Guide to Barcelona

Carajillo

Saturday, 21 August 2010 09:34

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This typically Spanish drink is a coffee combined with some sort of spirit usually brandy, whisky or rum. It is especially popular among the elderly people and usually consumed in the morning before breakfast.

It originated during the time of the Spanish occupation of Cuba. Back then the troops added a shot of alcohol to their coffee to gain more courage, hence Spanish corage – corajillo – carajillo.
There are also different types of the Carajillo. For instance, in some areas there is a greater content of alcohol than coffee (Catalunya) whereas in others it is the other way round (Leon).
There are also different methods of preparing a Carajillo. On the one hand one can add the shot of alcohol after the coffee is cooked whereas other recipes propose to heat the alcohol first and then add the coffee.

The most agreed on recipe however, combines lemon zest with some coffee beans and the shot of alcohol. The mixture is then heated and enflamed. The still burning drink is then extinguished with coffee usually strong espresso.
The Carajillo is a very strong drink yet it is consumed all over Spain all day long and is part of the daily routine of many Spanish people.
Due to its popularity you can easily get this drink in basically any restaurant or cafe in Spain.


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