Traveling to Spain? How to Order Coffee Like a Local
If you’re a coffee drinker, spending time in Spain is an absolute dream. Down almost every tiny winding street you can find a cafe, making it easy to stop and enjoy your favorite morning drink. But, coffee is an all-day drink in Spain, so whenever you need a cup you can pick a cafe that catches your eye, pull up a seat at a table on the terrace, and relax while you sip.
One thing you won’t often see in Spanish cafes? A menu. And ordering without a menu means you need to know what coffee options are available to you– before you sit down! Don’t worry, this helpful guide will have you ordering coffee like a local in Spain, whichever cafe you choose.
How to Order Coffee in Spain
Whether you’re ready for your first drink of the day or looking for an afternoon reprise, pick a cafe and free table– there’s no need to wait for a server to seat you. Time is treated differently in Spain, so it might take a minute before a server arrives. You can always politely wave if you’re in a hurry, but go ahead and do like the Spaniards do – enjoy your coffee leisurely. Maybe even order a second.
Once you’ve ordered and finished your drink, you will need to request the check from your server. They typically don’t give you the bill directly so you can sit and relax at your table for as long as you’d like. Like we said, the clock runs slower in Spain! It’s not necessary to tip your server but many locals will leave change as a thank you for the service. Now onto the good stuff.
Popular Types of Coffee in Spain
First things first, this is not Starbucks (although you can find the coffee giant in most big cities, if that’s your jam!). Which means coffees are much smaller in size, but still pack a punch– at a fraction of the cost. Get to know the most commonly ordered coffees in Spain below, from smallest to largest.
Cafe Solo
A cafe solo is what the Spanish call an espresso. The word solo means “only” in English, so you’re ordering “only coffee” – no extra water, milk, or foam. A cafe solo comes in a small espresso cup and can be finished in two or three sips, making it a popular choice among locals on their way to work in the morning.
A cafe solo is perfect for those who prefer their coffee strong. You can always sweeten the drink with sugar – most locals do – and it only costs between 1€ and 1.20€. Ahhhmazing.
Solo Largo
Next in line is the solo largo, another popular choice. The word largo translates to “long,” making it just like a cafe solo but a bit longer– with a touch more water added when brewed. It’s another quick drink you can enjoy for around 1.20€.
Cortado
The first coffee on our list with milk, cortado literally translates to “cut.” So you can imagine it as a black coffee that’s “cut” with a dash of steamed milk. A cortado is beautifully creamy brown in color, which you can see through the clear, handleless glass it’s served in. You can still taste the strong coffee flavor when you order a cortado, but with a splash of milk to soften and lengthen the drink. And the price? Between 1.40€ and 1.60€. Divine.
Cafe con Leche
Last on our list is the big hitter, cafe con leche. Leche is Spanish for milk, and a cafe con leche is most similar to what Americans know as a latte– though latte art is not common practice in Spain. Simple and delicious, a cafe con leche is equal parts coffee and milk and is often served with a small cookie and a spoon for stirring in sugar. The biggest coffee on the list will only cost around 2€ at most cafes.
Coffee Customs in Spain
Though they’re not as strict as Italians, there are still several coffee customs in Spain to be aware of. You won’t be locked up for breaking these rules, but you may receive puzzled responses from your servers.
The first is timing your coffee drinking. As we mentioned, you can order coffee all day long when traveling in Spain– caffeine addicts rejoice! But what you won’t see in Spain is people drinking coffee during a meal (except for breakfast, of course). If you’re interested in having a cup when you sit down for lunch or dinner, make sure to order it after you’ve finished your meal.
Next is about temperature. Iced coffee is a no-brainer in the U.S. during hot summer months, and cold brew is another easy option when you’re looking to cool off. In Spain, locals stay true to their hot coffees and steamed milk despite soaring summer temperatures. If you do order iced coffee, you’ll get your hot drink and a cup of ice on the side. DIY but it’ll do the trick.
Lastly, we’ll mention coffee style and flavor. If you’re traveling in Madrid, Barcelona, or Valencia, you can find specialty coffee shops akin to ones you see in the U.S. And though smaller cities in Spain might also have a few new, specialty cafes cropping up, the large majority of cafes exclusively serve dark espresso style coffees. This means that the coffee you receive will taste similar regardless of the cafe you choose, so it’s hard to go wrong!
If you’re lucky enough to travel to or live in Spain, you have an amazing array of cafes where you can sit, relax, and, most importantly, drink delicious coffee. Order coffee like a local and enjoy your surroundings, one sip at a time.
