How to Order your Favourite Coffee in Spain?

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Posted and filed under General Articles of Interest.

One of the many things many love about Spain is its great coffee. People say that the Americans have too many ways of ordering a coffee … but what about the Spanish, they have a multitude of different coffees. It is quite an adventure trying them all. Did you even know that there are so many ways to order coffee in Spain? 

Depending on in which region you find yourself, ordering a coffee in Spain can be quite a complicated affair.

Here are just some of the ways of ordering the many combinations of coffee in Spain:

• Café Solo : A simple shot of strong black coffee in a small cup
• Café Solo con Hielo : A short black coffee poured over ice (very refreshing in the summer!)
• Café Americano : The same shot of coffee but in a larger cup with more water added
• Café Cortado : A shot of coffee topped up with a small amount of milk (often served in a glass)
• Café con Leche : A regular old coffee with milk (although it may be stronger than you are used to).
• Café del tiempo : In Madrid, that is a cafe solo with ice and lemon
• Café Sombra : A slightly weaker coffee with milk.
• Café) Nube : A much weaker coffee with milk.
• Carajillo : A small shot of black coffee with a generous splash of alcohol. The most typical being coñac although Baileys is pretty nice too!
• Bomboncito : A small black coffee with condensed milk.
• Manchado : In Murcia, it is like the Bombón, but with less condensed milk.
• Trifásico : A small black coffee with condensed milk and a slug of brandy
• Asiático : A potent mix of condensed milk, double espresso, Licor 43, brandy, lemon rind and cinnamon. Also known as a Barraquito in the Canary Islands

The amount of coffee in your coffee is what influences its name. However, if you go to certain parts of Spain and ask for a ” café nube” (Spanish for cloud), do not be surprised if your friendly waiter looks at you as if you are mad.

When I went with a Spaniard to England and we had a coffee in Starbucks, he looked at me in bemusement and asked me “Why is this just a large cup of hot water with a splash of coffee for this price…?”

How many of these coffees have you tried? Which is your favourite? Please let us know of any we have missed off and we will add them to the list.

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