What is a cortado?
An espresso with an equal amount of warm milk (1:1), without significant foam. Originates from Spain, is served in a small glass. Espresso-forward, but rounded out by the milk — just right for those who find a cappuccino too milky and an espresso too intense.
Why that is
The name cortado comes from the Spanish verb cortar — to cut. The milk "cuts" the intensity of the espresso without overpowering it. This is the crucial difference to a cappuccino or a flat white: with a cortado, you primarily taste the espresso, and the milk is just a damper.
Structure:
- An espresso (25–30 ml).
- An equal amount of warm milk (25–30 ml), with minimal or no foam.
- Total volume: 50–60 ml.
- Served in a small glass (often a "Gibraltar" glass with a capacity of 4.5 oz / 130 ml).
What makes the cortado special:
- Espresso in the foreground. The small amount of milk only slightly alters the coffee — it takes away the sharpness but lets all the aromas through.
- No foam distraction. Without the foam layer of a cappuccino, you drink the cortado directly — espresso and milk homogeneously mixed.
- Small volume. You drink it in 2–3 sips. Not a drink to sit with for a long time, but a short, concentrated coffee moment.
Variations worldwide:
- Gibraltar (USA/Specialty): Double espresso with a bit more milk, served in a Gibraltar glass. Originated at Blue Bottle Coffee, San Francisco.
- Piccolo Latte (Australia): Similar to a cortado, but with a ristretto instead of an espresso and slightly more microfoam.
- Galão (Portugal): Espresso with more milk (1:3), in a glass — between a cortado and a latte.
In practice at Green Wall Coffee
At Sophienstraße 27, the cortado is one of my personal favorites — and many regular guests order it after trying it once. It shows the character of the espresso most honestly, without the intensity of a pure shot. If someone is unsure, I say: order a cortado. If that's too strong, try a flat white next time.
Feel free to drop by for a coffee — Green Wall Coffee, Sophienstraße 27 in Berlin-Lichtenberg, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm and Sat 10am–5pm.
Further reading
Related questions:
Also relevant:
- Which milk is best for cappuccino? — Milk, Milk Foam & Latte Art
- How do I froth milk without a steam wand? — Milk, Milk Foam & Latte Art
All questions in this topic: Coffee Drinks & Specialties