If you're a coffee enthusiast, you've probably seen the cortado beverage on the menu of your neighbourhood coffee shop. You might have given one some thought and wondered, "What is a cortado?"
Here’s everything you need to know to order this popular coffee drink and how to make a cortado at home.
What is a Cortado?
A cortado is the perfect combination of milk and espresso. This drink is served in small cups or mugs and has a milk to espresso ratio of 1:1 (about half espresso, half milk).
The milk in this coffee beverage is meant to lessen the acidity of the espresso. Because a cortado is all about creating the ideal balance between diverse flavours, the steamed hot milk in this Italian coffee drink isn't as foamy or frothy as other Italian coffee beverages.
Where Did the Cortado Originate?
The cortado comes from Spain's Basque Country. After being developed in Spain, the beverage gained recognition in Cuba and the Galicia region of northern Portugal and has now become a popular order at the best coffee shops.
The word "cortado" in Spanish means "cut." This describes how the milk "cuts through" the espresso's intensity. The end result is a delightful blend of rich, creamy milk, and strong and robust espresso.
How to Make a Cortado at Home
Want to learn how to make a cortado at home? First, you’ll need an espresso machine, freshly roasted coffee beans, and your preferred milk of choice. Here’s a quick cortado recipe:
- You should start by measuring and grinding your espresso grounds.
- Put your espresso grinds and the portafilter inside the espresso maker.
- Extract two espresso shots.
- Steam your milk.
- Pour milk into espresso.
The cortado is a pretty straightforward but tasty beverage to master. Given the high caffeine concentration, they are meant to be sipped. Serve your cortado in the small coffee cup of your choice and enjoy!
Cortado vs Cappucino
Cappuccinos have 1-2 shots of espresso, whereas cortados have 2 shots. However, the main difference between a cortado and a cappuccino is the amount of milk used. Cappuccinos have more milk and foam.
A cortado has a thin microform layer, whereas a cappuccino has a thick one. Cappuccinos are also a little less caffeinated.
Cortado vs Latte
A cortado can easily be confused with a latte. While they do contain the same amount of espresso, a cortado contains a lot more milk.
Lattes have less caffeine than a cortado because of the greater volume of steamed milk, which further dilutes the espresso.
Cortado vs Cortadito
There is no distinction between a cortado and a cortadito. We know that a cortado is a 50/50 blend of espresso and milk prepared in Spain.
A cortadito is a Cuban espresso that consists of a 50/50 and 75/25 ratio of espresso and milk. So even though they go by different names, they are the same beverage.
Now that you know how to make a cortado, you can use Di Stefano's Specialty Coffee Beans to brew the greatest cup of coffee. We recommend our Specialty Blend 109 to compliment the delicate balance of this coffee style… enjoy!
Our specialty coffee beans are freshly roasted each week to provide you with the greatest flavour. Purchase our high-quality specialty coffee beans today!
