Creamy, sweet and comforting - this Vegan Spanish Latte is an easy treat for coffee lovers who enjoy a little indulgence in their cup!
Made with espresso, plant milk, and sweetened condensed coconut milk, it’s the perfect dairy-free twist on a classic café favourite.
Spanish Latte, also known as Café con Leche Condensada, is popular in Spain, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. It’s richer and sweeter than a regular latte thanks to the condensed milk, and just as easy to whip up at home with a few simple ingredients. You can enjoy it hot or iced - and customise it with your favourite syrup or toppings.
Jump to:
🗒️ Ingredients & Notes
Here's everything you need for this recipe:
- Espresso - Use freshly brewed espresso. One shot is enough for a regular 8oz latte, but you can double it if you prefer a stronger coffee.
- Plant milk - Go for a “barista-style” option that steams well (like Oatly, Califia Farms, or Silk). Oat milk is a great all-rounder, but almond, soy, or coconut milk work too — just make sure they’re steam-friendly if frothing.
- Vegan Condensed Milk - I use Nature’s Charm Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk. It’s rich, creamy, and blends easily into hot coffee. Condensed oat milk works too. You can use maple syrup or brown sugar instead, but it won’t have the same classic Spanish latte flavor.
- Optional toppings - A sprinkle of cinnamon or cocoa powder is traditional. You can also go big with coconut whipped cream, caramel syrup, or chocolate shavings.
See the recipe card at the end of this post for detailed measurements.
🥄 Equipment
Here is a list of equipment you will need to make a Spanish latte:
- Espresso machine (or moka pot / strong brewed coffee)
- Coffee tamper - if using a manual espresso machine
- Milk frother or a steam wand
- Measuring cup
- Serving cup (around 8 oz)
- Spoon for stirring
- Optional: shaker for toppings
📖 Instructions (Step-by-Step)
To make a Spanish latte, follow these simple steps:
Step 1 - Brew the espresso and pour it into your serving cup.
Step 2 - Heat and froth your plant milk using a milk frother, steam wand, or by heating in a saucepan and frothing with a handheld whisk. Add the milk to the espresso
Step 3 - Stir in the vegan condensed milk to the hot espresso (start with 1–2 tablespoons, then adjust to taste).
Step 4 - Top with steamed milk, then spoon the frothy part on top.
Step 5 - Garnish with cinnamon, cocoa powder, or your favorite latte toppings.
Enjoy this delicious and indulgent vegan latte and share it with your friends and family!
☕ Serving
If you're looking for something delicious to serve with this Vegan Spanish Latte, try these Vegan Lemon Cookies, this indulgent White Chocolate Biscoff Rocky Road, Baked Vegan Churros, or this luxurious Vegan Pistachio Cheesecake!
Some delicious topping options for this latte include:
- Cinnamon
- Cocoa powder
- Coconut Whipped cream (or a store-bought alternative)
- Caramel syrup or any other flavored syrup, such as hazelnut or vanilla.
- Chocolate garnish, such as chocolate shavings, cocoa nibs or chocolate syrup.
💡 Expert Tips
Here are some recommendations for making the perfect Spanish latte:
- Use barista-style milk for the best foam and texture. Regular plant milk may separate or not froth properly.
- Adjust sweetness by adding more or less condensed milk depending on your taste.
- Froth right before serving for the best texture. Steamed milk loses its froth quickly once it sits.
- No espresso machine? Use a moka pot, Aeropress, or strong brewed coffee instead. Cold brew also works, but it’s harder to dissolve the condensed milk unless it’s warmed.
- Make it iced: Stir the espresso and condensed milk while the coffee is still hot, then let it cool. Pour over ice and top with cold plant milk. Froth optional.
How to make Spanish Latte without an espresso machine
To make a Spanish Latte without an espresso machine, you can either make espresso in a moka pot or use strong brewed coffee as a substitute. Simply brew a cup of strong coffee using a French press or drip coffee maker for your Vegan Spanish Latte.
