What Is a Cortado? Types, Calories, and How to Make It
Updated - Team Colipse
A cortado is a 4 oz hot coffee drink made with equal parts espresso and steamed milk. The name "Cortado" means "cut" in Spanish. The term describes espresso that is cut with a small amount of steamed milk. Different types of cortado coffee refers to flavored or modified variations like Brown Sugar Cortado, Pecan Cortado, or Iced Cortado.
The main difference between a cortado and a latte is milk volume and texture. A 4 oz cortado contains 126 mg of caffeine and 60–80 calories, depending on milk type and preparation. A cortado tastes like a smooth, creamy espresso with balanced sweetness and low bitterness. To make cortado coffee, use fresh roasted specialty coffee to achieve vibrant acidity, rich aroma, and balanced sweetness.
The best coffee beans for cortado are medium to medium-dark roast beans with balanced acidity and chocolate or nutty notes. Cortado is not the only milk-based espresso drink. Similar drinks include flat white, macchiato, cappuccino, piccolo, cortadito, and latte.
What is a Cortado?
A cortado is an espresso-based coffee drink made with a 1:1 ratio of espresso to steamed milk. A traditional Spanish cortado uses 60 ml of double-shot espresso and 60 ml of untextured steamed milk. The drink totals 4 oz (120 ml) in volume. The cortado coffee comes in a 4.5-ounce (135 ml) Libby Gibraltar glass. This small size preserves the bold espresso flavor. The drink is traditionally served hot at around 130–150°F (54–65°C).
A cortado uses 14–18 g of coffee, extracted under 9-bar pressure for flavor balance. Machines heat water to 90–96°C (194–205°F), and brew for 25–30 seconds to yield a stable shot. The milk in a cortado has a light texture and no foam. Cortado combines equal parts espresso and warm milk to lower acidity and preserve strength. The milk softens bitterness, adds body, and cuts sharpness. Most cortados use whole milk, but baristas may adjust based on customer preference.
Cortado has a light to medium brown color with a slight caramel tone. It looks similar to a Gibraltar coffee but differs from a flat white, which has more milk and microfoam. The surface of an espresso cortado shows a thin layer of steamed milk with occasional simple latte art, but not the dense foam found in lattes. Unlike latte, a cortado uses less milk and has no foam.
A café cortado, cortado espresso, and cortado de leche refer to the same Spanish coffee drink. A Cuban cortado, or cortadito, differs slightly. The drink uses sweetened condensed milk or sugar-sweetened foam instead of regular milk to create a richer, sweeter taste. Cuba, Portugal, Italy, and France each have similar drinks, but the cortado is not native to those countries.
What Does Cortado Mean?
The name "Cortado" means "cut" in Spanish. The term describes espresso that is cut with a small amount of steamed milk. Linguistically, "Cortado" comes from the Spanish verb "cortar," which means "to cut." The name "cortado" presumes that espresso is the coffee base being "cut." In English or Portuguese, cortado keeps the same meaning and preparation. In Spanish slang, "cortado" can also describe someone feeling shy or awkward.
Where Does Cortado Come From?
The cortado originated in Spain’s Basque region as a modest working-class drink during the early 20th century. The specific inventor of the cortado is unknown. Spanish baristas began serving cortados in the early 1900s by cutting espresso with a small amount of warm milk. Cortados remain popular in Spain, especially in northern regions like Bilbao. Café cortado is one of Spain’s common milk-with-espresso variants, according to a 2019 study by Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (CIS).
What are the Different Types of Cortado Coffee?
The eight different types of cortado coffee are listed below.
- Brown Sugar Cortado
- Pecan Cortado
- Iced Cortado
- Cuban Cortado
- Oatmilk Cortado
- Leche y Leche
- Matcha Cortado
- Caramel Cortado
1. Brown Sugar Cortado
A brown sugar cortado is a coffee beverage that combines espresso, steamed milk, brown sugar syrup, and cinnamon. Starbucks makes its brown sugar cortado using ristretto espresso, oat milk, brown sugar syrup, and cinnamon. This drink has about 130 calories and 230 mg of caffeine per serving.
2. Pecan Cortado
A pecan cortado is an espresso-based drink made with equal parts espresso and steamed milk. The drink is sweetened with pecan syrup to create a warm nutty flavor. A pecan cortado is gluten-free. The drink provides about 120 calories per serving and roughly 150 mg of caffeine. To make pecan cortado, combine espresso, pecan syrup, and steamed milk. Garnish with crushed pecans.
