What a Spanish latte is: espresso, milk and condensed milk explained

A Spanish latte is an espresso drink made with steamed milk and sweetened condensed milk, which replaces sugar and gives the drink a creamy, caramel-like sweetness. A Spanish latte can be served hot or iced, and the condensed milk is usually stirred into the espresso before the milk goes in.

What is a Spanish latte?

A Spanish latte is a latte sweetened with condensed milk instead of sugar or syrup. The base is the same as any latte: one or two shots of espresso and steamed milk.

The condensed milk sits at the bottom of the cup, the espresso is poured over it, and the milk goes on last. Some cafes leave the layers visible, while others stir everything together.

The drink is also called a Spanish coffee latte, though that name can mean something else in some places. In this guide, Spanish latte always means espresso, milk and condensed milk.

Why is it called a Spanish latte?

The name points to Spain, but the exact origin of the Spanish latte is not settled. No reliable source ties the modern drink to one cafe or one year, so any single origin story should be treated with care.

The closest well-documented Spanish relative is the cafe bombon, from Valencia. It pairs a small espresso with condensed milk in roughly equal parts and is served in a small glass. A Spanish latte can be seen as a taller, milkier version of the same idea.

In many cafes today, the Spanish latte is simply a menu name for a latte with condensed milk. It appears on menus in North America, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

What does a Spanish latte taste like?

A Spanish latte tastes sweet, creamy and smooth, with the bitterness of espresso softened by condensed milk. The sweetness is closer to caramel or toffee than to white sugar, because condensed milk is milk reduced with sugar.

Compared with a standard latte, the milk flavour is richer and the finish is longer. The coffee still comes through, but it is less sharp. Drinkers who normally take sugar in coffee often find a Spanish latte a natural step.

How do you make a Spanish latte at home?

Mix one to two tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk with a hot double espresso, then add steamed milk. The method is the same for hot and iced versions, apart from the milk.

1. Pour one to two tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk into a mug.
2. Brew a double shot of espresso, about 60 millilitres, or the same amount of strong moka pot coffee.
3. Pour the hot espresso over the condensed milk and stir until it dissolves.
4. Heat about 150 to 200 millilitres of milk to roughly 60 to 65 °C and froth lightly.
5. Pour the milk into the mug and taste.

Add more condensed milk in small amounts, since it is easy to make the drink too sweet.

How do you make an iced Spanish latte?

Stir the condensed milk into the hot espresso, then pour it over ice and add cold milk. Dissolving the condensed milk in the hot coffee matters, because it will not mix evenly into cold liquid.

Use a tall glass, fill it about two-thirds with ice, add 150 to 200 millilitres of cold milk, and pour the sweetened espresso on top. Stir before drinking. Using ice made from coffee stops the drink watering down.

What is the difference between a Spanish latte and a regular latte?

The only real difference is the sweetener: a Spanish latte includes condensed milk, while a regular latte has none. A regular latte can be sweetened at the table, but it does not have the same thick, caramel-like body.

Condensed milk also changes the texture. It is denser than sugar syrup, so the drink feels heavier in the mouth. If you order a Spanish latte expecting a standard latte, the sweetness is the surprise.

Can you make it with plant milk?

Yes, with a milk alternative, but the result depends on which one you choose. Oat and soy milks froth well and keep the drink smooth. Condensed milk itself is dairy, so a fully dairy-free version needs a dairy-free condensed alternative such as sweetened coconut condensed milk.

Ask a cafe before ordering if you have a dairy allergy, since menu descriptions rarely list every ingredient.

How can you change the sweetness of a Spanish latte?

Change the amount of condensed milk and nothing else. One spoonful gives a gently sweet drink, two gives a dessert-style cup, and a heaped spoonful turns the latte into something closer to a milkshake with coffee.

Because condensed milk is thick, it helps to measure it with a warm spoon and stir it into the hot espresso first. A pinch of salt sharpens the sweetness, and a dusting of cinnamon on top is a common finish. Some cafes also offer a flavoured version, such as a pistachio or caramel Spanish latte, which adds a syrup on top of the condensed milk and makes the drink sweeter still.

What espresso and milk ratios work?

A balanced Spanish latte uses roughly one part espresso to three or four parts milk, with the condensed milk added to the espresso. For a 250 millilitre cup, that means a double shot of about 60 millilitres, one to two tablespoons of condensed milk and about 150 to 180 millilitres of milk.

A stronger coffee flavour comes from a ristretto or a second shot. A milder drink comes from a single shot and more milk. The condensed milk carries a lot of sugar, so the espresso should be fairly strong to avoid a flat, overly sweet result.

Which coffee beans suit a Spanish latte?

Medium to dark roasts suit a Spanish latte because their chocolate and caramel notes sit well with the sweetness. Very light roasts with sharp fruit acidity can clash with condensed milk, though some drinkers enjoy the contrast.

If you use a moka pot, a finely ground medium-dark roast gives a concentrated coffee close to espresso in strength. Instant coffee dissolved in a small amount of hot water also works in a pinch, and the condensed milk hides most of the difference.

What does Kahwa Raw Cafe’s menu list?

Kahwa Raw Cafe’s Uber Eats menu lists a Spanish Latte at $6.95 and an Iced Spanish Latte at $7.25. The hot drink is described as espresso and steamed milk sweetened with condensed milk, which matches the general description above.

For comparison, a regular Latte is listed at $5.95 and an Iced Latte at $6.25. All prices are from Uber Eats, read 14 November 2026, and in-cafe prices may differ.

Cup sizes and shot counts are not stated on the menu. The menu page of this guide lists the full set of espresso drinks, and the hours and location page gives the address and Google’s opening hours.

What goes with a Spanish latte?

A Spanish latte is already sweet, so plain or lightly sweet pastries suit it, such as a plain croissant or a bagel. Very sweet desserts like baklava can overpower it, though that is a matter of taste.

If you want something sharper to cut the sweetness, a small glass of water or a plain espresso on the side helps.

Common questions

For the address, opening hours and menu, see Kahwa Raw Cafe in Edmonton.

This article is general information from an independent guide, not from Kahwa Raw Cafe itself. For the store’s current details see hours and location.