cortado coffee

What Is Cortado Coffee? [Ultimate 2022 Guide For Beginners]

Today, there’s a “flood” of various new types of coffee and coffee recipes. In this abundance of coffee types, it might be possible you have come across the term Cortado coffee. Suppose you have just heard of Cortado coffee and are wondering what it is. In that case, the following chapter summarizes the most important and general information before moving on to a more detailed investigation of Cortado coffee. In this article, you will learn about Cortado coffee’s meaning, origins, features, ways of preparation, health benefits, pros and cons, disambiguation, and more. But, let’s start from the basics.

What Is Cortado Coffee?

Cortado coffee is a type of coffee that originates from Spain. It’s traditionally made from milk and espresso in a 1:1 ratio. Cortado, or “cut” in Spanish, refers to the milk cutting through the intensity of the espresso, toning down its acidity while retaining the coffee’s flavor.

It’s served with a little bit of or without froth, depending on the particular taste. The milk is steamed until a very light foam is created. Then the milk is added to the espresso. Coffee shops serve Cortado in a small glass with a metal wire handle. Cortado’s appearance and ingredients are similar to a few other types of coffee. Still, we’ll see why it’s a very unique, utterly individual type of coffee throughout the text and especially under the subheading “Disambiguation.” 

What Is Cortado Coffee? [Ultimate 2022 Guide For Beginners]

If you’re looking for a coffee with more milk than a Macchiato and more punch than a Flat White, Cortado is the one.

Not to reveal too much and overwhelm you with information, we’ll take you “sip by sip” through all things related to Cortado. We believe that the next logical step is to go back and see where it originated and why it got the unusual name it has, which, by the way, brought about much controversy.

Where Did Cortado Coffee Originate?

There is much uncertainty about the very beginnings of Cortado drinking, experts believe, has taken place in Spain. After its creation in Spain’s Basque country, the drink began to spread in popularity throughout the Galicia region of northern Portugal and even Cuba.

The story of Cortado drinking becomes more complex when we face the fact that Cortado’s variation, Gibraltar, got its popularity when it came to San Francisco, California. 

The San Francisco roasters – Blue Bottle Coffee Company, Ritual Coffee Roasters, and others – started the Cortado trend by serving the drink in Libbey Glass Company glassware Gibraltar. There’s a two-shot Cortado variation served in a four-and-a-half-ounce Libbey Gibraltar glass tumbler and features two shots of espresso and two shots of steamed milk. For this reason, many third-wave coffee shops find Cortado synonymous with this glass.

Although it is similar to many other beverages, Cortado is a unique drink we touched upon in this chapter and will see even more clearly in the next. To clear up the confusion regarding the names, type, preparation method, and origins of Cortado coffee, we have investigated what Cortado coffee isn’t and further explained what it is.

The Disambiguation

We’ll start this chapter with the most common cause of confusing Cortado coffee with many other types of coffee. As we said, it is confused frequently with varieties of coffee it has nothing or almost nothing to do with. It is confused with Macchiatto, Flat White, Latte and other kinds occasionally.

The tricky thing, which is key to understanding both the origin and the definition of Cortado coffee, might seem trivial or go unnoticed and make confusion about what Cortado is in speech. Still, in writing, there is a clear difference. When spelled with capital C, Cortado is a type of coffee on its own that has particular features. When spelled with lowercase c, cortado means just about any coffee “cut” with milk.

Having understood the intricacies of how Cortado coffee became what it is, let’s define it more precisely by pointing out the differences from the types of coffee it is most commonly confused with.

What Is The Difference Between Cortado And Latte?

Cortado is often called a mini Latte because of the similarities in how they look and are served. However, the similarities end there. The most noticeable difference between Cortado and Latte is the size of the two coffees. A Cortado is 3-4 ounces, with 2 ounces of espresso and 1-2 ounces of steamed milk, topped with little to no foam. On the other hand, Lattes tend to have 2 ounces of espresso topped by 6-8 ounces of steamed milk.

Read Also: To Make The Best Whipped Coffee, There is No Need For Instant Coffee

What Is Cortado Coffee? [Ultimate 2022 Guide For Beginners]

What Is The Difference Between Cortado And Flat White?

Although the difference is very subtle, it’s all about the consistency of the milk that you use. Cortado and Flat White have the same amount of espresso, but the milk in a Cortado is not textured. Essentially, a Cortado is smooth, while a Flat White is more velvety and thicker. With roughly a 1:1 ratio of espresso to milk in the Cortado, the milk reduces the acidity and presents a sweeter taste.

What Is The Difference Between Cortado And Macchiato?

Both Macchiatos and Cortados are small drinks made by combining espresso with milk. However, the milk is used in entirely different ways, making Macchiato and Cortado coffee worlds apart. A Macchiato is a shot of espresso with foamed milk floating on top, whereas a Cortado is a double shot of espresso “cut” with an equal amount of steamed milk.

How Does Cortado Coffee Taste?

