Spanish Latte Recipe: Hot, Iced and a Lighter No-Added-Sugar Version
Quick answer: A Spanish latte is a latte sweetened with sweetened condensed milk instead of sugar, so it is creamy and sweet. To make it at home, put one or two spoons of condensed milk in the cup, add espresso or strong coffee, then hot milk, or cold milk with ice. For a lighter version, swap the condensed milk for regular milk and a stevia sachet.
The Spanish latte is one of the most ordered drinks in cafés across Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, especially iced. Its sweet, creamy taste comes from condensed milk. This recipe explains what a Spanish latte is, how to make it at home hot or iced, and a lighter version with no added sugar.
Spanish latte at home
Creamy and sweet like the café, plus a lighter version with no added sugar.
What Is a Spanish Latte?
A Spanish latte is espresso sweetened with condensed milk and topped up with milk, served hot or over ice. It tastes like a latte but sweeter and creamier, with a soft caramel note from the condensed milk. The name is used mainly in Gulf and Middle Eastern cafés, and the drink is based on the Spanish café bombón.
What is in a Spanish latte?
- Espresso: one or two shots, or 2 tsp gold instant coffee dissolved in 60 ml hot water
- Sweetened condensed milk: 1 to 2 tablespoons, which is where all the sweetness comes from
- Milk: about 180 ml, steamed for a hot Spanish latte or poured cold over ice for an iced one
New to lattes? Start with what is a latte.
Why Is It Called a Spanish Latte?
The name is usually traced to café bombón, a Spanish coffee often linked to the Valencia region. It is made with roughly equal parts espresso and sweetened condensed milk, so the condensed milk sinks and the small glass shows two clear layers.
The Spanish latte served in Gulf and Saudi cafés is a bigger, lighter take on the same idea: espresso and condensed milk, topped up with hot milk or cold milk and ice, so it drinks like a sweet, creamy latte rather than a concentrated shot.
Spanish Latte vs Latte vs Café Bombón
| Drink | Coffee | Milk | Sweetener | Taste |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Latte | Espresso | Lots of milk, light foam | None | Smooth and mild |
| Spanish latte | Espresso or strong coffee | Lots of hot or cold milk | Sweetened condensed milk | Sweet and creamy |
| Café bombón | Espresso | No extra milk | Condensed milk, about equal to the espresso | Concentrated, very sweet |
| Flat white | Espresso (often a double) | Less milk, fine microfoam | None | Coffee-forward |
Ingredients (one cup)
- One shot of espresso, or one teaspoon of gold instant coffee dissolved in 30 ml of hot water
- One to two tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk
- 150 to 200 ml of milk
- Ice (for the iced version)
How to Make an Iced Spanish Latte
- First, put the condensed milk in the bottom of a tall glass.
- Then add the ice and the cold milk.
- Next, pour the espresso or strong coffee slowly over the milk so the layers show.
- Finally, stir before drinking so the condensed milk dissolves.
How to Make a Hot Spanish Latte
- First, put the condensed milk in the cup, add the hot espresso and stir until it dissolves.
- Then heat the milk and whisk it until light foam forms.
- Finally, pour the milk over the coffee and spoon the foam on top.
A Lighter Spanish Latte With No Added Sugar
Sweetened condensed milk is high in sugar, which is why the Spanish latte is one of the sweetest coffee drinks. So if you want the same creamy feel with less sugar:
- Swap the condensed milk for full-fat milk or unsweetened evaporated milk.
- Add a stevia Reb-M sachet for sweetness, or half a sachet for a lighter taste.
- Add a drop of vanilla to replace some of the condensed milk flavour.
Read more about stevia benefits.
Tips for a Better Spanish Latte
- Use strong coffee, because condensed milk covers a weak coffee taste.
- For the iced version, also freeze coffee into ice cubes so the drink does not get watery.
- Start with one spoon of condensed milk, then add more to taste.
Café-style coffee without the café
Freeze-dried gold coffee for lattes, espresso ground coffee for the moka pot, and foamy cappuccino sachets.
Spanish Latte Measurements by Cup Size
Making a bigger glass or a batch for guests? Use this as a starting point for the iced version and adjust the condensed milk to taste.
| Size | Coffee | Condensed milk | Milk | Ice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small (about 240 ml) | 1 espresso shot or 1 tsp gold instant coffee | 1 tbsp | 120 ml | ½ cup |
| Medium (about 350 ml) | 2 shots or 2 tsp gold instant coffee | 1½ tbsp | 180 ml | 1 cup |
| Large (about 470 ml) | 2 to 3 shots | 2 tbsp | 240 ml | A full cup |
How Much Sugar and Caffeine Is in a Spanish Latte?
The caffeine comes only from the coffee: one espresso shot (about 30 ml) has around 63 mg, so a two-shot Spanish latte has about 126 mg. The sweetness comes from the condensed milk. One tablespoon (about 19 g) has roughly 10 g of sugar and 60 calories (USDA), so two tablespoons add about 20 g of sugar, close to the 25 g a day the WHO suggests as a further-reduced goal for free sugars. If you drink it every day, try one tablespoon or the lighter version above, and check your day with our sugar calculator.
Common Spanish Latte Mistakes
- Condensed milk will not dissolve in the iced version: mix it with the hot espresso first, then add cold milk and ice.
- Weak coffee: condensed milk and milk mute the coffee, so use two shots in a medium or large glass.
- Watery drink: lots of ice melts and dilutes it. Use less ice, or freeze coffee in an ice tray.
- Too sweet: start with one tablespoon and taste. You can always add more.
Spanish Latte Flavour Ideas
- Cardamom: a pinch of ground cardamom in the hot coffee for a Gulf twist.
- Saffron: a few saffron threads soaked in a spoon of hot milk.
- Vanilla: a few drops of vanilla extract.
- Caramel: a teaspoon of caramel sauce, with a little less condensed milk.
Quick questions
What is a Spanish latte?
A latte sweetened with sweetened condensed milk, so it is sweeter and creamier than a plain latte.
What is the difference between a Spanish latte and a latte?
A plain latte is coffee and milk with no sweetener, while a Spanish latte adds sweetened condensed milk.
Can I make a Spanish latte without a machine?
Yes, use gold instant coffee dissolved in a little hot water instead of espresso.
How do I make a Spanish latte without sugar?
Swap the condensed milk for milk or unsweetened evaporated milk and sweeten with a stevia sachet.
Why is it called a Spanish latte?
It is usually traced to café bombón, a Spanish espresso with sweetened condensed milk. The Gulf café version adds milk and ice, turning it into a latte.
How much condensed milk goes in a Spanish latte?
About 1 tablespoon for a small cup and 1½ to 2 tablespoons for a medium or large one. Start with less and taste.
Is a Spanish latte strong?
It has the same caffeine as a regular latte made with the same number of espresso shots. Condensed milk makes it sweeter, not stronger.
Can I use evaporated milk instead of condensed milk?
Yes, but evaporated milk is unsweetened, so add a stevia sachet or sugar to taste.
How do café drinks compare? See our data on how much sugar is in karak, Spanish latte and 8 other popular café drinks.
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