Barraquito Coffee Explained
One of the most beautiful layered coffee drinks from the Canary Islands. Sweet, strong, smooth and made to impress.
🇮🇨 What Is a Barraquito?
A Barraquito is one of the most iconic coffee drinks in the Canary Islands.
You’ll find it in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Palma, La Gomera and even smaller islands.
It’s a layered coffee recipe made with:
- Condensed milk
- Licor 43 (optional but traditional)
- Fresh espresso
- Frothed milk
- Lemon zest and cinnamon
Online, people call it a cool coffee recipe, a coffee recipe that looks good or an aesthetic coffee drink. Locals just call it a classic.
Different Names for Barraquito
Depending on the island and how local the bar is, you might hear different names:
- Barraquito – the most common name (used everywhere)
- Zaperoco – very common in Tenerife
- Café Especial – often used in Gran Canaria
- Café Canario – heard in less touristy local bars
Different names, same drink. If you’re unsure, just ask for a Barraquito. Everyone will understand.
Where to Order a Barraquito
You can order a Barraquito in almost any café or restaurant across the Canary Islands. It’s usually served after lunch or dinner as a coffee dessert drink.
Just say: “Un Barraquito, por favor.”
If pronunciation feels tricky, this short Club Canary video helps you to say it like a real pro: How to pronounce Barraquito.
🧾 Barraquito Ingredients
- Espresso
- Condensed milk
- Licor 43 or Tía María
- Frothed milk
- Lemon zest
- Ground cinnamon
This combination makes it a sweet Spanish coffee recipe, a coffee with condensed milk recipe and, if you add liquor, a coffee with alcohol recipe.
How to Make a Barraquito
Barraquito Coffee (Traditional Canary Islands Layered Coffee)
Traditional Barraquito coffee from the Canary Islands. A layered coffee made with condensed milk, espresso, frothed milk, Licor 43, lemon zest and cinnamon. Sweet, strong and visually stunning.
Type: Coffee
Cuisine: Canarian
Keywords: barraquito, barraquito coffee, barraquito recipe, layered coffee recipe, canary islands coffee, coffee with condensed milk, coffee with Licor 43, spanish coffee recipe, aesthetic coffee recipe, coffee dessert drink
Recipe Yield: Glass
Calories: 180
Preparation Time: PT5M
Cooking Time: PT0M
Total Time: PT5M
Recipe Video Name: How to Make Barraquito Coffee
Recipe Video Description: Step-by-step video showing how to prepare a traditional Barraquito coffee from the Canary Islands.
Recipe Video Thumbnail: https://clubcanary.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ha4i0pqzaum-e1716304506700.jpg
Recipe Ingredients:
- Espresso (freshly brewed)
- Condensed milk
- Licor 43 (or Tía María)
- Frothed milk
- Lemon zest
- Ground cinnamon
Recipe Instructions:
How to Make Barraquito Coffee:
Prepare the glass
Pour condensed milk into the bottom of a clear glass.
How to Make Barraquito Coffee:
Add the liqueur
Add a small splash of Licor 43 on top of the condensed milk.
How to Make Barraquito Coffee:
Pour the espresso
Slowly pour freshly brewed espresso to keep the layers separate.
How to Make Barraquito Coffee:
Add milk foam
Gently add frothed milk on top to finish the layered coffee.
How to Make Barraquito Coffee:
Finish and serve
Top with lemon zest and a pinch of cinnamon. Serve immediately.
Pro tip: The order matters. That’s what creates the layers and makes this a coffee that looks cool on Instagram.
You can skip alcohol or go stronger. Many locals enjoy a Barraquito with alcohol as a relaxed after-dinner drink.
Why Barraquito Is a Canary Islands Icon
The Barraquito is more than just coffee.
It reflects how life works in the Canary Islands: slow, layered, social, and meant to be enjoyed together.
Originally created by café owners for their regular guests, it grew into a symbol of
traditional Canarian coffee and is now one of the most loved
coffee drinks from the Canary Islands.
☕ The Right Glass for a Barraquito
If you want to make a Barraquito at home, the glass actually matters. This drink is famous for its layers, so you need something that shows them properly.
- Tall transparent glass (best option)
- Latte glass or slim coffee glass
- Champagne flute style glass (very local, very classy)
Avoid mugs or opaque cups. If you can’t see the layers, it’s not really a Barraquito, it’s just sweet coffee.
Important reminder:
Yes the Barraquito looks beautiful when served. No, you are not supposed to drink it like that. Once you start, you mix the whole thing up. The layers are for the eyes. The chaos is for the taste. That’s the deal.
✨ More Cool Coffee Ideas
Interested in more about coffee or other coffee recipes?
Check out how a local tour guide in Valencia explains the process of making a delicious iced coffee in this recipe: Café del Tiempo – The Spanish Iced Coffee.
Want more local classics? Check our full guide below.
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