Cortado vs Latte Cortado is made by combining espresso and steamed milk in a 1:1 ratio. The portion size is smaller and less sweet. Latte is made with one-third espresso, two-thirds steamed milk, and a thick layer of milk foam and it has a distinct, frothy texture and a sweeter flavor.
Cortado was invented in Spain, while lattes were invented in Italy.
If you've ever looked at a coffee shop menu and wondered what the difference between a cortado and a latte was, you're in luck.
Read More: Barista Tips That Every Barista Should Know
What is a Cortado?
The coffee cortado was most likely inspired by a drink popular in Spain's Basque country and usually Spanish coffee drinks have little to no foam, which distinguishes them from their Italian coffee counterparts. However, in the 1960s, Cuban Americans were credited with inventing the drink.
"Cortado" comes from the Spanish word meaning "to cut" and while this may appear strange at first, it actually makes a lot of sense because the milk in a cortado "cuts" the espresso, making the coffee smoother.
Cortado coffee is made by combining espresso and steamed milk in equal parts (sometimes lighter on the milk part) but some stores will leave a thin layer of milk foam and others, in a more traditional Spanish style, will leave it out entirely.
The cortado is also known as "Gibraltar coffee" in some places. In 2005, a San Francisco-based café called Blue Bottle Barista coined this term rather arbitrarily and the new name was inspired by the type of glass that cortados are typically served in (Gibraltar glass).
History of Cortado A cortado is a popular drink in Spain, Portugal, and Latin America since the 1960s and the Cortado is derived from the Spanish word "cortar," which means "to cut," and describes how the bitter, highly acidic espresso is diluted or cut with sweet, steamed milk.
Here's how to make a coffee order in Spanish.
How to Brew Cortado A traditional cortado is made by combining espresso and steamed milk in equal parts and a double shot of espresso is usually used. In contrast to a latte, the steamed milk in a cortado lacks froth. Instead, cortado coffee is blended smoothly.
A typical cortado serving size in the United States is 4 ounces.
The caffeine content is approximately 130mg. This amount is equivalent to a 12-ounce latte and provides a nice caffeine kick and unfortunately, because a cortado is much smaller, there is less to enjoy.
Taste & Variations of Cortado
Cortados have a silky, smooth texture. They also taste much stronger of espresso than a latte and as a result, the beverage is supremely balanced, with all of the flavors working well together.
Cortados are typically devoid of added spices or syrups and there are several cortado variations, each with slightly different flavor profiles.
Cortado condensada, a cortado variation made with steamed condensed milk, is popular in Spain and they used condensed milk has a much higher sugar content than regular milk.
The most famous is the cortadito, which originated in Cuba. It's made with sugar, whipped with a single shot of espresso, and topped with sweetened condensed milk and as a result, you get a sweet dessert-like drink with coffee and caramel flavors.
What is a Latte?
Unlike the cortado, the latte was invented in Italy, the birthplace of espresso, and like the cappuccino, is a popular breakfast beverage due to its high dairy content.
The drink we know today was popularized in the United States and the term "latte" is derived from the Italian phrase "caffè e latte" (other variants include "caffeelatte" and "caffellatte"), which simply means "coffee and milk." The shorthand version of "latte" gained popularity over time, particularly in American coffee shops.
This coffee drink is made up of 1/3 espresso and 2/3 milk. The Latte also has a thin (but noticeable) layer of microfoam on top and some larger chains may have enough milk to completely overpower the coffee flavor from the shot of espresso.
A true latte, however, made in your neighborhood coffee shop, should have a certain balance of coffee and milk elements and even if they are not equal parts, they should be complementary.
Many baristas use the latte as a canvas for some truly amazing latte art and talented ones can even create delicate designs and patterns atop the latte by manipulating the microfoam and steamed milk as they pour.
History of Latte The caffe latte, or simply latte, is an espresso-based Italian beverage. In Italian, coffee latte translates to coffee and milk, which are the foundations of a traditional latte.
The latte's origins are unknown, and no one knows for certain who invented it. However, the term "caffe latte" appears for the first time in an 1867 essay by William Dean Howell.
The latte is similar to the French "cafe au lait," which is brewed coffee with hot milk.
How to Brew Latte Lattes are typically made with a double shot of espresso and 8 to 10 ounces of steamed milk on top but the top layer of milk foam is thin and smooth in texture.
Lattes are a tasty treat that can be enjoyed hot or cold and they can also be made with milk substitutes such as almond or oat milk, though the signature milk foam texture isn't as noticeable as it is with whole milk.
A standard-sized latte has approximately 130mg of caffeine and this amount is well below the recommended daily caffeine limit for adults of 400mg.
Taste of Latte
Espresso, steamed milk, and foam combine to make a frothy, creamy beverage with an exquisite mouthfeel because milk makes up the majority of the drink, and the bitter espresso flavor is relatively mild. The resulting texture coats the tongue and mouth for added flavor when the milk is steamed.
Flavored lattes are particularly popular among coffee drinkers. Latte lovers frequently request hazelnut, mocha, vanilla, and pumpkin spice to elevate and sweeten their beverage.
Before syrups were widely used in lattes, common flavorings such as cocoa powder or cinnamon were sprinkled on the milk foam.
