Don\u2019t get me wrong, the food here in Spain is amazing, but as someone who drinks at least two cups of coffee a day, that\u2019s what I\u2019ve really been appreciating. After three months here, I think it\u2019s fair to say Spaniards in general take their coffee seriously. You can find a busy caf\u00e9 on every corner, serving pastries, breakfasts and coffees. Even the university itself has around four fully-equipped caf\u00e9s for students, faculty and staff to enjoy. I often spend my time in between classes at one of these. After I\u2019m done for the day, I tend to hang out in the city center and work on homework or read. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re quite close to Italy, so Spanish coffee culture has been heavily influenced and inspired by the Italian invention of espresso. Espresso is a way of brewing coffee which uses high-pressure, fine grounds and a little water in order to make a more concentrated, flavorful coffee. It\u2019s the basis of a variety of drinks popular in the United States such as lattes and cappuccinos. Here in Spain, there are two extremely popular espresso-based drinks: Caf\u00e9 con leche and cortado. A caf\u00e9 con leche is pretty similar to a traditional latte, consisting of a shot of espresso with steamed milk, except that it generally doesn\u2019t have much foam on top. A cortado is an espresso shot with a little bit of steamed milk added to take away the bitterness. Every coffee here will come in a proper mug or small glass on a plate with its own little spoon to stir in the sugar to your liking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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