Barraquito


Barraquito is a coffee liqueur commonly available on Tenerife, also known as zaperoco.

Origin

Amongst the population of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, it is said that barraquito appeared in the mid-20th century. Its name refers to a frequent client of Bar Imperial, Don Sebastián Rubio, nicknamed "Barraco" or "Barraquito", who always asked for a cortado with condensed milk, a shot of Licor 43, a lemon rind, and cinnamon in a long glass. This bar is still active and is located in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Other sources suggest the drink originated at Bar Paragüitas, also in Santa Cruz, or was invented by a waiter named Manolo Grijalbo at a kiosk near the city's port, which served as a meeting point for artists and students.
In December 2021, following the volcanic eruption on La Palma, the Baristas Association of Murcia promoted a campaign to temporarily rename their local 'café asiático' to 'barraquito', donating the proceeds to help those affected by the eruption.

Description

The barraquito is a multi-layered coffee liqueur drink normally served in a glass to enable easy viewing of the different layers.

Variants

  • Barraquito Especial: In the metropolitan area of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and La Laguna, the term barraquito often refers to a simple coffee with condensed milk and regular milk. Therefore, the full layered version with liqueur, cinnamon, and lemon is specifically ordered as Barraquito Especial.
  • Barraquito vírgen or alcohol free: this omits the liqueur, so it is simply coffee with milk with cinnamon and lemon.

    Ingredients

The layers of a barraquito are normally:
Other ingredients typically used:
The condensed milk is first added, followed by the liqueur, espresso and lemon peel. Milk is then added and cinnamon is sprinkled on top.

Regional variations

The barraquito is often known as a zaperoco in northern areas of Tenerife. In some menus, Barraquito might be served without alcohol, while Zaperoco is served with alcohol, though this varies by establishment.