In Colombia, café con leche is also widely known as perico. It is an everyday drink made with black coffee and hot milk, commonly enjoyed at family breakfasts, neighborhood cafés, and traditional roadside eateries.
Perico is often served with arepas, bread, almojábanas, or eggs. Its gentler flavor compared with black coffee makes it a favorite way to start the day.
Ingredients
- 300 ml freshly brewed Colombian coffee (1 ¼ cups)
- 300 ml whole milk (1 ¼ cups)
- 20 g grated panela (1 tablespoon), optional
- 10 g sugar (2 teaspoons), optional if not using panela
Preparation
- Brew the coffee, make 300 ml of strong Colombian coffee using a coffee maker, cloth filter, or drip method. Let it rest for 1 minute so the flavor settles.
- Heat the milk, pour the milk into a small saucepan and warm it over medium heat until it is steaming hot, without allowing it to boil.
- Sweeten the drink, add the grated panela or sugar to the hot milk and stir until fully dissolved.
- Serve the perico, divide the hot coffee between two cups and pour in the sweetened milk. Stir gently and serve immediately.
Practical tips
- Use medium-roast coffee for a balanced flavor with the milk.
- Do not boil the milk, as this can affect its texture and create a skin on top.
- For a stronger perico, use slightly more coffee than milk.
- Sweeten to taste, although panela gives the drink a more traditional flavor.
Traditional variations
Many Colombian households drink perico unsweetened, especially when using fresh milk and good-quality coffee. It can also be made with stronger coffee for people who prefer a more pronounced coffee flavor.
Traditional serving style
Serve perico hot in medium-sized cups at breakfast. It is traditionally enjoyed with cheese arepas, fresh bread, almojábanas, pandebono, or eggs prepared to your liking.
Recommended pairings
- Cheese arepas
- Almojábanas
- Pandebono
- Yuca bread
- Colombian-style scrambled eggs
- Soft Colombian bread rolls
A cultural note
In Colombia, ordering a perico often means ordering coffee with milk, especially in traditional cafés and homes. The name is part of everyday Colombian vocabulary and reflects the warm, familiar role coffee drinks play in the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
In Colombia, a perico is black coffee mixed with hot milk. It is a common breakfast drink and is often served in a medium-sized cup. It can be enjoyed plain or sweetened with panela or sugar, depending on each household’s preference.
The most common ratio is equal parts coffee and milk. You can adjust it to your taste: use more coffee for a stronger drink or more milk for a milder and creamier result. The traditional preparation is flexible and varies from home to home.
Yes, although freshly brewed Colombian coffee gives the most traditional flavor. When using instant coffee, dissolve it first in hot water and then mix it with hot milk. Make the coffee slightly concentrated so its flavor remains noticeable after adding the milk.
