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How to make Coffee con Leche

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If you’re looking for a simple and comforting way to enjoy your favorite cup of coffee with milk, then you need to try this recipe! This Coffee Cone Leche is smooth, silky, delicious, and so easy to make that you’ll never need another barista again!

The perfect coffee only needs one thing, and that’s milk! That is why this Café Con Leche recipe cannot be beaten! It combines two simply delicious ingredients into one textural wonder full of deliciously creamy and robust flavors. Find your perfect match with this perfect recipe for the ideal coffee pairing!

Video Tutorial

Ingredients you need for Coffee Con Leche

Whole Milk – Whole milk is the first choice for warm coffee drinks because of its wonderful flavor and texture! Whole milk is made with full-fat content and is therefore, creamier than types of milk that have the fat removed.

The smooth creaminess of whole milk makes it the ideal choice when making milk foam, but if you want to get the most out of your dairy milk, be sure to choose an opaque container. Vitamins are light sensitive, so milk that is in clear containers risks losing all its healthy vitamin D!

You can also opt to swap the dairy milk for your favorite lactose-free or plant-based milk; however, not all plant-based milks are created equal! When it comes to non-dairy milk you want a barista-quality variety. These unique milk alternatives are enriched with extra fat to make them easier to froth and give them a creamier texture.

Coffee – This ingredient is where you can have fun with this recipe! To make the perfect coffee con leche you can choose your favorite beans and brewing method.

When you warm up the milk for this delicious mashup it brings out the natural sweetness in the dairy, so you can pair the mildly sweet dairy with a more bold roast, like Sumatra, to get a balanced cup. You can keep it light, fresh, and buzzing with caffeine by choosing a light roast blend for this smooth and airy coffee delight!

There’s no need to miss out if you’re not in the mood for a caffeine buzz. Simply swap the regular coffee in this recipe for your favorite decaf coffee beans.

Cocoa Powder – To finish this delicious drink in style, use cocoa powder for dusting. This tasty trick adds flavors and elegance to the presentation of this simple, smooth, and oh-so-good coffee classic! If you prefer a little more spice, swap the cocoa powder for cinnamon or a delicious blend of half cinnamon and half cocoa!

Coffee con Leche Step-by-step

Pour the coffee into your serving glass.
Add coffee
Gorgeous glass filled with coffee con leche on dark slate plate.
Enjoy!

How To Make Coffee con Leche From Scratch

Brew – Brew your favorite coffee using your preferred brewing method. French press, drip, and pour-over are all great options.

This recipe only calls for one cup so that you can use a smaller batch brewing method like pour-over or French press, or you can make a whole pot of drip coffee, cool the excess, and pop it in the fridge for future iced coffees!

Once you’ve brewed the coffee, divide it between two elegant serving glasses or cups.

Heat – In the microwave or on the stovetop, heat the milk to the ideal frothing temperature.

Froth – Using a French press, handheld milk frother, or steam wand, carefully froth the milk to a nice foamy consistency and then divide it evenly between the two glasses.

Decorate – Give your drink some flair by placing a stencil over the top and then dusting the foam with delicious cocoa powder!

Important Barista Tips

  • The ideal milk temperature for frothing is 131 °F to 149 °F (55 °C to 65 °C).
  • Whenever opting for non-dairy milk, don’t forget always to choose barista quality. This type of milk has the added vegetable fat needed to make a creamy yet airy foam to complete this sensational sip in style!
  • It’s easy to mix lattes and coffee con leche since they share the common ingredient of foamed milk and coffee; however, there is a difference in ratios! A coffee latte has a ratio of coffee-to-milk of 1:3, whereas Coffee con Leche’s ratio of milk to coffee is at least 1:1.
  • Always use filtered water for brewing coffee. Filtered water does not calcify the coffee equipment, giving the coffee a much better taste.

Products

Serving Glasses – This Basic but beautifully flavored drink is all about simplicity, so amp up the wow factor with a gorgeous set of serving glasses. Heat-safe glass mugs are an elegant choice, or dark-colored stoneware makes a nice contrast to the light-colored head of creamy milk on top of this drink.

Small Coffee Brewer – For simple coffee recipes designed for one to two people like this one, it can be a lot of fun to use small-batch brewing methods. French press and pour-over and both great small-batch brewing methods for home baristas. These artisanal ways of brewing can help to highlight notes in the coffee beans that traditional drip might not bring out as strongly.

French press and pour-over have a small initial investment in the equipment, but they are great ways to make six cups or fewer whenever you want a little coffee without too much waste!

Stencil – The stylish touch that takes this drink over the top is the delicious chocolate stencil used for garnish! To get this tasty effect, choose a stencil that is small enough to fit on top of your glass. Hearts, stars, flowers, and even holiday icons are all great stencil choices.

Gorgeous glass filled with coffee con leche on dark slate plate.

Frequently Asked Questions About Coffee con Leche

Is this Recipe Allergen Free?

This coffee creation contains dairy in its original format; however, if your diet requires plant-based or lactose-free milk, you can absolutely swap to one of those tasty options. One great choice of nut-free and gluten-free non-dairy milk is oat milk, which works wonderfully in this recipe!

Can I Use More Coffee?

Yes! If you want to double the batch and make a more extensive version, you can, or you can use an ounce or two of extra coffee if you want a more robust flavor and caffeine boost!

Can I Add Flavor to Coffee Con Leche?

There are a couple of ways to add a little extra flavor to this already delicious sip! You can add one or two pumps of your favorite flavor syrup to the hot coffee, stir, and then top with the milk as directed, or add powdered sweetener the same way.

More Recipes and Tips You Might Enjoy:

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Gorgeous glass filled with coffee con leche on dark slate plate.

Coffee con Leche Recipe

Indulge in the ultimate coffee con leche experience by following our foolproof recipe. With just a few simple ingredients, you can enjoy a velvety and flavorful cup of this classic Spanish delight.
4.97 from 32 votes
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Course: Coffee, Coffee with milk, Hot beverage
Cuisine: Global cuisine
Keyword: coffee con leche, coffee con leche recipe, coffee with milk, how to make coffee con leche
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 2 Servings
Calories: 74kcal

Equipment

  • Saucepan or Microwave-safe jug for heating the Milk
  • Milk frother or French press to froth the milk
  • 2 Serving glasses
  • Stencil

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup Whole milk can be substituted with plant-based milk or lactose-free milk
  • 1 cup Coffee Espresso, French Press, Aero Press, or Pour Over
  • Cocoa powder for dusting

Instructions

  • Brew 1 cup Coffee of your liking in a metal pitcher.
    1 cup Coffee
  • Divide the coffee among the serving glasses (1/2 cup per glass).
  • Heat 1 cup Whole milk in a saucepan or with the microwave and fill it into the French press.
    1 cup Whole milk
  • Froth the milk with the French press, the espresso machine’s steam wand, or with a milk frother and divide it evenly between both glasses.
  • Lastly, dust Cocoa powder on top using a pretty stencil and enjoy.
    Cocoa powder

Nutrition

Serving: 1Serving | Calories: 74kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 49mg | Potassium: 241mg | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 198IU | Calcium: 152mg | Iron: 0.01mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Food Safety

  • Don’t leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
  • Never leave cooking food and beverages unattended
  • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

By on August 1st, 2023
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About Nora

Nora is a full-blown coffee addict, who loves to make and write about everything that is coffee related. She is currently training to be a barista and loves sharing her knowledge.

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