the coffee i mentioned is already grounded, they are not beans. You fill the little cup inside the cafetera with the expresso, you fill it completely. (tip: put water in the bottom thing first, then put the expresso in the little cup thing.) The 2 brands of expresso i mentioned above may be found in any markets out here, as for Canada i am not sure. The 2 brands, Gavina and Llave are in cans, if they are not in cans, they are in airtight packages. Llave comes in a green can or package, and Gavina comes in a red,white and blue can or package. I use whole milk, for thickness and creamy flavor (that is a personal preference) ask me anymore questions if you still don't understand, i would be glad to help you acheive you cafe con leche!

------------------
Spain Page!! Check it out! http://www.geocities.com/missmadrid98/homepage.html?957296168010

Thanks to all that have replied. I have found a few places that sell the cafetera's. After work today I am going to purchase one. The only type of cuban coffee bean i get can here in Winnipeg, Canada is called Altura. Has anybody heard of this. Also anyother brands would be helpful. I might have to order some through the mail. Hopefully this weekend I will be sipping a cafe con leche and dream of been in spain.


Ranman

One more question. What is the ratio of expresso to milk that you pour into your cup?

I order my coffee from www.tienda.com It is the real deal. It's probably a little more expensive, but cheaper than a flight to Madrid. They are also offering jamon serrano this month in small packages, so you don't have a whole ham hanging in your kitchen, although that might make it feel more like home....

ratio of milk to espresso is a matter of taste. I like mine about half to two-thirds coffee and the rest milk; a lot of people like it much more lechoso (milky). Start by filling your coffee cup with a third of coffee and SLOWLY add the milk and taste at each step until it tastes like SPAIN

I also order my coffee from www.tienda.com and it really is good. I tried everything to recreate cafe con leche - and it wasn't until I ordered the beans from tienda that it REALLY tasted like Espana. More than worth the little extra cost....

Well, I finally had my own homemade cafe con leche this week end. thank you MissMadrid! One of the cuban refugees I worked with before coming out here, gave me a cafetera as a going away present. I had not used it yet though. It was sooo good. It was really comforting somehow..

I will have to try the coffee from "tienda." Is there a specific type you guys buy that you like?

I just wish I could get the milk a little bit foamier. anybody know a trick for that?

[This message has been edited by Nicole (edited 10-16-2000).]

Don't they sell coffee machines over there in the US/Canada? I mean, you can buy a household version of the kind of thing they make the coffee with in the bars in Spain. You put the (freshly ground) coffee in a kind of round container (with a metal filter inside) with a handle on it, and this is kind of "screwed" into the machine. You press a button and hot water is forced through it. It also steams the milk. We have a Saeco we bought in the Corte Ingles. It the bull's [censored]!

One more thing - I discovered drinking coffee from a glass in Spain. It seems to be the norm in Andalucia (if not in Madrid, or the posher places). Seemed odd at first, but I'm converted. I think it tastes different. Now if it looks like they're going to give me a cup I ask for it en un vaso (I think if the camarero/a notices you're foreign the chances you'll get a cup go up). Anybody else prefer their cafe en un vaso?

If you don't have an espresso machine, or are at work, here's a reasonable copy:

Go to starbucks and get a double espresso;

pour the same amount or maybe a third more of milk (I prefer half and half) into your cup;

Microwave it for about 10 seconds.

Not perfect, but it works when you're gazing out of your office window and dreaming.....

YOu know, that's funny. That is the way they drink it in a lot of South American countries, served with an agua con gas (carbonated water) -maybe there is some connection with the conquistadores being from southern spain - could totally be a coincedence though. Normally I am not fond of carb. water, but something about the comination of that and the coffee just seems so right. I have to admit though, I prefer my coffee in porcelain. It could be my imagination, but the regular glass seems to let too much heat through, too hot for the hands..