Short answer
A cortado is a small espresso drink made with one part espresso and about one part warm milk, served in a 100 to 120 ml glass. The milk “cuts” the bitterness of the coffee, and the drink has little or no foam.
A cortado is a small espresso drink made with one part espresso and about one part warm milk, served in a 100 to 120 ml glass. The milk “cuts” the bitterness and acidity of the coffee, and a cortado has little or no foam, so it tastes strong, smooth and compact.
What is a cortado?
A cortado is an espresso drink in which warm steamed milk is added to the espresso in roughly equal amounts, producing a small, balanced cup with no foam cap. It is usually served in a short glass.
The name comes from the Spanish verb cortar, which means to cut. The milk cuts the strength of the espresso without turning it into a milky latte. The cortado is common in Spain and Portugal and has spread through specialty cafes in Canada and the United States.
What is the ratio in a cortado?
A cortado is about one part espresso to one part milk. With a double shot of around 40 ml, the milk is also around 40 to 60 ml, giving a drink of 100 to 120 ml.
| Drink | Espresso to milk | Foam | Typical size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Espresso | Espresso only | None, only crema | 30 to 60 ml |
| Macchiato | Espresso with a spoon of foam | A dollop | 60 to 80 ml |
| Cortado | 1 to 1 | Almost none | 100 to 120 ml |
| Flat white | 1 to 3 or 4 | Thin microfoam | 160 to 180 ml |
| Latte | 1 to 4 or more | Thin layer | 240 ml or more |
Cafes treat these ratios loosely, so your cortado may be a little milkier or smaller.
Cortado vs flat white: what is the difference?
The difference between a cortado and a flat white is size and milk: a cortado is smaller with equal milk, and a flat white is larger with more milk and a layer of microfoam.
A cortado tastes sharper and more coffee-forward. A flat white is softer. If a flat white is too milky, a cortado is the next step toward the espresso end of the menu.
Cortado vs macchiato: what is the difference?
A macchiato is espresso “marked” with only a spoonful of milk foam, while a cortado is espresso mixed with about the same amount of warm milk. The cortado is milkier and a little larger.
Be careful with the word macchiato. In Italy it means the small espresso with a dollop of foam. In many North American chains, a “caramel macchiato” is a large flavoured latte, which is a different drink. A cortado has no such confusion.
Cortado vs gibraltar: is it the same drink?
A Gibraltar is the name used in some US cafes, notably in San Francisco, for a drink served in a small tumbler called a Gibraltar glass. It is essentially a cortado.
The two names describe nearly identical drinks, and cortado is the more widely recognised term. The short glass gives the drink its look and keeps the heat in.
How do you make a cortado at home?
You make a cortado by pulling a double espresso into a small glass and adding an equal amount of warm, lightly steamed milk with minimal foam.
- Pull a double shot of about 40 g into a short heat-proof glass.
- Heat 60 ml of milk to around 60 to 65 °C, with only a second or two of air.
- Swirl the jug to blend the milk, then pour it slowly into the glass, holding back any foam.
- Drink it soon after, while it is warm.
If you only have a moka pot, brew the coffee, warm milk in a small pan and combine them. The drink will be less intense than espresso, though the balance is similar.
What milk should you use in a cortado?
Whole milk gives the most classic result, since its sweetness balances a bold espresso. Oat milk works well too and steams smoothly.
- Whole milk: sweet and rich, the traditional choice.
- Oat milk: creamy, with a mild grain taste that blends well.
- Almond or soy milk: possible, but thin foam and stronger tastes can compete with the coffee.
Because the drink is mostly espresso, the quality of the beans matters more than the milk. A medium or medium-dark roast tends to suit it.
Is a cortado on the Wicked Cafe menu?
No. The recorded menu for Wicked Cafe in Vancouver does not list a cortado. A reader who wants something similar can look at what the cafe does list: a Flat White (espresso with velvety steamed milk), a standard Espresso (a double shot) and a Cappuccino (a small espresso drink with milk foam).
Asking staff whether they can make a drink off the menu is reasonable, though there is no guarantee. See the menu page for the listed drinks and the hours and location page for visiting details. This independent guide takes no orders and quotes no prices.
When should you order a cortado?
Order a cortado when you want the full taste of espresso with a softer edge, and you do not want a large drink. It suits an afternoon pick-me-up or a short break.
It is a poor choice if you want a long, sippable, sweet drink. For that, a latte or a flavoured drink fits better. A cortado is meant to be finished in a few minutes while it is warm.
What beans and roast suit a cortado?
A medium to medium-dark roast suits a cortado, because it has enough body to stand up to the milk. A very light roast can taste sharp and sour in so small a drink.
Many specialty cafes pick a blend with chocolate and nut notes for milk drinks. At home, choose beans labelled for espresso and a fine grind, and adjust the shot until it tastes sweet and balanced, not bitter. Fresh beans, used within a few weeks of the roast date, give a clearer cup.
What are the common mistakes with a cortado?
The common mistakes are too much foam, too much milk and a shot that is too short or too long. A cortado depends on balance, so each of these is noticeable.
- Foam on top: a thick cap turns the drink into a small cappuccino.
- Milk poured too fast: it mixes unevenly and the espresso stays at the bottom.
- A large glass: the milk spreads out and the drink cools quickly.
- Boiling milk: milk above 70 °C loses its sweetness.
Serve the cortado in a small, warm glass and drink it right away. A cortado is not a drink to leave on a desk for twenty minutes.
Common questions
How big is a cortado?
A cortado is small, usually 100 to 120 ml, served in a short glass. It holds a double shot of espresso, or sometimes a single, plus about the same amount of warm milk.
Is a cortado stronger than a latte?
Yes in taste, because a cortado has far less milk. Per ml it is more concentrated. The total caffeine can be similar, since both drinks may use the same double shot.
What does cortado mean?
Cortado comes from the Spanish verb cortar, to cut. The warm milk cuts the strength and acidity of the espresso. In some Spanish regions the drink is also called a cortadito or a cafe cortado.
Is a cortado the same as a flat white?
They are close but not the same. A flat white is larger, around 160 to 180 ml, with more milk and microfoam. A cortado is smaller, with equal milk and espresso and almost no foam.
Can I make a cortado without an espresso machine?
Yes. Use strong coffee from a moka pot or an AeroPress, about 50 ml, and add 50 ml of warm milk. It will not have espresso crema, though the balance and strength are close.
For the address, opening hours and menu, see Wicked Cafe in Vancouver.
This article is general information from an independent guide, not from Wicked Cafe itself. For the store’s current details see hours and location.