3. Iced Cortado
An iced cortado is a cold coffee drink made with equal parts espresso and milk. An iced cortado is served over ice for a refreshing taste. The drink is also called a cold cortado or iced cortado, depending on the region. An iced cortado tastes creamy and velvety. It has a note of sweetness that blends with the strong espresso flavor. An iced cortado contains about 110 calories, depending on milk type and added sweeteners.
4. Cuban Cortado
A Cuban cortado is a small and strong coffee drink made with espresso and steamed milk. The Cuban cortado is often called cortadito in Cuba which means “small cut coffee.”. The cortadito is a type of Cuban coffee, not a dessert. It has sweet and creamy taste. A Cuban cortado is typically about 3-4 ounces, and it tastes rich, sweet, and creamy with a full body.
5. Oatmilk Cortado
An oat milk cortado is a coffee drink made with equal parts espresso and steamed oat milk, typically 2 ounces each. Variations include flavor infusions like vanilla, hazelnut, and seasonal syrups. The drink has a bold, smooth flavor with mild sweetness from the oat milk. A pecan oat milk cortado adds pecan syrup for a nutty, buttery note. The main difference between an oat milk cortado and an oat milk latte is the milk ratio; lattes use 6–8 ounces of milk, making them milkier and less intense. A standard 8 oz oat milk cortado contains about 60–80 calories, depending on the brand of oat milk used.
6. Leche y Leche
Leche y leche is a traditional Spanish-style cortado coffee drink variation. The beverage is especially popular in the Canary Islands. The drink includes about 30 ml of espresso, 30 ml of condensed milk, and 60 ml of steamed milk. The mixture produces a rich and creamy texture. The word leche means milk in Spanish. A cortado leche y leche is pronounced kor-TAH-doh LEH-chee ee LEH-chee.
7. Matcha Cortado
A matcha cortado is a 4 oz drink made with 2 oz matcha and 2 oz steamed milk. The drink uses ceremonial-grade matcha powder for a smoother and less bitter flavor. To make one, sift 1 to 2 grams of matcha into a bowl and whisk it with 2 oz of hot water at 175°F. Steam 2 oz of whole milk to 140°F and pour it over the matcha. Use a bamboo whisk or milk frother to blend until smooth. Serve in a 4 oz glass without added sugar or syrups.
8. Caramel Cortado
A caramel cortado blends 2 ounces of espresso with 2 ounces of steamed milk and finishes with a caramel syrup topping. A skimmed caramel cortado uses non-fat milk to reduce fat while maintaining flavor. A caramel cortado contains 10–15 grams of sugar from caramel syrup, making it moderately sweet. A standard caramel cortado contains 80–110 calories depending on milk and syrup. A skimmed version lowers it to 60–80 per serving.
What is the Difference between Cortado and Latte?
The main difference between a cortado and a latte is milk volume and texture. A cortado contains 2 oz espresso and 2 oz steamed milk. A latte uses 1 oz espresso and 6–10 oz steamed milk. A cortado is served in a 4 oz glass. A latte is served in a 10–12 oz cup or larger.
A cortado has a stronger coffee flavor due to less milk. A latte contains more foam and delivers a creamier, milkier texture and taste. A cortado suits drinkers who enjoy a more espresso-forward profile. A cortado contains 126 mg of caffeine from two espresso shots, while latte contains 64 mg with a single shot or similar caffeine to cortado with a double shot. A cortado contains about 50–70 calories. A latte contains about 120–200 calories.
Is Cortado Strong?
Yes, cortado is strong in coffee flavor due to more espresso and less milk when compared to other milk-heavy drinks like lattes and flat whites. A cortado ranks between espresso-based drinks by strength and milk content. A cortado is stronger than a cappuccino due to less foam and lower volume. A cortado is weaker than an espresso because it includes milk. A cortado is slightly weaker than a macchiato but stronger than a piccolo.
How Much Caffeine is in a Cortado?
A 4 oz (120 ml) cortado contains about 126 mg of caffeine. A cortado provides a caffeine range of 125–150 mg according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The caffeine in cortado coffee comes from espresso only. The actual caffeine amount depends on the bean, roast, and place of purchase. For example, a Starbucks Cortado contains approximately 230 mg of caffeine in an 8 fl oz serving. This is due to the three ristretto shots of Starbucks Blonde Espresso used in the recipe, which has a higher caffeine content than regular espresso.
What Does a Cortado Coffee Taste Like?
A cortado tastes like a balanced mix of rich espresso and smooth milk. A cortado is denser than a latte, slightly sweet, and naturally creamy. The coffee is richer than a cappuccino but softer than a straight espresso. A cortado is not inherently bitter. The drink has a silky, medium-weight mouthfeel with a balance of milk creaminess and espresso density. A cortado’s aftertaste is clean and mild.
