If you are here, you probably enjoy coffee more than anyone else. And you are also probably looking for different coffee drinks to taste, explore, or learn how to make at home.
Luckily for all of us coffee junkies, coffee is a very versatile drink and there are hundreds of different ways to have your cup of joy.
Cortado, you’ve probably seen this coffee drink on the menu in your favorite coffee bar before, and you’ve most probably tasted it, and today maybe you will actually make it at home. At the same time, you can learn about the differences between some of the most popular coffee drinks.
What Is A Cortado Coffee?
Cortado is a Spanish word that means “cut.” Simply put, a cortado is an espresso that has been “cut” by an equal amount of steamed milk. The usual recipe is two shots of espresso and 60ml of warm milk.
Furthermore, “cortado” is the past participle of “cortar,” and refers to both the dilution of coffee and espresso drinks. After its creation in the Basque country of Spain, the drink began to spread in popularity throughout the Galicia region of northern Portugal, and even Cuba.
The cortado contains little to no foam, which is the main characteristic of most Spanish drinks. If you’re a fan of foam, don’t worry. The fact that the cortado doesn’t have a lot of foam is what allows the milk to cut through the espresso, blending together as smoothly as possible. The result? A delicious combination of powerful, robust espresso with creamy, light milk.
And while that milk is slightly frothy, it’s not all foam. The Cortado isn’t about latte art, it’s about the enjoyment of pure, balanced flavor. It’s the coffee of choice for people who like espresso-based drinks with a strong coffee taste.
How To Make Cortado At Home?
The best part about this coffee is that it’s so easy to make, and yet you’ll feel like a barista preparing and consuming this perfect coffee drink.
All you need for preparing cortado at home is an espresso coffee maker or Moka pot, to prepare double shot espresso, milk frother, hand-operated or electric since this coffee drink needs only a little foam on top.
If you want to sweeten this coffee drink, and still be on the safe healthy side, you can put one teaspoon of honey, the sweetness and flavor are amazing.
What You Need To Make Cortado
You will need:
- 2 shots espresso
- 60 ml steamed milk
- 1 teaspoon of honey (optional)
How To Make Cortado
- Brew a double shot of espresso.
- Steam the milk.
- (Optional) Add the honey to the coffee and mix it up.
- Add equal parts milk into the coffee, leaving a thin layer of foam on top.
Watch this video to see better how to make this coffee at home.
Differences Between Cortado And Other Milk Coffee Drinks
Cortado Vs. Machiatto/Cappuccino
The main difference between these different drinks is the amount of milk used. The macchiato has a little less milk, making it slightly smaller in volume. The macchiato also has a stronger coffee flavor. On the other hand, the cappuccino has more milk, as well as more foam. It’s also a little larger in volume and is a little more gentle on the caffeine.
Cortado Vs. Flat White
Another drink that the cortado is often compared to is the flat white. Though they have the same amount of espresso, the amount of milk varies slightly. In comparison to the cortado, the flat white is more similar to the latte. Both drinks have the same amount of espresso, but the flat white has more milk and is thicker than the cortado.
Cortado Vs. Latte
This drink can also be easily confused with a latte. However, though this coffee drink does have the same amount of espresso, it has much more milk. Since the larger amount of steamed milk further dilutes the espresso, lattes are not as potent in caffeine content as the cortado.
Final Words From Me
For me, this is a lighter variation of the espresso drink that I love, which is perfect for me when I want a more balanced flavor and less bitter coffee drink.
It’s perfect for me because I don’t like milk that much, but I want to have it in my coffee for a less strong flavor. That’s when I drink either macchiato or cortado.
How about you? Do you like cortado?
Now that you know what exactly cortado is and how to make it at home, you can give it another try.
And don’t forget to share this article with friends and family, someone else might find it useful.
Enjoy Your Coffee!
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