If you’re a coffee lover and haven’t yet tried a cortado, you’re missing out. This 50/50 blend of espresso and steamed milk is a game-changer in the world of specialty coffees. Let’s dive into the origins, characteristics, and differences between the cortado and other popular café classics.
The cortado hails from the Basque region of Spain and translates to “to cut,” as the espresso is balanced by an equal amount of milk. The drink is typically made with a 2-ounce double shot of espresso and 2 ounces of lightly warmed milk. Its name was popularized in San Francisco’s Blue Bottle Coffee Roasters, where it went by the name “Gibraltar” when served in the unique ridged transparent cup (1). Today, many coffee shops around the world offer both cortados and Gibraltars.
While similar to the Gibraltar, the cortado has a slightly more robust texture and cooler temperature. The Cuban cortadito, on the other hand, is heavily sweetened with either sugar or sweetened condensed milk (2). Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s explore how the cortado compares to some other café favorites:
– Macchiato vs Cortado: A macchiato is an espresso shot topped with a small amount of frothed milk, while a cortado has a more substantial milk content. The macchiato offers a stronger espresso flavor, whereas the cortado delivers a creamier texture and milder coffee taste. – Cortado vs Flat White: Both drinks share similarities, but the flat white has a higher ratio of milk to coffee (1:2) compared to the cortado (1:1). As a result, the flat white is larger, less creamy, and has a weaker coffee flavor than the cortado. – Cortado vs Latte: A latte consists of a significant amount of microfoam milk, resulting in a mild coffee flavor and sweet, velvety texture. In contrast, the cortado is smaller with a bolder espresso flavor due to its equal parts ratio of espresso and milk (3). – Cappuccino vs Cortado: The cappuccino has a higher milk-to-coffee ratio and a thicker layer of froth or foam, giving it an airier texture compared to the cortado.
Order a double shot espresso with 2 ounces of steamed milk and request that the barista layer the milk on top of the espresso for an authentic experience (3).
If you’re intrigued by this tantalizing taste sensation, give the cortado a try the next time you visit your favorite coffee shop. Order a double shot espresso with 2 ounces of steamed milk and request that the barista layer the milk on top of the espresso for an authentic experience (3). Embrace the balanced flavor profile between a flat white and a macchiato, all in a small yet mighty package.
References: (1) http://www.bluebottlecoffee.com/news/the-history-of-our-drinks/gibraltar (2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortadito (3) https://www.starbucks.com/menu/food-and-drink/beverages/espresso-based/cortado
Questions & Answers
What is a Cortado?
A Cortado is a traditional Spanish coffee drink made with equal parts of espresso and milk.
How does a Cortado compare to a Latte?
Unlike a Latte, a Cortado has less milk and froth, resulting in a stronger, more concentrated coffee flavor.
Information sourced from industry reports and news outlets.
