Café Con Leche – A Beautiful Mess

We are continuing our coffee journey together today. And no coffee journey would be completely without café con leche. This beloved drink seamlessly marries the bold flavors of coffee with the creamy, smoothness of milk. But café con leche is more than just a drink; it’s a cultural icon deeply rooted in history. Find more great drink recipes in our full Drinks Archive.

Café con leche, which translates to “coffee with milk” in Spanish, finds its origins in Spain, where it was initially known as “café au lait.” The concept of mixing coffee with milk can be traced back to ancient Arabian cultures, where coffee (a product of Yemen) first met milk.

Related: Love coffee and espresso drinks? Next up learn to make a proper latte, mocha, cappuccino, cortado, macchiato, and Affogato.

As coffee gained popularity across Europe, the beverage evolved to suit regional tastes. In Spain, café con leche became a morning ritual—a satisfying way to start the day. It symbolized comfort, togetherness, and tradition—values that continue to be associated with the drink today.

Ingredients

• Coffee
• Hot milk – or a milk alternative

Whole milk is traditional but you can certainly use other percentages or alternatives if needed.

Directions

Start by brewing a strong cup of coffee using your preferred method.

Heat the milk to a gentle simmer (no boiling or scalding). You can do this in a saucepan or a milk frother. Although café con leche does not traditionally include foam.

Combine equal parts coffee and hot milk and enjoy!

Coffee Brewing Methods

Any coffee brewing method you love works fine for this recipe.

Serving Suggestions

If you love something sweet with your coffee, try these recipes: