Spanish Latte Recipe: How to Make It at Home (Hot & Iced)

By Robin Salvador, co-founder, Caffeine Brothers. Last updated October 4, 2026.

Quick answer

A Spanish latte combines strong coffee or espresso, milk, and sweetened condensed milk. For one home serving, start with 60 ml espresso, 30 ml condensed milk, and 120 ml whole milk. Stir the hot coffee into the condensed milk first, then add steamed milk for a hot drink or chilled milk and ice for an iced version. The 1:4:2 ratio used here means condensed milk : milk : espresso by volume.

Spanish latte recipe card

Ingredient	Hot version	Iced version
Strong coffee	60 ml espresso (about a double shot)	60 ml espresso, cooled briefly
Sweetened condensed milk	30 ml	25–30 ml, to taste
Milk	120 ml, steamed or heated	120 ml chilled milk
Ice	None	One full glass of ice

Starting amounts, not measured Caffeine Brothers test results. Your cup size, coffee strength, milk brand, and sweetness preference will change the balance.

How to make a hot Spanish latte

Prepare 60 ml of espresso. A medium-dark Arabica-Robusta Blend is a practical starting point for a milk drink because its roasted coffee character has enough intensity to remain noticeable after milk and condensed milk are added.
Pour 30 ml of condensed milk into a warmed 8–10 oz glass.
Pour the hot espresso over the condensed milk and stir until the mixture is smooth. This step helps dissolve the thick sweetener before milk is added.
Steam or heat 120 ml milk. Aim for a warm, silky texture rather than a dry, stiff foam. Avoid boiling the milk.
Pour the milk into the coffee base. Taste once it is mixed, then adjust the next serving by 5 ml of condensed milk rather than changing several ingredients at once.

Nestlé Professional Philippines publishes a similar café formulation using 30 ml espresso, 30 ml condensed milk, and 220 ml steamed milk in an 8 oz service. Your Dream Coffee publishes a smaller 1:4:2 home ratio of 60 ml espresso, 30 ml condensed milk, and 120 ml milk. These are published recipe recommendations from their authors, not results from a Caffeine Brothers trial. See Nestlé Professional Philippines’ recipe and Your Dream Coffee’s ratio guide.

How to make an iced Spanish latte

Fill a 12–16 oz glass with ice.
Stir 25–30 ml condensed milk with 60 ml espresso while the coffee is still warm.
Add 120 ml chilled milk and pour the mixture over the ice.
Stir before drinking. If the drink tastes thin, strengthen the coffee before adding more condensed milk; sweetness can hide coffee flavor without adding body.

For a larger café-style iced drink, increase milk and ice together rather than doubling condensed milk. That keeps the drink from becoming candy-sweet as the ice melts.

Espresso, moka pot, or drip bag?

Method	Starting coffee dose	How to use it here	What to expect
Espresso machine	18–21 g for about 36–60 ml out	Use the hot shot directly over condensed milk.	Most concentrated base and the clearest crema.
Moka pot	Follow the brewer basket; use a strong, short pour	Use about 50–60 ml of concentrated coffee and keep the milk amount unchanged at first.	Full and intense, but not identical to espresso.
Drip bag	One bag brewed with a low water volume	Brew a stronger cup than a normal mug, then use 60 ml of the coffee base.	Cleaner and lighter; add coffee strength before adding more sugar.

For grind and water decisions, use the coffee-to-water ratio chart and the moka pot guide. The espresso and moka-pot options are method guidance, not a claim that Caffeine Brothers tested each method for this article.

How much does a Spanish latte cost in Manila?

The following public menu examples were checked on October 4, 2026. They are snapshots, not a market average. Cafe Uno España showed a 12 oz hot Spanish Latte at ₱130 regular and a 16 oz drink at ₱140 regular, with lower sale prices displayed at the time. Pukawi Coffee listed Spanish Latte from ₱99. A Manila Cafe menu PDF published in January 2025 listed Spanish Latte at ₱135, ₱150, and ₱170 by size.

Menu source	Format shown	Published or observed price	Price note
Cafe Uno España	12 oz hot / 16 oz hot	₱130 / ₱140 regular	₱104 / ₱112 sale prices were also displayed when checked.
Pukawi Coffee	Spanish Latte, starting price	From ₱99	Size and add-ons can change the final price.
Manila Cafe menu PDF	Spanish Latte, three sizes	₱135 / ₱150 / ₱170	Menu PDF published January 2025; recheck before using as a current quote.

For a home cost estimate, multiply your bean price per kilogram by the dose in grams, then add milk, condensed milk, ice, and packaging. Label those inputs with the date you checked them. The coffee-shop profit margins guide and menu-pricing calculator can help café owners model the drink with their own invoices.

What coffee works best?

Choose coffee with enough body and roast character to remain distinct after dairy and condensed milk. Caffeine Brothers’ Arabica-Robusta Blend is the calendar’s featured recommendation for this drink. The Batangas Robusta is another option when you want a bolder, more bitter base. If you prefer a softer cup, begin with less condensed milk and adjust the coffee strength before making it sweeter.

Best beans for this drink: Try the Arabica-Robusta Blend whole bean or ground for your brewer. See the blend.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make a Spanish latte without an espresso machine?

Yes. Use concentrated moka-pot coffee or a strong drip-bag brew. Keep the first trial near 60 ml coffee, 25–30 ml condensed milk, and 120 ml milk, then adjust after tasting.

Is evaporated milk the same as condensed milk?

No. Condensed milk is sweetened and much thicker. Evaporated milk is unsweetened, so substituting it changes both sweetness and texture. If you use evaporated milk, add sugar separately and label the recipe as a variation.

Why is my Spanish latte too sweet?

Reduce condensed milk by 5 ml, then taste again. Increasing milk alone may make the drink larger without restoring coffee flavor.

Can I serve it cold?

Yes. Use chilled milk and ice, and mix the condensed milk into the warm coffee before pouring it over the ice.

References and method note

Research-only reframe: This recipe guide synthesizes published Spanish latte recipes and dated Philippine menu examples. Caffeine Brothers did not perform the recipe test described in the calendar brief, so the ratios below are starting recommendations rather than Caffeine Brothers test results.