Flavor notes shift based on coffee origin, roast level, and milk type in a cortado. South American beans produce chocolate or caramel notes. African beans highlight citrus or berry notes. Cortado made with dark roast coffee tastes bold, bitter, and smoky, with less acidity. Medium roast cortado tastes smoother, with balanced acidity, caramel sweetness, and more origin clarity.
How Many Calories are in a Cortado Coffee?
A cortado typically contains 60–80 calories, depending on milk type and preparation. A Starbucks cortado with almond milk has about 20 calories. A Starbucks cortado contains 90 calories, 6g of sugar, and 4.5g of fat when made with whole milk.
Oat-milk cortados contain 60–90 calories per standard serving. Starbucks reports 67–84 calories. Some chains report up to 104 calories for larger or sweetened versions.
Skim-milk cortados contain fewer calories, averaging 40–50 per serving. Costa and Starbucks report 42–45 calories per cortado. Skim milk's low fat content lowers the drink’s energy density.
How to Make a Cortado?
To make cortado coffee, use fresh roasted specialty coffee because it delivers vibrant acidity, rich aroma, and balanced sweetness that can cut through milk. Specialty beans maintain more volatile compounds that create a flavorful espresso base, essential for a small milk drink like a cortado. The following six steps shows how to make a cortado coffee at home.
- Grind approximately 18 grams of espresso beans to a fine consistency.
- Brew a double shot of espresso using an espresso machine.
- Steam about 2 ounces of milk until hot and lightly microfoamed with minimal foam.
- Pour the double espresso shot into a small 6 to 7-ounce glass.
- Add the steamed milk to the espresso in a 1:1 ratio, or adjust between ⅓ espresso and ⅔ milk as preferred.
- Serve immediately and enjoy the balanced blend of rich espresso and creamy milk.
What Are the Best Coffee Beans for Cortado?
The best coffee beans for cortado are medium to medium dark-roast beans with balanced acidity and chocolate or nutty notes. Use Arabica beans to create better cortados with smoother, sweeter flavor. Robusta beans create more bitterness and a harsher taste. Single origin beans enhance flavor clarity, especially Colombian, Guatemalan, or Brazilian, but don’t always outperform blends. Espresso blends suit cortados because roasters design them to pair well with milk.
What is the Best Place to Buy Coffee Beans for Cortado?
Colipse Coffee is the best place to buy coffee beans for cortado. At Colipse Coffee, we offer medium dark roast beans ideal for making cortados. Our Espresso Blend and Bali Blue Moon provide bold, smooth flavor with low acidity, perfect for milk-based drinks. Choose whole bean or ground options, roasted to order and shipped free anywhere in the U.S. We offer coffee beans for cortado starting at $20.99 per 12 oz bag.
How to Order a Cortado?
To order cortado, follow the six steps below.
- Ask for a cortado, which is equal parts espresso and steamed milk (usually a 1:1 ratio).
- Specify the size if needed—most cortados are served in 4 oz to 6 oz cups.
- Choose the type of milk (whole, oat, almond, etc.) if you have a preference.
- Mention any sweetness or flavor additions, though cortados are typically served plain.
- Confirm if you want it for here or to go.
- Wait for your barista to serve it in a small glass or ceramic cup.
What Other Coffee Drinks are Similar to a Cortado?
Drinks similar to a cortado include flat white, macchiato, piccolo, cappuccino, and cortadito. These espresso-based drinks differ in milk texture, volume, and ratio. A cortado uses equal parts espresso and steamed milk. Flat whites have more microfoam, cappuccinos add frothy milk, and macchiatos use just a dash of milk.
What is the Difference between Cortado and Flat White?
The main difference between cortado and flat white is the milk-to-espresso ratio. A cortado uses equal parts espresso and steamed milk with little to no foam, resulting in a stronger coffee flavor. A flat white uses more milk, has a thin microfoam layer, and tastes creamier and smoother.
What is the Difference between Cortado and Cappuccino?
The main difference between a cortado and a cappuccino is milk texture and volume. A cortado has equal parts espresso and steamed milk, with little or no foam. A cappuccino coffee has more milk, thick foam, and a higher milk-to-coffee ratio. Cappuccinos are also usually larger.
What is the Difference between Cortado and Affogato?
The primary difference between a cortado and an affogato is that a cortado combines equal parts espresso and steamed milk, creating a balanced, smooth drink, while an affogato is a dessert made by pouring hot espresso over a scoop of vanilla ice cream, creating a contrast of hot and cold textures.