How to Make Café con Leche Using a Bialetti

Café con Leche in Glass Cup
Café con Leche in Glass Cup

During these stressful and uncertain times, I’m trying to find small ways to boost my happiness. My favorite kind of coffee is café con leche literally translated as coffee with milk. However, it’s so much more than that description connotes. First you take freshly brewed espresso and pour it over sugar and stir it until it dissolves. Then you take steamed milk and froth it until it’s foamy and combine it with the espresso mixture. This produces a rich and comforting cup of coffee to sip, savor, and thoroughly enjoy.

I’ve never been a morning person. I’m slow to awaken like a bear coming out of hibernation. Luckily, café con leche is easy to make even in my early morning haze. I brew espresso in my Bialetti; while the coffee brews, I steam the milk in the microwave. Then I use a milk frother to create volume and add foaminess to the drink. The whole process takes around 10 minutes and most of that time in inactive time, when you’re waiting for your espresso to brew. Trust me, it’s worth the wait. The result is a deliciously sweet, luxurious coffee that makes me smile every time.

I first had café con leche when I visited Miami (before moving down here). Many cafés serve it with breakfast. It’s a staple of Miami culture. Upon taking my first sip, I knew I’d never look at coffee the same way again. If you haven’t tried it, you should! If you have, you’ll want the recipe. Here’s my rendition. I hope it makes you as happy as it does me.

Equipment Needed to Make Café con Leche

Equipment Needed to Make Café con Leche

To make café con leche you need a Bialetti, milk frother, microwavable measuring cup, and coffee grinder (if using whole beans).

Ingredients Needed for Café con Leche

Ingredients Needed to Make Café con Leche

To make café con leche, you need whole espresso beans (or ground if you don’t have a coffee grinder), turbinado sugar, and whole milk.

How to Make Café con Leche

Add espresso beans, if using whole beans, to coffee grinder and grind to medium coarseness.

Whole Espresso Beans in Coffee Grinder
Whole Espresso Beans in Coffee Grinder
Ground Espresso Beans in Grinder for Café con Leche
Ground Espresso Beans in Grinder

Add water to Bialetti pot just below the valve.

Add water to Bialetti pot just below the valve
Water in Bialetti Pot Filled Just Below the Valve

Insert the funnel into the Bialetti and add the ground beans, carefully leveling the grounds without exerting a lot of force or tamping. Screw the top of the Bialetti on and set the Bialetti on a small burner over medium heat. Remove as soon as the pot is full of espresso.  

Ground Coffee in Bialetti Pot
Ground Coffee in Bialetti Pot
Brewed Espresso in Bialetti Pot for Café con Leche
Brewed Espresso in Bialetti Pot

While the espresso is brewing, microwave 1 cup of milk for 1 minute. Remove from the microwave and insert the milk wand and froth until the milk has doubled in volume, about 10 seconds.

Microwaved Steamed Milk for Café con Leche
Microwaved Steamed Milk
Frothing Milk for Café con Leche
Frothing Milk

Pour 5 ounces of the espresso into a large coffee mug. Add 1 tablespoon of turbinado sugar to the hot coffee and stir until dissolved. Add the frothed milk and stir to combine. Sit back, relax, and enjoy!

What’s your favorite morning beverage? Let me know in the comments. If you’re craving more coffee goodness, check out this dessert recipe for coffee jelly

How to Make Café con Leche Using a Bialetti

Rosanna Bell
Learn how to make delicious café con leche at home using a Bialetti. You only need three ingredients: espresso, sugar, and milk.
Course Drinks
Cuisine Spanish
Servings 1 person

Equipment

  • Bialetti
  • milk frother
  • microwavable measuring cup
  • coffee grinder (if using whole beans)

Ingredients
  

  • whole espresso beans or ground if you don't have a coffee grinder
  • 1 tbsp turbinado sugar
  • 1 cup whole milk

Instructions
 

  • Grind coffee beans, if using whole beans, to medium coarseness. Add water to Bialetti pot just below the valve. Insert the funnel into the Bialetti and add the ground beans, carefully leveling the grounds without exerting a lot of force or tamping. Screw the top of the Bialetti on and set the Bialetti on a small burner over medium heat. Remove as soon as the pot is full of espresso.  
  • While the espresso is brewing, microwave 1 cup of milk for 1 minute. Remove from the microwave and insert the milk wand and froth until the milk has doubled in volume, about 10 seconds.
  • Pour 5 ounces of the espresso into a large coffee mug. Add 1 tablespoon of turbinado sugar to the hot coffee and stir until dissolved. Add the frothed milk and stir to combine. Enjoy!
Keyword beverage, café con leche, coffee

3 thoughts on “How to Make Café con Leche Using a Bialetti

    • I’m glad my post brought back memories for you! It’s funny how certain foods can transport you back in time. I’d love to hear more about your adventures in Seville. I’ve always wanted to experience living abroad.

  1. Pingback: Hibiscus Tea: the Perfect Summertime DrinkFLAVORFUL JOURNEYS

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