How to steam plant milk
To steam plant milk for a Spanish Latte, use a heating milk frother or steam wand to heat the milk until it reaches a creamy consistency. Make sure to use a measuring cup to measure out the amount of milk needed for the recipe. It's also important to use a plant milk that is suitable for steaming, such as those labeled as "barista-grade" or "steaming-friendly."
⭐ Tasty Variations
Here are delicious variations for Spanish Latte worth trying:
- Vanilla Spanish Latte - Add a dash of vanilla syrup to the latte for a sweet and fragrant twist.
- Spiced Spanish Latte - Instead of cinnamon or cocoa powder, try adding a pinch of nutmeg, cardamom, or ginger for a warming and cozy flavor.
- Chocolate Spanish Latte - Mix in some chocolate syrup or cocoa powder to create a decadent and indulgent chocolate twist on the classic Spanish latte.
- Pumpkin Spice - add some pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice syrup for an autumnal twist.
❓Frequently Asked Questions
It’s an espresso-based drink popular in Spain and parts of Europe, made with espresso, steamed milk, and sweetened condensed milk - usually served hot, but iced versions are just as common.
A regular latte uses just espresso and milk. A Spanish Latte adds sweetened condensed milk, which makes it richer and sweeter.
Nope - Café con Leche is made with equal parts espresso and milk, but no condensed milk.
A standard Spanish latte typically contains one shot of espresso. However, the actual size of the latte can vary depending on the coffee shop or individual preference. I personally recommend an 8-oz glass for my Spanish latte.
For a regular size Spanish Latte, a single shot of espresso is normally used. If you like your latte stronger or are preparing a latte larger than 8oz, you can add multiple espresso shots.
Yes, but it won’t technically be a Spanish Latte. It’ll still be delicious though!
🔜 More Coffee Recipes
Did you make this recipe? If so, will you do me a huge favor and leave a review and rating & let me know how you liked this recipe? THANK YOU! ❤️
📖 Recipe Card
Spanish Latte
Equipment
- 1 espresso maker espresso machine or see notes
- 1 milk frother or steam wand
- 1 measuring cup
- 1 espresso cup or glass
- 1 spoon for stirring
- cinnamon or cocoa powder shaker for garnish optional
Ingredients
- 1 1-oz shot freshly brewed espresso (20 ml)
- plant milk barista-grade
- Nature's Charm Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk
- ¼-1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon optional
Instructions
- Start by brewing a shot of espresso, using either an espresso machine or an espresso maker like a moka pot. Then pour the espresso into your serving mug or glass of choice.
- Steam your choice of plant-based milk using a heated milk frother or a steam wand (if using a professional espresso machine) until it reaches a creamy consistency. Pour the steamed milk over the espresso.
- Next, add the condensed coconut milk. You can choose the amount recommend in the recipe ingredients or simply add a generous amount to your personal taste. Stir well to blend in the vegan condensed milk.
- Garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon or cocoa powder (optional) and enjoy your homemade vegan Spanish latte!
Notes
- espresso - for a 1-oz espresso shot, use about 7-9g of ground beans. Brew the espresso with freshly ground coffee beans and use it immediately for the best results. For a stronger latte, add less milk to your drink or add more shots of espresso.
- espresso maker - use an espresso machine or moka pot to make the espresso or use strong brewed coffee as a substitute.
- plant milk - Use "barista-grade" or "steaming-friendly" plant milk for the best results. Make sure to use the frothed milk immediately after steaming for best results.
- condensed milk - Experiment with the amount of condensed milk used to adjust the sweetness to your liking. Instead of condensed coconut milk, you can use condensed oat milk
- steaming - For a frothy texture, use a milk frother or steam wand to steam the milk.
© 2025 Romy London / Romina Callwitz | All images, videos, wordings and content are copyright protected and belong to Romina Callwitz. Please do not use any of my content without prior permission. If you wish to re-publish any (part of my) content, please get in touch via email. Thanks for your support!
*Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links and sponsored links that earn me a small commission, at no additional cost to you. You can find more information in my Privacy Policy.
Hetty
Didn't know what to do with my vegan condensed milk until I found this. it's been in the back of my cupboard for ages! Now I finally have a delicious use for it - thanks!!!