Spain primarily drinks coffee, with variations such as cafe con leche and cortado being popular, but tea is also enjoyed, especially in the regions of Galicia and Asturias.
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Spain is a country known for its café culture, so it comes as no surprise that coffee is the beverage of choice for many Spaniards, with variations such as café con leche and cortado being popular choices. As noted by The Culture Trip, “Spain is famous for its coffee, and the country has perfected the art of espresso making over the years.” However, tea is also enjoyed in Spain, especially in the regions of Galicia and Asturias.
According to Statista, in 2019, approximately 63% of Spanish respondents stated that they drink coffee daily, with only 21% stating that they drink tea daily. A possible reason for this preference could be that coffee is seen as a part of Spanish culture and tradition. As Quintin Parrilla, founder of the specialty coffee shop Right Side Valencia, notes, “coffee is an essential part of the Spanish lifestyle.”
Despite this, tea also has its place in Spain, particularly in the northern regions where it is enjoyed in traditional-style teahouses called teterías. Other popular tea choices in Spain include manzanilla (chamomile), té rojo (red tea), and té verde (green tea).
Interestingly, in terms of coffee consumption habits, Spain ranks ninth in Europe, with the highest coffee consumers being Finland and Sweden. However, as noted by Spanish coffee chain Café & Té, Spain’s coffee culture is unique in that it is deeply rooted in social interactions and leisurely enjoyment.
To summarize, while coffee is the primary beverage of choice in Spain, tea also has its place in certain regions and circles. As the saying goes, “Coffee is for closers,” but tea can be just as satisfying.
Table showcasing coffee and tea consumption in Spain:
Beverage
Daily Consumption Percentage
Coffee
63%
Tea
21%
See the answer to your question in this video
In this video, Luke from Devour Tours gives tips on ordering coffee in Spain, explaining different types of coffee such as café solo, cortado, con leche, americano, con hielo, and carajillo and the situations in which they are best enjoyed. He also suggests pairing certain coffees with traditional Spanish foods such as churros and biscuits.
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Coffee is, as you might have guessed, a major part of daily life in Spain. Many Spaniards start their day with a cafe con leche, a drink consisting of a 1:1 ratio of coffee and scalded milk. Spanish coffee drinkers will often have multiple cups of coffee at different times throughout the day.
In Spain, coffee is the preferred drink over tea. Most people prefer a good cup of café con leche, and there isn’t an office in the city without a decent espresso machine. People in Spain only occasionally drink tea, and it’s normally herbal teas (infusiones).
Spaniards don’t really drink a lot of tea. Most people seem to prefer a good cup of café con leche – there isn’t an office in the city without a decent espresso machine, and people will often stop at a café at 8pm at night to have a coffee and croissant. People in Spain only occasionally drink tea, and it’s normally herbal teas (infusiones).
Do Spanish people prefer tea or coffee? In Spain, it’s coffee that’s king. Tea is often an afterthought – a weak, insipid drink for the infirm and those with digestive troubles.
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Do Spanish people drink tea or coffee?
Answer to this: Spain and tea aren’t two words that go together. In Spain, it’s coffee that’s king. Tea is often an afterthought – a weak, insipid drink for the infirm and those with digestive troubles.
Does Spain drink a lot of coffee?
Response to this: 87 percent of the Spanish population between 18 and 64 years of age drink coffee and 70 percent do so daily. The average is 2.2 cups a day and the preferred place is at home (61 percent), followed by bars or restaurants (26 percent) and work (21 percent).
Does Spain drink tea?
The response is: In a country that loves its cañas, vermouth, wine, and coffee, tea probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of popular drinks in Spain. But believe it or not, afternoon tea in Madrid is getting increasingly popular.
What do Spaniards drink in the morning?
The reply will be: Spanish breakfast might also consist of churros (fried fingerlike doughnuts) and hot chocolate that is very sweet and thick. However, most Spaniards simply have coffee, usually strong, served with hot milk: either a café con leche (half coffee, half milk) or cortado (a shot of espresso "cut" with a dash of milk).
Should you drink coffee in Spain?
Answer to this: It’s better if you take advantage that a quick cup of coffee offers you to sit down and relax or interact with the local shop owner – it might help you see things from a Spanish perspective. In a country like Spain, with a coffee and chocolate culture dating back centuries, drinking tea used to be pretty strange.
Why do people drink tea in Spain?
Response: In Spain, tea is also used for its medicinal properties to relieve stomach aches, which may come in handy if you happen to go overboard when indulging in all that delicious Spanish cuisine. Like many parts of the world, soft drinks are very popular in Spain.
What is the coffee culture like in Spain?
As a response to this: In addition, in Spain, there is a really strong coffee culture and we believe that coffee shops are really important here—we even wrote a blog post about it here. However, the coffee culture in Spain isn’t what you probably expect, especially if you’re coming from the US!
How much coffee does Spain drink per head?
In reply to that: The Spanish are only outdone in terms of coffee consumption per head by the average Italian, who drinks almost 6 kilograms of it, and the French, at 5.4 kilograms. Spain has a long and enduring love affair with chocolate – and with thick, velvety, hot chocolate, in particular.
Do people drink coffee in Spain?
In Spain, people drink coffee around the clock, often even after dinner. Coffee is firmly anchored in Spanish culture. It is said that Spain was the first country in Europe to enjoy coffee. How much to tip in Spain?
Why do people drink tea in Spain?
The reply will be: In Spain, tea is also used for its medicinal properties to relieve stomach aches, which may come in handy if you happen to go overboard when indulging in all that delicious Spanish cuisine. Like many parts of the world, soft drinks are very popular in Spain.
Can you order a decaffeinated coffee in Spain?
Response will be: Whatever the reason, in Spain you can order a decaffeinated coffee in the form of a descafeinado. If you order a simple café descafeinado, you’ll get a café solo (espresso) without caffeine. However, you can usually order any other type of coffee as a descafeinado. Café Largo (“ long coffee “) is the Spanish version of the Italian Café Lungo.
Is coffee stronger in Spain than in Central Europe?
So, in short, the coffee in Spain is smaller and stronger than the one in Central Europe and the US. Café cortado (“ cut coffee “) is also known as espresso macchiato in many other countries such as the US or Italy. This popular type of coffee is a café solo (espresso) with a shot of (usually warmed) milk.
