Travelling around Spain, I thought I knew quite a bit about coffee. I first hear about “cortado coffee” while strolling the streets of Madrid.
So, I ordered a cup of a cortado, and when the barista served it, I thought that it was just a fancy way of saying latte. But it turns out cortado has a stronger coffee flavour than a latte.
It is not only the taste that differentiates cortado vs latte. I will walk you through what is so distinctively different about cortado from a latte and how you can make both coffee at home.
Cortado Vs Latte: The Differences
Coffee is so versatile that the different beverages made with it can be confusing. For instance, saying “espresso + milk” can be vague as there are countless coffee beverages made with these two ingredients.
Two coffee that people often confuse to be the same are cortado vs latte. But if you are a coffee fanatic, you will know that a cortado and a latte are two completely different drinks.
For those who are looking for something stronger, and you’re still confused about what all of this means when compared to a latte vs cortado. Read on further!
What Is A Latte?
A latte is a coffee beverage that originated in Italy — the birthplace of espresso. It contains a large amount of smooth and creamy milk, which tones down the bitterness and intense flavours of espresso.
To be more specific, a latte consists of 1/3 espresso and 2/3 milk. It also has a thin layer of microfoam on top, making it creamier.
You can also add a variety of syrups to your latte. A peppermint or caramel latte is highly ideal for people with a sweet tooth.
While a latte has more milk than coffee, the milk and coffee ratio still complements each other. Such is especially true if you will use high-quality coffee grounds for your espresso.
What Is A Cortado?
The words “cortado coffee” are not as popular among many coffee drinkers. So, you may confuse it for a latte if you will see it in your local coffee shop.
A cortado is a coffee-based drink that came from Spain. The name originated from the word “cortar,” which means to cut.
This Spanish coffee consists of espresso and steamed milk. Adding the milk to the espresso cuts some of its acidity, hence the name.
A cortado has equal parts of espresso and milk in terms of the measurements. It has a thin layer of foam, similar to what you see in a latte.
Some people also call the cortado Gibraltar coffee. The Blue Bottle Barista, a San Francisco-based coffee, coined this term in 2005. This name came from the type of glass used for serving cortados — the Gibraltar glass.
4 Major Differences Between Cortado vs Latte
While a latte is already a staple drink for coffee enthusiasts, the cortado is less popular. When I first heard about cortado coffee, I thought it was just the same as a latte.
However, I found out that there are five differences that separate a cortado from a latte.
1. Coffee to milk ratio
As mentioned, a latte consists of 1/3 espresso and 2/3 milk. On the other hand, a cortado has an equal coffee to milk ratio, making it stronger than a latte.
2. Appearance
While a cortado and a latte look very similar, there are still some notable differences.
A cortado has a deeper brown colour than a latte due to its higher espresso content. Baristas serve this beverage in a glass tumbler, allowing you to see its gorgeous caramel colour and lovely foam layer.
Meanwhile, baristas serve latte in a mug, letting you see its light brown tone.
3. Taste
If you compare cortado vs latte in terms of the taste, you will find that both are milky and creamy. But the latte has more mellow since it has more milk added to it.
A latte also has a light coffee taste, with the milk adding sweetness to it.
The cortado has a bolder coffee flavour with only a hint of sweetness.
4. Amount
The latte has different volumes, depending on the size that you ordered. For instance, you can order either an 8 or 12oz size.
This drink is served large since it has more milk than coffee.
While the latte has different sizes, cafes only serve the cortado in 4.5 oz glass. The 1:1 coffee to milk ratio makes the cortado a strong coffee, so it cannot be larger.
So, cortado vs latte, the cortado has more volume. Some people even find the cortado too intense, so coffee shops only serve it in a small cup.
How To Make A Cortado At Home
Sometimes, going out to get a cup of coffee can be too much of a task. In this case, knowing how to make your favourite coffee at home allows you to enjoy a cup without travelling to your local coffee shop and saving money, ofcourse.
What You’ll Need:
- Espresso machine (you can use an Aeropress if you do not have an espresso maker)
- Milk
- Milk frother
- A 4.5oz cup
1. Prepare your espresso
The key to making a perfect shot of espresso is high-quality coffee beans. It is ideal to use coffee beans that are roasted, particularly for making espresso, as it pairs best with milk.
But if you do not have such coffee beans, you can use any grounded coffee you have at home.
Of course, you need an espresso machine to pull your espresso shot. Alternatively, you can use an Aeropress if you do not have an espresso machine.
Once your espresso shot is ready, get your 4.5oz cup and fill it halfway with the espresso.
2. Steam and froth the milk
Frothing your milk should be easy if you have an espresso machine. All you need to do is fill the pitcher with milk, purge the steam wand, and froth your milk.
Cortado vs latte, the former needs less milk. That said, you only need to froth 2oz.
Your milk is ready once it reaches 120 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
Not all people have an espresso machine. In this case, you can heat the milk on the stovetop and use a milk frother to create some foam.
3. Pour and enjoy your cortado
After preparing your milk, get your espresso and pour the milk over it. Make sure that there is a 1:1 ratio of coffee and milk as getting the measurements wrong can affect the taste of your coffee.
Now that you have mixed the espresso and milk together, you can enjoy your homemade cortado!
Furthermore, making a latte is almost the same as making a cortado. You simply need to add more milk and serve the latte in a larger coffee mug.
Cortado Vs Latte: Frequently Asked Questions
Is cortado the same as flat white?
People confuse cortado vs latte as they have a lot of similarities. But apart from the latte, some also think that a cortado is the same as the flat white.
However, a cortado and flat white are different beverages. While both of them have an espresso base, the milk used for making cortado is not textured.
A cortado is smooth, and the flat white has a thick and velvety texture.
What is the difference between a flat white and a latte?
Latte uses a single or double shot of espresso, while a flat white uses two ristretto shots. Notably, ristretto is more concentrated than espresso as making it requires less water.
The difference in the type of coffee used makes the flat white stronger than a latte. A latte also has smoother consistency since it uses textured milk.
A flat white has a melded, less frothy texture than a latte as it uses “stretched” whole milk — a type of heated but not aerated milk.
How many shots of espresso does a cortado have?
A cortado has two shots of espresso and an equal amount of milk. When comparing cortado vs latte, the former is stronger, although they contain the same amount of coffee.
Summing Things Up
Cortado vs latte, both are delicious coffee-based beverages. While these beverages consist of coffee and milk, there are notable differences between them.
If you are not a fan of strong-tasting coffee, a latte is ideal as it contains more milk than coffee. But for people like me who love their coffee bold, a cortado is a fantastic choice.
A cortado is not very popular yet, although it is slowly taking over the coffee scene.
Regardless of your choice, we hope that this article will help you figure out which of the two mentioned coffees is ideal for you. You can also let us know your choice of drink by leaving a comment down below!