Cortado vs Macchiato: What's the Difference?
A cortado is equal parts espresso and steamed milk (1:1 ratio). A macchiato is espresso with just a small “mark” of milk foam or a dash of steamed milk — far less milk than a cortado. Both are small, concentrated drinks, but the macchiato is bolder and more espresso-forward while the cortado is softer and more balanced. Here is the full breakdown. At a Glance Feature Cortado Espresso Macchiato Size 4–5 oz (120–150ml) 1–2 oz (30–60ml) Espresso 2 shots (60ml) 1–2 shots (30–60ml) Milk ~60ml steamed milk Dash of foam or 1–2 tsp steamed milk Milk ratio 1:1 espresso to milk ~1:0.2 espresso to milk Foam Light microfoam, minimal Small dollop of foam Flavor Balanced, slightly softened espresso Intense espresso, barely softened Origin Spain Italy Glass Small gibraltar or rocks glass Standard espresso cup What Is a Cortado? A cortado (from the Spanish cortar, meaning “to cut”) is a double espresso cut with an equal volume of steamed, low-foam milk. The milk softens the espresso’s acidity and bitterness without diluting it into a latte. The result is a smooth, intense drink where espresso still dominates but the sharp edges are rounded off. ...