History

If you visit Malaga and ask for a coffee without further specifications, the waiter may look at you with a smile and expect you to be more precise. In this Andalusian city, coffee is not simply ordered as ‘cortado’ or ‘con leche’. There is a curious classification that has endured over time, whereby each cup is served with the exact amount of coffee and milk that you prefer. This tradition has its origins in the historic Cafetería Central, where a unique system was established that today forms part of the Malaga identity.

This system originated from the waiters’ need to serve coffee to the taste of each individual customer without causing waste. Over time, the people of Málaga have turned this categorisation into a cultural tradition. Most of the city’s cafés have explanatory signs so that locals and tourists alike can choose their ideal coffee.

The 9 types of Malaga coffee.

Malaga has a special way of ordering coffee, and here are the most popular options:

Café solo: no milk, 100% coffee
Café largo: 90% coffee and very little milk
Semi largo: 80% coffee and some milk
Semi corto: 60% coffee
Mitad: as the name suggests, 50% coffee, 50% milk.
Entre-corto: 40% coffee
Corto: 30% coffee
Sombra: 20% coffee. A touch of coffee with a lot more milk.
Nube: 10% coffee. A coffee with just a few drops of coffee and the rest milk, ideal for those who prefer a very smooth drink.

Do you already know which one you are going to order?