Soft and strong at the same time, Cortado is a perfect balance of strong espresso notes and a smooth, silky taste of milk that reduces acidity.

The milk plays a vital role in Cortado’s deliciousness. It’s steamed, not just heated, and permeates through espresso in a magically seductive way. The steamed milk in a Cortado does a great job of making the coffee a lot less bitter and less acidic. It is easy to drink even for people who usually don’t like super-strong coffees. The milk gets caramelized, and the strong espresso’s notes are changed in a completely innovative manner, providing a sweet, soothing-tasting drink.

There is no froth or bubbles; only a tiny layer forms, which you can take off during preparation. The milk is steamed and not frothed, making for a more significant concentration of milk than is the case with coffees that contain frothed milk.

It looks perfect, and it tastes perfect – how do we make it?

How To Make Cortado Coffee?

To prepare the beautiful Cortado at home, you will need 2 oz. espresso, 1-2 oz. milk. Also, it would be good to have a stainless steel pitcher and a steam wand.

Read Also: Use This Technique If You Don’t Have a Coffee Maker

Step 1: Pour the milk into a stainless steel pitcher. Place the pitcher under the steam wand, with the wand touching the bottom of the pitcher. Turn the steam wand on, and move it so that it is just below the surface of the milk. Heat until you steam it, but don’t let it become foamy. Tip – Try 2% milk in your Cortado. It is easier to steam than whole milk but will give a richer flavor than skim milk.

How To Properly Use A Steam Wand

Place the steam wand just below the surface of the milk and turn the steam on fully. Stretch the milk: Keep the wand just below the surface and move to increase the volume of milk. You will need to slowly move the jug down as the milk takes in more air.

What Is Cortado Coffee? [Ultimate 2022 Guide For Beginners]

Step 2: Pour warm, prepared espresso into the glass.

Step 3: Add 1 to 2 ounces of steamed milk to the espresso. Use more milk for a creamier, less bitter flavor. Tip – Top the Cortado with a small amount of milk foam, if desired.

Step 4: Serve your small drink immediately.

You can adjust your Cortado to suit your taste. Whether you like it milky or with a stronger coffee flavor, change up the ratios. Use a 1:1 ratio if you’re happy to taste the espresso more, or double up on the milk to weaken it.

Relax, and enjoy the delicious, rich flavor of your much-talked-about Cortado in the comfort of your home. What’s more – get more healthy and prevent health issues.

The Health Benefits Of Drinking Cortado Coffee

Since Cortado is made of espresso, it contains pretty high levels of caffeine, and this is good news! Not only will you enjoy one of the most desired coffees out there, but you’ll be happier. How?

A study performed in 2020 reported a 13% lower risk of depression in caffeine consumers. Because of its high level of caffeine (if you drink one to two Cortados a day), you may be preventing depression. Because caffeine acts as a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant, people usually take it to feel more alert and energetic. Caffeine can improve mood and help people feel more productive. Scientists believe it works by blocking the neurotransmitter adenosine’s receptors, increasing excitability in the brain.

Caffeine can block the brain-signaling molecule adenosine. This blocking causes a relative increase in other signaling molecules, such as dopamine and norepinephrine. Experts think that this change in brain messaging benefits your mood and brain function.

The caffeine dosage in Cortado is perfect for burning fat and not risking getting anxious or becoming moody. The truth is – caffeine is part of commercial fat-burning supplements. Why? It’s one of the rare natural substances that aids in fat burning. 

Having all this in mind, make sure not to exaggerate with Cortado intake despite its deliciousness. If you drink too much, it can cause anxiety, rapid heartbeat, and sweating.

“There’s never too much of a good thing!” Despite this proverb, try to drink Cortado in moderate amounts.

What’s The Best Brand Of Coffee To Use When Making Cortado Coffee?

If you are wondering where to get the best coffee beans, the answer is 205 degrees is an expert for excellent, organic micro-roasted, fresh coffee. We offer micro-roasted premium organic beans that are roasted fresh and shipped out fast, so you can brew a perfect batch of micro-roasted coffee in the comfort of your home and enjoy its full taste.

The perfect coffee cup is all about premium quality beans, and although sometimes they may be challenging to find and you may face a lack of freshly roasted coffee for home brewing, don’t worry! We roast and ship organic gourmet coffee to your door, so you don’t have to spend time searching for freshly roasted coffee, which is so difficult to find nowadays.

If you want to experience the very best taste of coffee and improve the quality of your coffee-drinking experience, we recommend getting Paradise Blend (Donut Shop, Medium Roast) – 12oz!!!

Our coffee is micro-roasted in small batches to make the rich flavor unmatched by roasting in large quantities. When you order a bag of 205 coffee, we can assure you that we bag our beans within a couple of hours after we roasted the beans in most cases. What’s more, you don’t have to pay high fresh roasted coffee prices at cafes because our coffee is entirely affordable and pays off significantly in the long run.

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