Coffee, Cake & Cafés in Caleta de Fuste

One of the things we love most about living in Fuerteventura is its strong café culture. If, like me, you're not fond of instant coffee, you'll be delighted that most bars and cafés serve excellent coffee.

Sitting outside with a good coffee, chatting with friends, watching the world go by and taking life at a slower pace is all part of island life.

Whether you're looking for your first coffee of the day, somewhere for breakfast or simply a café to escape the midday sunshine for a while, Caleta de Fuste has plenty of places to choose from.

Everyone has their own favourites, and these are some of ours. They're the cafés we find ourselves returning to time and time again and the ones we're happy to recommend to our guests.

Before we share our favourites, it might help to understand some of the different coffees you'll see on Spanish menus.

Ordering Coffee in Spain

If you're used to walking into a café and simply asking for a latte or cappuccino, ordering coffee in Spain can sometimes be a little confusing.

Here are some of the coffees you'll come across most often.

Café Solo

A single espresso. Small, strong and full of flavour. If you enjoy your coffee without milk, this is the one to order.

Café Cortado

Probably the coffee you'll see most local people drinking.

A café cortado is an espresso "cut" with a small amount of warm milk. It's stronger than a café con leche but not as intense as a café solo and is very often served in a small glass.

Café con Leche

One of the most popular breakfast coffees in Spain.

Made with approximately equal parts espresso and hot milk, it's smooth, satisfying and probably the safest choice if you're unsure what to order.

Café Americano

An espresso topped up with hot water to create a longer, milder coffee.

Ideal if you enjoy a larger cup without too much milk.

Carajillo

A traditional Spanish coffee served with a measure of brandy, rum or another spirit.

Usually enjoyed after lunch or dinner rather than at breakfast.

Leche y Leche

A Canarian favourite that you'll see on many café menus.

Made with espresso, condensed milk and hot milk, Leche y Leche is sweet, creamy and a little indulgent. It's less strong than a cortado and sweeter than a café con leche, making it a lovely choice if you enjoy a sweeter coffee. It's definitely worth trying while you're in Fuerteventura.

Barraquito

A true Canarian favourite and well worth trying during your stay.

Traditionally made with condensed milk, espresso, steamed milk, Licor 43, lemon peel and a sprinkle of cinnamon, it's more of a special treat than an everyday coffee and one of the Canary Islands' signature drinks.

How to Make a Barraquito at Home

If you've enjoyed a Barraquito while visiting Fuerteventura, here's a simple way to recreate a little taste of the Canary Islands at home.

Ingredients

• 2–3 tsp condensed milk
• 1 shot freshly brewed espresso
• 100–150 ml hot steamed milk
• A small splash of Licor 43 (optional)
• Ground cinnamon
• A strip of lemon peel

Method

1. Spoon the condensed milk into a clear, heatproof glass so the beautiful layers can be seen.
2. If using, carefully add the Licor 43.
3. Pour the espresso over the back of a spoon to help keep the layers separate.
4. Add the steamed milk.
5. Finish with a little milk foam.
6. Sprinkle with cinnamon and garnish with a strip of lemon peel.

Every café has its own variation, so don't worry if the Barraquito you order in Fuerteventura looks a little different. That's all part of the charm, and one of the reasons it's such a favourite across the Canary Islands.

Our Favourite Cafés

We've tried quite a few cafés around Caleta de Fuste over the years, but these are the ones we keep going back to.

Café Diablo

One of our favourite places to stop for coffee and cake.

Relaxed, friendly and ideal for taking a break while exploring Caleta de Fuste, it's somewhere we always enjoy returning to. Whether you're meeting friends, enjoying a quiet coffee on your own or simply watching the world go by for a while, Café Diablo never seems to disappoint.

There is no table service here, so you'll need to go inside to order. It's actually quite a clever marketing ploy because you stand waiting right in front of the cake display. I dare you not to order something sweet with your coffee!

They also sell fresh bread, but you'll need to get there early as it's very popular with the locals.

Miranti Café

This is an Italian coffee shop that blends and sells its own coffee, arguably some of the best on the island. In fact, I know many local bars buy their coffee directly from Miranti because it's such good quality.

You can also buy coffee beans or ground coffee to take back to Litha House and use in our filter coffee machine or our proper Italian espresso maker. Alternatively, it makes a lovely souvenir or gift to take home.

Explore More

Thanks for dropping by. I'm Carol, and I write these guides to help visitors to Caleta de Fuste and Fuerteventura discover some of the places I've enjoyed over the years and continue to return to. I hope you've found this guide useful.

If you're looking for more ideas while you're here, why not explore Carol's Guides? You'll find some of my favourite cafés, restaurants, beaches, walks and places to visit, along with local tips I've picked up from living on the island.

If you're planning a holiday in Caleta de Fuste, I'd also love to welcome you to Litha House, my comfortable three-bedroom holiday home. It's just a short walk from many of the cafés featured in this guide and makes an ideal base for exploring the resort and the rest of Fuerteventura.

Perhaps I'll have the pleasure of welcoming you to Litha House one day.