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

Caffè Barraquito (Caffè tradizionale a strati delle Isole Canarie)

Caffè tradizionale Barraquito delle Isole Canarie. Un caffè a strati preparato con latte condensato, espresso, latte schiumato, Licor 43, scorza di limone e cannella. Dolce, forte e di grande impatto visivo.

Type: Caffè

Cuisine: Canarie

Parole chiave: barraquito, caffè barraquito, ricetta barraquito, ricetta caffè a strati, caffè delle isole canarie, caffè con latte condensato, caffè con Licor 43, ricetta caffè spagnolo, ricetta caffè estetico, bevanda dolce al caffè

Recipe Yield: Vetro

Calories: 180

Preparation Time: PT5M

Cooking Time: PT0M

Total Time: PT5M

Recipe Video Name: Come preparare il caffè Barraquito

Recipe Video Description: Video che mostra passo dopo passo come preparare un caffè tradizionale Barraquito delle Isole Canarie.

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

Recipe Ingredients:

• Espresso (appena fatto)
• Latte condensato
• Licor 43 (o Tía María)
• Latte crudo
• Scorza di limone
• Cannella macinata

Recipe Instructions:

Come preparare il caffè Barraquito:

Preparare il bicchiere

Versare il latte condensato sul fondo di un bicchiere trasparente.

Come preparare il caffè Barraquito:

Aggiungere il liquore

Aggiungere una piccola spruzzata di Licor 43 al latte condensato.

Come preparare il caffè Barraquito:

Versare l'espresso

Versare lentamente l'espresso appena fatto per mantenere gli strati separati.

Come preparare il caffè Barraquito:

Aggiungere la schiuma di latte

Aggiungere delicatamente il latte schiumato per completare il caffè a strati.

Come preparare il caffè Barraquito:

Terminare e servire

Ricoprire con la scorza di limone e un pizzico di cannella. Servire immediatamente.

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.