Barraquito, Quick Facts

What Is A Barraquito?

The Barraquito is the most iconic coffee drink of the Canary Islands. You will find it in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Palma, La Gomera and the smaller islands, always layered, always sweet, and always served with a little pride. Online people call it an aesthetic coffee or a coffee that looks good on camera. Locals just call it a classic.

Five layers, one glass. Condensed milk at the bottom, liquor, espresso, milk foam, and lemon zest with cinnamon on top. In that exact order.

One Drink, Four Names

Depending on the island and how local the bar is, the same drink hides behind different names: Barraquito is understood everywhere, Zaperoco is very common in Tenerife, Café Especial is what Gran Canaria often calls it, and Café Canario shows up in the least touristy bars. If in doubt, just ask for a Barraquito and everyone will know.

Barraquito Ingredients

This combination makes the Barraquito a sweet Spanish coffee, a coffee with condensed milk, and, if you keep the Licor 43 in, a proper coffee with alcohol for after dinner. Skipping the liquor is completely normal too, then locals call it a Barraquito sin licor.

How To Make A Barraquito, Step By Step

Barraquito Café (Café Capa Tradicional Canario)

Café tradicional Barraquito de las Islas Canarias. Un café en capas elaborado con leche condensada, espresso, espuma de leche, Licor 43, ralladura de limón y canela. Dulce, fuerte y visualmente impresionante.

Type: Café

Cuisine: Canarias

Palabras clave: barraquito, café barraquito, receta de barraquito, receta de café en capas, café canario, café con leche condensada, café con Licor 43, receta de café español, receta de café estético, bebida de postre café

Recipe Yield: Vidrio

Calories: 180

Preparation Time: PT5M

Cooking Time: PT0M

Total Time: PT5M

Recipe Video Name: Cómo hacer café Barraquito

Recipe Video Description: Vídeo que muestra paso a paso cómo preparar un café tradicional Barraquito de las Islas Canarias.

Recipe Video Thumbnail: https://clubcanary.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ha4i0pqzaum-e1716304506700.jpg

Recipe Ingredients:

• Espresso (recién hecho)
• Leche condensada
• Licor 43 (o Tía María)
• Leche espumada
• Cáscara de limón
• Canela molida

Recipe Instructions:

Cómo hacer café Barraquito:

Preparar el vaso

Vierta la leche condensada en el fondo de un vaso transparente.

Cómo hacer café Barraquito:

Añadir el licor

Añade un chorrito de Licor 43 sobre la leche condensada.

Cómo hacer café Barraquito:

Vierta el espresso

Vierta lentamente el espresso recién hecho para mantener las capas separadas.

Cómo hacer café Barraquito:

Añadir espuma de leche

Añada suavemente espuma de leche por encima para terminar el café en capas.

Cómo hacer café Barraquito:

Terminar y servir

Cubrir con ralladura de limón y una pizca de canela. Sírvalo inmediatamente.

The Right Glass Matters

This drink is famous for its layers, so you need glass that shows them. Best option: a tall transparent glass. A latte glass or slim coffee glass works, and a champagne flute is the very local, very classy move. Avoid mugs and opaque cups completely: if you cannot see the layers, it is not really a Barraquito, it is just sweet coffee.

How To Order One Like A Local

You can order a Barraquito in almost any café or restaurant across the Canary Islands, usually after lunch or dinner as a coffee dessert. Just say: "Un Barraquito, por favor." If the pronunciation feels tricky, this short Club Canary video teaches you to say Barraquito like a pro.

Why The Barraquito Is A Canary Islands Icon

The Barraquito is more than coffee. It reflects how life works here: slow, layered and social, meant to be enjoyed together. Created by café owners for their regulars, it grew into a symbol of traditional Canarian coffee culture, and today it is the drink locals order when lunch was good and nobody wants to leave the table yet.