Cortado

A cortado is a small 3–4 oz drink made with equal parts espresso and steamed milk (1:1 ratio). A latte is an 8–12 oz drink with roughly 1 part espresso to 5–6 parts milk. They’re both espresso + steamed milk, but the cortado is espresso-forward and the latte is milk-forward — they’re almost opposites in character. The name “cortado” comes from the Spanish word cortar — “to cut.” The milk cuts the intensity of the espresso just enough to smooth the edges without diluting it. A latte goes much further: the milk becomes the dominant flavor and the espresso is a supporting note. ...

A cortado is a Spanish espresso drink made with equal parts espresso and warm, lightly textured milk — typically 2 oz of espresso and 2 oz of steamed milk, served in a 4 oz glass. The 1:1 ratio cuts the espresso’s acidity while keeping the coffee flavor dominant. The name “cortado” comes from the Spanish verb cortar — “to cut.” The milk cuts through the espresso’s acidity and bitterness without diluting it the way a latte would. ...

A cortado is a 1:1 ratio of espresso to warm milk (no foam), while a flat white uses more milk with microfoam and is larger overall. The cortado tastes stronger and more espresso-forward; the flat white is smoother and silkier. Both are small espresso drinks that let the coffee speak — they just do it differently. Quick Comparison Table Cortado Flat White Espresso 30–60 ml (double) 30–60 ml (double, often ristretto) Milk 30–60 ml warm milk (1:1 ratio) 100–130 ml microfoam Total volume ~60–120 ml (2–4 oz) ~150–180 ml (5–6 oz) Milk texture Warm, minimal foam Velvety microfoam (silky, no dry foam) Strength Strong — espresso-forward Medium — balanced espresso and milk Temperature Slightly cooler (milk not fully steamed) Hot (fully steamed microfoam) Origin Spain Australia / New Zealand Cup Small glass (~4 oz) Ceramic cup (~5–6 oz) What Is a Cortado? A cortado (from the Spanish verb cortar — “to cut”) is espresso “cut” with an equal part of warm milk. The classic ratio is 1:1: 30 ml espresso to 30 ml milk, or 60 ml double shot to 60 ml milk. ...

Gibraltar coffee is a double shot of espresso with approximately 2 oz (60 ml) of lightly textured, latte-style milk, served in a 4.5 oz Libbey Gibraltar glass. It was created at Blue Bottle Coffee in San Francisco in the early 2000s and is named after the glass it’s served in — not the Rock of Gibraltar. It tastes like a cortado but is distinctly tied to West Coast specialty coffee culture. ...

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. ...

A cortado is equal parts espresso and warm steamed milk — typically 2oz of espresso topped with 2oz of lightly textured milk. It is the simplest milk-based espresso drink to make at home and one of the best ways to taste your espresso clearly while taking the edge off acidity. Cortado Recipe Component Amount Espresso 2oz (a double shot, ~36g) Steamed milk 2oz (60ml) Foam Minimal — just a thin layer Serving glass 4oz / 120ml cortado glass or small cup Total drink size: 4oz (120ml) ...