Types of coffee in Spain

[Ben]

In our recent blog Q and A Pepino asked:

My question is really basic, but it confuses me and it’d be nice to have a clear idea. Basically, I’m not a coffee drinker - can’t stand the stuff, so I know nothing about the different types, and when I’m with friends from the UK who want me to order for them, I have no idea what’s what. Can someone give me a quick run down of all the popular Spanish names for different coffees, along with their English equivalent name (if it exists) and a quick explanation of what is particular about each coffee? Also, are their any English types of coffee that are just not available in Spain, as I could do with knowing about that too. Thanks! :-)

How many Spanish coffee combinations can you name? Let's see if we can come up with the definitive list!

[greytop]

Originally Posted by Ben

In our recent blog Q and A Pepino asked:
How many Spanish coffee combinations can you name? Let's see if we can come up with the definitive list!

Get in quick with the easy ones
café solo - small espresso (needs sugar added & stirring very vigorously)
café con leche - coffee with milk (latte in modern terms)
café americano - larger black coffee, my favourite
café cortado - small white coffee
cafe carajillo (?spell) - espresso coffee with brandy

[Ben]

I find the coffee so strong that I usually go for a descafinado de maquina con leche.

If you ask for a descafinado without adding the 'de maquina' bit then you get a packet of nescafe powder added to hot milk - not nearly as nice!

[Mario]

I will try to help you. but I have a problem, my English level isn´t too high.

The main kind of coffee is "cafe con leche" or milk coffee. I think this kind of coffee don´t need aditional information.

If you like a stronger coffe you could ask for "cortado". This is the same coffee but in a smaller cap. The cup is normally filled close to the top with coffee and only a bit of milk is added.

There are another kind of coffe between the last two. "cafe con leche largo de cafe". This minds that you want a milk coffee but with more coffe than they usually serve.

"solo" or "café solo" I suppose that is the black coffee. Threre is only coffee without milk. It´s served in a small cup the same of the one that the "cortados" ones.

"solo con hielo" It`s the same version but with an aditional glass with some ice cubes. Normally coffee is served very hot.

You could request a decaffeinated coffee "cafe descafeinado" this is the same than the milk coffee but made with decaffeinated coffee of course.
There are two kind of decaffeinated coffee "de sobre" or "de máquina" They normally will ask you for your preference. The first one is packed and the second one is made like the normal coffee with the expresso machine.

More later, bye

[greytop]

Here in the Valencian region at least, they serve a form of "cortado" made with condensed milk (which is either unsweetened, or much less sweet than the UK version) rather than heated normal milk Anyone know what this is called?
Then there is a favourite in summer - "café granizado" - coffee slush in English? Don't drink it too fast or you'll get a bad pain in the gullet

[Janel]

I don't usually drink coffee, more of a tea person, but what I do like sometimes is what is called a "corto de cafe" (not to be confused with cortado)or "manchado."

Its in a larger cup like "cafe con leche" except that instead of half espresso and half milk its probably 3/4ths milk and 1/4th coffee. For me, perfect!!

And I like coffee with condensed milk too. Over at Delic Cafe in Pl. de la Paja, they make a great "Cafe de Canarias" which is just that and with orange or lime rind. Really delicious!
- j.

[Tali]

In Cordoba, Malaga and Granada I have heard people ask for a "café sombra" which is with more milk than a café con leche. Then the next one down is a "café nube" with even more milk but not quite reaching "manchado" levels. The café sombra is usually a hit with Brits if they are finding café con leche a little too strong but I've tried using the expression in Madrid and received quizzical looks.
Also, in Almeria I have heard people ask for a "café bonbon" which is a double espresso shot (or thereabouts) of coffee with a double helping of that condensed milk stuff that greytop spoke about, usually drunk as a follow up to a hefty serving of cognac in the morning for breakfast. Not for the faint-hearted!

[Dave_K]

And I thought ordering a coffee at Starbucks was complicated.....

[José Miguel]

Originally Posted by greytop

Here in the Valencian region at least, they serve a form of "cortado" made with condensed milk (which is either unsweetened, or much less sweet than the UK version) rather than heated normal milk Anyone know what this is called?
Then there is a favourite in summer - "café granizado" - coffee slush in English? Don't drink it too fast or you'll get a bad pain in the gullet

Café bombón = café con leche condensada
Desgraciado = café descafeinado con leche desnatada.

