A cortado is a Spanish espresso drink made with equal parts espresso and warm steamed milk — typically 2oz espresso + 2oz milk in a small 4-5oz glass. It has no foam layer. The milk 'cuts' (cortado = 'cut' in Spanish) the intensity of the espresso without diluting it the way a latte does.

What's the difference between a cortado and a latte?

A cortado is 1:1 espresso to milk (about 4oz total). A latte is 1:3 to 1:4 espresso to milk (10–12oz total). A cortado has much stronger espresso flavor — you can clearly taste the coffee. A latte is much milkier and more diluted. A cortado has minimal foam; a latte has a foam layer.

Cortado Recipe: Espresso + Steamed Milk

Name: Cortado
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 3 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 1 serving (4–5 oz)
Ingredients: 18–20g espresso coffee (medium-dark roast); 60ml (2oz) steamed milk or oat milk

5 min

Total Time

1 drink (4–5oz)

Yield

2oz (double)

Espresso

2oz (1:1 ratio)

Milk

What Is a Cortado?

Cortado comes from the Spanish word cortar — “to cut.” The milk cuts through the intensity of the espresso without diluting it. A cortado is equal parts espresso and warm milk in a small glass, typically 4–5 oz total. No foam layer, no latte art required. Just espresso and milk in balance.

It's the drink for people who want to taste the espresso — not have it buried in milk — but find straight shots too intense.

Ingredients

•18–20g medium-dark roast coffee (espresso grind)
•60ml (2oz) whole milk or full-fat oat milk
•Small glass (4–5oz Gibraltar or rocks glass)

Instructions

Pull a double espresso

Grind 18–20g to fine espresso grind. Extract a double shot targeting ~36–40g output in 25–30 seconds (1:2 ratio). Aim for a balanced, sweet shot — not under-extracted (sour/weak) or over-extracted (bitter/dry).

Steam the milk minimally

Steam 80–100ml of whole milk to about 60°C (140°F). For a cortado, you want microfoam — velvety, warm milk with almost no foam. Introduce just a small amount of air at the start, then submerge the steam wand and finish steaming. No foam layer means don't over-aerate.

Combine and serve immediately

Pour the double espresso into a small glass first. Then pour the steamed milk in a steady stream directly over the espresso. The final ratio should be roughly equal — 2oz espresso, 2oz milk. Serve immediately without adding foam on top.

Cortado vs Similar Drinks

Drink	Size	Ratio	Foam
Cortado	4–5 oz	1:1 espresso:milk	None
Macchiato	2–3 oz	Double espresso + splash of milk	Small dollop
Flat White	5–6 oz	1:2 espresso:milk	Microfoam layer
Cappuccino	6 oz	1:1:1 espresso:milk:foam	Equal foam layer
Latte	10–12 oz	1:3–4 espresso:milk	Light foam on top

No Espresso Machine? Use These Alternatives

AeroPress concentrate

Use 20g coffee + 60ml water at 205°F, steep 1.5 minutes, press slowly. This is your espresso. Steam milk with a handheld frother or heated in a jar, shaken vigorously.

Moka pot

A moka pot produces 1.5-bar brew that's more concentrated than drip but not true espresso. Use fine-medium grind. The result is a stronger, less complex cortado — but still good.

More Recipes

Espresso Beans from Roast

Colombian and Brazilian medium-dark — fresh-roasted with roast date on every bag. The cortado rewards a quality, well-extracted shot.

Shop Coffee