What is a Cortado?

– A Complete Overview –

Coffee can come in many exciting drink versions these days.

Whenever I go to my local coffee shop. There seems to be a new, interesting coffee creation on the menu.

Have you heard of the Cortado yet?

Your answer probably depends on where you are in the world.

In some areas, this beautiful and balanced coffee contribution is already a household name. Whereas, other regions may still not be very familiar with it.

However, it cannot be denied that the Cortado is rapidly growing in popularity.

Therefore, it might only be a matter of time until it’s also on your local menu.

For some people, a Cortado is a very specified ratio of coffee and steamed milk. Others rather regard it as a small flat white or latte.

Some even say that it’s up to us, the customers.

So, what exactly is a Cortado then? How do we make it? And what’s the story behind it?

Here is everything you need to know about the Cortado.

We will explore the many existing variations of this newest coffee sensation.

In addition, we will also have a look what the future may hold in store for it.

What is a Cortado?

Historically, there is quite little known about the Cortado’s origin.

People mostly agree that the drink comes from Spain. More specifically, it assumingly originates from the Basque region.

The term ‘Cortado’ can broadly be translated into ‘cut’.

It refers to the milk cutting through the intensity of the espresso. Furthermore, it describes the process of toning down its acidity while retaining the coffee’s flavor.

This would be the basic definition of a typical Cortado drink.

Traditionally, you are serving the drink with a little froth milk on top. And, people commonly serve it with a 1:1 milk to espresso ratio.

Moreover, the milk itself is steamed until it becomes very light foam. Normally, you are making it just before adding it to your espresso.

Typically and eventually, your served Cortado is coming in a small glass with a metal ring base and a metal wire handle.

Many people do often confuse the Cortado with other popular coffee drinks. These include coffee sensations such as the flat white, macchiato, or piccolo latte.

This is mostly due to them looking very similar in their overall appearances.

When you are entering a Spanish coffee shop. Normally, your Cortado is one shot of espresso plus a little bit of milk. It could either be a ratio of 1:1, or even 1:0.5.

Most of the times, you can find it with less milk than coffee. In Spain, coffee lovers consider this to be the traditional form of a Cortado.

However, if you are traveling around the world. You might encounter many other versions of the trending drink.

Conquering the World

Many things we are creating are a product of our surrounding culture.

We get inspired by it and further build on the cultural influences being part of our daily lives.

The same can be said in regards of our coffee universe and all of its creations.

While the idea of standardization is attractive. We essentially want to use any given standard to further expand its boundaries.

The Cortado and all of its worldwide versions is no exception here. It may originally come from Spain, but there are many different versions out there, now.

Often, its exact amount of ingredients depends on what the customer requests.

Here are a few of the most notable versions.

Saudi Arabia

Camilo Cardenas is a barista at Brew92. It is a café and roastery in Saudi Arabia. He shared following feedback with us.

‘Traditionally, the Cortado was just black coffee and a small dash of milk. Regardless, if it were hot or cold.

However, when people in Middle Eastern coffee shops were asking for it, it got adapted as an espresso with a small quantity of steamed milk.

Nowadays, it is mostly served with a double shot in this region. Additionally, there is some small milk. Overall, it is a bit smaller than a common flat white.’

Malaysia

Adrien Valentine Yong is a roaster at Malaysia’s Mountain Coffee Roasters. And, he had following to say.

‘There are all kinds of different people’s requests when it comes to the Cortado. Each one of them interprets it differently.

Some prefer it how we make an espresso macchiatio. This would translate into a double espresso with a dash of milk.

Another type would be similar to a flat white. You would get a double espresso with warm milk on top.

Other customers also asked for a half-and-half (equal parts of heavy cream and milk) with a double espresso.’

Costa Rica

Paula Chaverri Echandi is the owner of Café Sikewa in Costa Rica. She says that it’s all about the ratio.

‘The Cortado as she knows it is one espresso only. Plus one ounce of hot milk.’

Japan

Bruno Danese, from Hoccino Coffees in Japan, also talks about the ratio.

‘In short, it’s 1:1 espresso and steamed milk. Eventually, a Cortado can either be as small as three ounces. Or, the drink can be as big as 16 ounces.

This is as long as the coffee to milk ratio remains the same.’

Denmark

Frederik Westborg Schiotz works at the True Intent Coffee in Denmark. He has a very different idea.

‘The Cortado is a double-shot with a minimal amount of foam. And preferably, there should be no latte art whatsoever.’

Philippines

Lanz Castillo is the owner of Candid Coffee in the Philippines.

‘According to him, the Cortado is a one-ounce double-ristretto with two and a half ounces of steamed milk.’

Italy

Whereas, the head barista, Johnsy La Jessica Sartiani, at the Melaeuca in Italy, thinks following instead.

‘We call it a macchiatone. And, it consists of a single espresso with milk. You would serve it in a 50ml cup.’

Mainstream and the Future of Cortado

As you can see, the Cortado has found its way into many local coffee communities all around the world.

But also major coffee chains followed the trend. They happily adopted the powerful drink as well. Each one of them developed their own version of it.