[Culebronchris]

In Murcia if you add brandy to a bombón it seems to be called a belmonte but just like carajillo you can vary the booze - a whisky carajillo, a vodka belmonte etc.

[ChorizoYvino]

Yo prefero 'cafe con 105' (copa de cafe con ciento tres?)
I prefer coffee with a low priced brandy called 105. When my in-laws or I are in Spain, this is what the men order and the nice thing is most of the time, the bartender leaves the bottle for you to add what you prefer. Since it is holiday time, I perhaps may have it in the morning, or late evening as well.
I try to bring a bottle of it back from holidays too or a bottle of Veterano.

In the relatives casas it is common for them also to have cafe con aguardiente (grape moonshine) or cafe liquor (sort of a homemade kahlua almost) both of which can be purchased commercially but I prefer the homemade recipes of this.

[intrepida1981]

Originally Posted by greytop

Here in the Valencian region at least, they serve a form of "cortado" made with condensed milk (which is either unsweetened, or much less sweet than the UK version) rather than heated normal milk Anyone know what this is called?

We call it "Café bombón" , or just "un bombón"

[omeyas]

Originally Posted by Mario

I will try to help you. but I have a problem, my English level isn´t too high.

Looks fine! I can understand that you are keen to pratice your English, but personally, I'd be quite happy for you to write in Spanish.

[intrepida1981]

Originally Posted by Mario

"solo" or "café solo" I suppose that is the black coffee. Threre is only coffee without milk. It´s served in a small cup the same of the one that the "cortados" ones.

I would add that if you just order "un café" waiters will probably serve you a "café solo", so be careful with this.

Originally Posted by Mario

"solo con hielo" It`s the same version but with an aditional glass with some ice cubes. Normally coffee is served very hot.

Here in Valencia, it's used to call this kind of coffee as "café del tiempo".

[reetp]

Originally Posted by intrepida1981

Here in Valencia, it's used to call this kind of coffee as "café del tiempo".

I live just inland from Valencia

Café con hielo is as described - pour your hot coffee onto the ice cubes.

Café del tiempo - Properly made in some of our local bars, you put more water through the coffee, so it makes it a little weaker, and into a beaten up small saucepan with copius amounts of sugar. Leave it too cool, pour into a very old water bottle & leave it in the freezer over night. In the morning it is effectively Café 'Granizado' - deliciously refreshing on a hot summer afternoon.

When you drink it, think of CocaCola without the fizz. Which after all, is EXACTLY what CocaCola is..... iced coffee with fizz.

Café Largo (my usual weapon of choice) served in a small glass like a Cortado but without the milk. Longer, but not as strong as a solo (well, same amount of coffee, just a little more water) I often have it with a chupito - small shot of brandy, either Veterano or Terrys. The cheap ones are the best.

My wife never liked coffee much, but now loves her Cortado. It's quite funny cos you can spot the visitors a mile off - the 'Café con Leches' as they are often known ! It takes a while to find what you like and get used to it so for safety most English visitors go for a con Leche or Americano.

There is another one that I don't know the name of but coffee in a tall glass with a lump of ice cream on top !

Ooooh, I love this country !

[Juan60]

Esto es un "thread" fantastico. Ahora, necesito una taza de cafe! Quizas dos. Me gusta la cafe amercano.

Juan

[greytop]

Originally Posted by Juan60

...Ahora, necesito una taza de café! Quizás dos. Me gusta el café americano.

Juan

Tomó uno esta mañana con un bocadillo de jamón york y queso fresco a la plancha. Mmmmm....

[Juanjo]

Originally Posted by greytop

Tomó uno (café americano) esta mañana con un bocadillo de jamón york y queso fresco a la plancha. Mmmmm....

Una vez eramos en un bar muy pequeño de Sanlúcar de Barrameda y mi media naranja le pidió al camarero "café americano, porfa".

"¿Que?"

Después de que mi mujer le había explicado en que consiste hacerlo, el camarero dio cuenta "¡Ah! Lo llama café bébé"

[ArielleRDJ1]

What a helpful thread! I wish I knew all of this information when I was in Spain this past March!