Caffe Leccese is a coffee drink from Salento made with espresso and almond syrup. Here’s the recipe!

Caffè Leccese

Caffè Leccese is the summery coffee drink of Salento, Puglia: a refreshing brew for hot days at the beach, a macchiato, stained and sweetened with sweet almond milk (latte di mandorla) syrup.
But it is also a ritual.
When you order a Caffe Leccese at a Bar (cafè), you receive an espresso cup and a separate glass with about two inches of syrup and two to three ice cubes.
The coffee is hot, “espresso”, freshly brewed. So you must pour it into the glass to chill, sweeten it with the syrup, and flavor with the intense aroma of Puglia almonds.

From the Italian Colors Newsletter: “…But the beach day was amazing: the sea was turquoise – Puglia is known as the Caribbean of the South – and not too crowded as we had skipped the weekend. We had lunch under our ombrellone, beach umbrella, with delicious panini stuffed with local mozzarella, thinly sliced tomatoes seasoned with olive oil, salt, and oregano. And a caffe leccese at the bar…”

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How to make Caffè Leccese

To make Caffe Leccese at home, you need a Moka pot (or an espresso maker) for classic Italian coffee and almond milk syrup that you can purchase or make through this recipe.
Once you have both, you need nothing else but a glass, ice, and a spoon. Embarrassingly easy.

TOOLS AND INGREDIENTS USED IN THIS RECIPE:

THIS LIST INCLUDES AFFILIATE LINKS.

Caffe Leccese Recipe

Caffè Leccese from Puglia

Course Drinks

Cuisine Italian

Servings 1 serving

Author Claudia Rinaldi

Ingredients

1 espresso coffee consider about 5 grams for each serving
2-3 tablespoons almond milk syrup - even four tablespoons!
2-3 ice cubes

Instructions

Make the espresso: fill the Moka pot base with room temperature water to the valve level; place the filter to close the base; fill it with ground coffee and distribute it evenly - light tapping, no pressing -; and tighten the upper part. If you want precise measures: one gram of coffee per each ten grams of water.
Transfer the coffee maker to a medium heat stovetop, leave the lid open, and wait for the liquid to gush out from the pump.
Fill a glass with the almond milk syrup and add the ice cubes.
When, by eye and not letting it bubble, all the coffee is out, stir it with a teaspoon and pour it in the glass.
Mix well and sip slowly, enjoying the breeze, the sun, and the sea.

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