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Coffee Education
What Is a Cortado? Cortado vs Latte
What is a cortado? A 1:1 mix of 2 oz espresso and 2 oz steamed milk. See its taste, how to make one and how it differs from a latte.
- By Sarah Chen
- Updated October 8, 2026
- 4 min read
Quick answer
A cortado is a 4 oz drink of equal parts espresso and lightly steamed milk (1:1), served in a small glass. It is more espresso-forward than a flat white or latte, so order it if you want to taste the coffee.
What is a cortado?
Size, ratio and glass at a glance.
| Detail | Cortado |
|---|---|
| Total size | 4 oz (120 ml) |
| Espresso | 2 oz (a double shot) |
| Milk | 2 oz steamed, minimal foam |
| Glass | Small, traditionally a Gibraltar |
| Origin | Spain, probably Basque Country or Madrid |
Total size
- Cortado
- 4 oz (120 ml)
Espresso
- Cortado
- 2 oz (a double shot)
Milk
- Cortado
- 2 oz steamed, minimal foam
Glass
- Cortado
- Small, traditionally a Gibraltar
Origin
- Cortado
- Spain, probably Basque Country or Madrid
How does it compare with other milk drinks?
More milk moves a cortado toward a flat white, then a latte.
| Drink | Total size | Milk |
|---|---|---|
| Macchiato (traditional) | 1–2 oz | Dash of foam |
| Cortado | 4 oz | 2 oz |
| Cappuccino | 6 oz | 2 oz + 2 oz foam |
| Flat white | 6–7 oz | 4–5 oz |
| Latte | 8–12 oz | 6–10 oz |
Macchiato (traditional)
- Total size
- 1–2 oz
- Milk
- Dash of foam
Cortado
- Total size
- 4 oz
- Milk
- 2 oz
Cappuccino
- Total size
- 6 oz
- Milk
- 2 oz + 2 oz foam
Flat white
- Total size
- 6–7 oz
- Milk
- 4–5 oz
Latte
- Total size
- 8–12 oz
- Milk
- 6–10 oz
Some cafés serve a 5 oz version with a slightly longer shot and 2.5 oz of milk, which keeps the ratio. A 6 oz drink with 4 oz of milk is a flat white, whatever the menu calls it.
What does a cortado coffee taste like?
Espresso-forward, with the sharp edges rounded off.
The milk softens acidity and adds sweetness, but the coffee stays audible. A well-made shot finishes short and clean, with no bitterness.
The same coffee as a latte tastes creamy and mild, with origin notes barely perceptible. That difference is the cortado's whole argument.
How do you make a cortado at home?
Four steps with an espresso machine, a small glass and whole milk.
Warm. A 4–4.5 oz glass with hot water, then pull a double shot (about 18g in, 36g out, 26–30 seconds) into it.26–30 seconds
Steam. 60 ml (2 oz) of cold whole milk to 58–62°C (136–144°F) with fine microfoam and under 0.5 cm of foam.
Pour. At a controlled angle so the milk blends into the espresso rather than sitting on top.
Check. For a small, unified drink with a thin layer of crema.
Cortado or flat white: which should you order?
Cortado for the espresso, flat white for something smoother and larger.
| Feature | Cortado | Flat white |
|---|---|---|
| Texture | Light microfoam | Velvety microfoam throughout |
| Foam depth | Minimal | Very thin (about 2–3 mm) |
| Flavor | More espresso-forward | Slightly more milk-forward |
| Origin | Spain | Australia/New Zealand |
Texture
- Cortado
- Light microfoam
- Flat white
- Velvety microfoam throughout
Foam depth
- Cortado
- Minimal
- Flat white
- Very thin (about 2–3 mm)
Flavor
- Cortado
- More espresso-forward
- Flat white
- Slightly more milk-forward
Origin
- Cortado
- Spain
- Flat white
- Australia/New Zealand
For technique, see what is a flat white. For all three drinks side by side, see flat white vs cappuccino vs cortado.
Cortado vs latte: is a cortado just a small latte?
No: a latte leads with milk, a cortado with espresso.
A cortado shows the espresso in its most transparent form while removing its harshest edges. Built on the same double shot, both have the same caffeine (roughly 120–150mg); the cortado only tastes stronger because the flavor is more concentrated.
Full breakdown: latte vs cortado.
What glass does a cortado come in?
A small clear glass, so you can see the espresso and milk blend.
Traditionally the 4.5 oz Gibraltar; a 4 oz ceramic demitasse also works. Be wary of an 8 oz cup, which usually means extra milk and a diluted drink.
Why is a cortado smoother than straight espresso?
Milk cuts acidity and bitterness without hiding the coffee.
Cortado comes from the Spanish verb cortar, to cut. The warm milk cuts the espresso's acidity and bitterness, but because the ratio is roughly 1:1 the coffee flavour stays clear. It is typically made with a double ristretto or a regular double shot in a small glass.
Milk is steamed with minimal foam, so the texture is silky rather than airy. Because the drink is small, a thin shot still shows through, which is why technique matters.
Modern fixes and current best practice
How to make a better cortado at home.
- Use a scale for a double shot and tune yield with dialing in.
- Steam in a small pitcher and stop at about 60-65 C.
- Pre-warm the glass, often a 4-5 oz Gibraltar-style tumbler.
- Pre-infusion and stable temperature make a shot sweeter, which helps in a short drink.
- Try oat milk if you want a non-dairy version; barista blends texture best.
- Compare with flat white, cappuccino and cortado.
Should you make cortados at home?
You need a steam wand that can texture a small amount of milk.
Quick decision guide
You want small milk drinks and have (or are buying) a machine with a steam wand
The Breville Bambino Plus textures small milk volumes reliably; see more in best espresso machines under $500.
You want a long, milky drink rather than a strong one
Skip the cortado and start with a latte or flat white.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers before you buy.
You need some way to warm and texture a small amount of milk.
Milk frothed another way is usually coarser than the fine microfoam this drink is built on.
Largely, yes.
Gibraltar is the name some US cafés use for a cortado-style drink served in a Gibraltar glass.
Ratios can vary slightly by café.
In Spain the milk is often just warmed or lightly foamed, while specialty cafés elsewhere typically use fine microfoam.
Both are espresso softened with a similar amount of milk.
Yes.
Barista-style oat milk textures well on a steam wand, though it can taste sweeter than dairy.
If your wand struggles with small volumes, see steam wand troubleshooting.
A traditional macchiato is espresso marked with a dash of foam, while a cortado is about half milk.
The cortado is milder; the macchiato is closer to straight espresso.
You can approximate one with strong moka pot coffee and warmed milk, but it will not match a true espresso shot.
Related Guides
Keep reading: more guides on the same topic.
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Read the guideExplained Coffee Education4 min readLatte vs Cappuccino vs Mocha: Key Differences
Coffee drinks explained: how lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites and cortados differ by milk, strength and caffeine, and how to order one.
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