“When someone asks for a barraquito, you no longer know what to serve,” jokes content creator @soydududog in one of his most viral videos. What began as a typical coffee from the archipelago has turned into a cultural debate crossing generations and geographic areas. What exactly is a barraquito? Why do many now call it a special barraquito? And how does it differ from the zaperoco or the classic leche y leche?
### The Roots of the Barraquito
Originating from Tenerife, the barraquito is more than just a coffee; it’s a visual and sensory experience. It’s served in a glass, carefully layered: condensed milk, liqueur (typically Licor 43), espresso coffee, foamed milk, topped with cinnamon, and lemon peel.
Popular legend has it that its name comes from Don Sebastián Rubio, nicknamed “El Barraquito,” a regular customer at Bar Imperial in Santa Cruz who always ordered his coffee prepared this way. This bar, located near Plaza de la Paz, remains active and is part of the city’s living history.
### What’s Happening Today?
“The barraquito has always been condensed milk, Licor 43, coffee, milk, cinnamon, and a small slice of lemon peel,” explains the TikToker. However, the creator points out that many places have started calling any coffee with condensed milk a barraquito, even if it lacks liqueur. “Millennials now call what was always a barraquito a special barraquito,” he comments, amused yet critical.
The confusion is more pronounced in northern Tenerife, where the traditional barraquito is known as a zaperoco, and what others call a barraquito is simply coffee with condensed milk, without liqueur. “I respect the zaperoco because it has always been called that in the north. But you can’t call leche y leche a barraquito,” he protests. Leche y leche is made with coffee, condensed milk, and regular milk, forming layers in a tall, thin glass. As a result, a tricolor drink of coffee, condensed milk, and milk emerges, popular in the region.
### Canary Islands Day: A Symbol Beyond Coffee
Every May 30th, Canary Islands Day celebrates the traditions, flavors, and identity that make the archipelago unique. Among these daily rituals, the barraquito holds a special place. It’s not just coffee: it’s a local masterpiece symbolizing shared time in cafes and guachinches, the value of authenticity, and the Canarian pride passed down through generations.
Coffee, in its various forms, accompanies islanders every day, from the simpler leche y leche to the special barraquito, and the robust zaperoco of the north. There are also variants that include honey, whipped cream, or different liqueurs, taking the experience to another level.
“I invite the waiters of the Canary Islands to go on strike. Let’s call things by their names,” the creator jokes. For him, keeping the essence of the barraquito alive is a matter of cultural respect, not just nostalgia. Knowing how to order it correctly, understanding its history, and distinguishing it from other coffees also honor a tradition that is part of the islands’ DNA.