For example, Starbucks makes it with two ristretto shots topped with milk.

Behind Starbucks, Costa Coffee is the world’s second-largest coffee chain. They describe their Cortado as ‘small and luxurious’.

In addition, Caffe Nero is a major coffee chain in Europe. Here, coffee makers prepare the drink with 1:2 parts of espresso to milk and 0.5 cm of micro-foam.

By now, it is quite clear that the Cortado as such is not going anywhere.

The little drink became a success story all around the world. Indeed, there are many interesting and delicious versions for us to explore.

But this is also, where the issue may be.

The amount of different preparation methods and names makes it quite difficult to fully grasp the whole picture. For us, as customers, it can simply become too overwhelming.

Quite a lot of confusion is surrounding the Cortado, nowadays. With so much room for interpretation, coffee shops might just decide to remove titles altogether.

Indeed, the idea of getting rid of title is not that new. There are some pretty interesting reports out there.

They indicate that many customers are confused over the number and complexity of coffee drink options presented to them.

Maybe there is a much simpler way instead. For example, you can just ask customers to describe their desired drink.

This could simplify orders and pricing.

However, there are also equally as many coffee enthusiasts, who would passionately and strongly argue against this quite ‘rebellious’ coffee notion.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cortado

As we just found out, there is quite a lot of confusion surrounding the Cortado drink.

Here are some of the most asked questions and corresponding answers to them.

Maybe, things will become a bit clearer then.

What is the Difference Between Cortado and Macchiato?

The term, ‘macchiato’, is Italian and literally means ‘marked’. It describes how the drink is usually supposed to look like.

A macchiato is an espresso just dotted with a little milk foam on top. Usually, there is rarely more milk than 25% of the total drink’s volume.

In contrast, a traditional Cortado has equal parts of milk and espresso.

If you would further compare the Cortado to other popular milk and coffee beverages. The following would be the order going from less milk to most.

A flat white has more milk than the Cortado. The cappuccino even has more than a flat white. And finally, a latte is typically made with predominantly milk.

Are Cortados And Flat Whites the Same Drink?

No, they are not.

In fact, both drinks are actually quite different.

Firstly, the flat white comes from Australia and New Zealand. And, the Cortado originates from Spain, of course.

Therefore, both coffee drinks were created with different cultural backgrounds and consumer expectations.

Secondly, the flat white contains more milk than a Cortado. But, it has less than the cappuccino.

Furthermore, the flat white’s milk is steamed to a velvety microfoam texture. Whereas, a Cortado typically uses hot milk with just a thin layer of foam on top.

How Many Espresso Shots in a Cortado?

Traditionally, a Cortado is containing two espresso shots, or one double shot.

The main key is the usual 1:1 ratio of espresso to milk.

This means, if you are making a 4 ounce (120ml) Cortado. You would need to brew a 2 ounce (60ml) shot of espresso mixed with 2 ounces of milk.

Moreover, a fine layer of milk foam would also rest on top.

Alternatively, some people prefer to use 1 ounce (30ml) ristretto shots. A ristretto is essentially a ‘short shot’ of a more highly concentrated espresso coffee.

Generally, you are using the same amount of ground coffee as for the normal espresso. But your coffee grind is much finer. And, you are only using half as much water.

Ristrettos produce a more concentrated flavor profile. Some Cortado coffee makers prefer a stronger taste.

What is a ‘Cortadito’?

Quite many people raise this question. They want to know what the difference is between a Cortado and Cortadito.

Traditionally, the Cortadito is a sweet Cuban coffee specialty. It is also known under the very common name of Café Cubano.

The drink refers to an espresso shot, which is sweetened already. This typically happens with natural brown sugar.

When you are brewing your espresso with the usual Moka-pot. You are mixing and whipping the very first and strongest drops of espresso with sugar.

Nowadays, the Café Cubano (or Cortadito) is also becoming more and more popular on its own.

How to Drink A Cortado?

You are supposed or advised to consume a Cortado slowly. Try to enjoy every sip of it.

Outspoken coffee lovers would want the experience to pair with great elegance. A Cortado is meant to be sipped graciously, while you are engaging with friends and family.

This is only a suggestion, of course. Please don’t take it too seriously.

I am sure you know best yourself.

Final Cortado Thoughts

Our colorful and endless coffee universe has a great variety of drinks to offer.

The Cortado definitely deserves its spot on the list. If not yet, sooner or later, it will also find its way on your local coffee shop’s menu.

Although, there is some confusion and many variations to consider. Maybe that is somehow the entire beauty and excitement behind it.

At the end of the day, this drink is another great and delicious example what makes coffee so special in the first place.

Besides that coffee has many great health benefits. Many people would even argue that it makes us happier and live longer.

Coffee connects us all, one way or the other.

So, how about you? Have you maybe tried the Cortado already? If not yet, would you be interested to do so?

Or, if you have tried the drink already, what’s your favorite way of making it? How many shots of espresso are usually in your Cortado, for example?

Feel free to share your coffee experiences with us.

Until then, stay healthy, safe and properly caffeinated.

Cheers!