Use instead: Café con leche (for standard), Lágrima (for very milky)
🎯Your Learning Path
➡️ Learn Next:
How to order food in Spanish
Now that you have your coffee, you'll need to order breakfast or a pastry to go with it.
How to say sugar in Spanish
Unless you like your coffee bitter, you'll need to ask for this next.
How to say the bill please
Essential for finishing your cafe experience.
✏️Test Your Knowledge
💡 Quick Quiz: Coffee with milk
Question 1 of 3
You are in Madrid and just finished a heavy lunch. You want a coffee with just a tiny splash of milk. What do you order?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I order iced coffee with milk?
Yes, but it's different. In Spain, ask for 'café con leche con hielo.' You will typically receive a hot coffee and a separate glass with ice cubes. You pour the hot coffee over the ice yourself.
Is 'café con leche' the same as a cappuccino?
Not exactly. A cappuccino has much more foam and often chocolate powder on top. A café con leche has steamed milk but less froth/foam and is mixed more thoroughly.
How do I ask for oat milk or soy milk?
You say 'con leche de avena' (oat) or 'con leche de soja' (soy). Most modern cafes in cities now carry these options.
Do I pay before or after drinking?
In most traditional Spanish-speaking cafes, you order, drink, and then ask for the bill ('la cuenta') at the end. In fast-food style chains, you pay first.
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