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What is a Cortado – how to make it at home?

A Cortado is a coffee drink that is traditionally made by adding a small amount of steamed milk to an espresso shot.

The name “cortado” comes from the Spanish word “cortar,” which means “to cut.” This refers to the fact that the milk cuts or tempers the strong flavor of the espresso, creating a balance of flavors in the drink. The cortado is typically served in a small, 4-6 ounce glass and is a popular choice among coffee aficionados.

Read on for a Cortado recipe, how to make a Cortado at home, and how to order a Cortado at Starbucks.

Cortado

History of Cortado

The exact origins of the Cortado are uncertain, but it is believed to have originated in Spain or Portugal in the late 19th or early 20th century. The Cortado as we know it today, is a traditional Spanish and Portuguese coffee drink, that was made with a small amount of steamed milk to an espresso shot. It is similar to the Italian Macchiato, which also features a small amount of steamed milk, but the Cortado is generally considered to be stronger and less sweet.

In Spain, Cortado is a common morning coffee and it’s also a traditional drink in many Spanish bars, where it is often served with a small glass of water alongside it. In America, Cortado is not as popular as a Latte or a Cappuccino, but it’s becoming increasingly popular as more people discover the balance and complexity of flavors that it offers.

It is also worth mentioning that, Cortado is a drink that has many variations, in different places like in South America, Central America, and also different regions of Spain and Portugal, the recipe and measurements may vary, but the general idea is the same.

What is a Cortado?

Cortado recipe

A Cortado is a coffee drink that is traditionally made with equal parts espresso and steamed milk. To make a Cortado, you will need:

  • Espresso (1 shot)
  • Steamed milk (1 shot)
  • Optional: sugar or sweetener to taste

How to make a Cortado at home

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make a Cortado at home:

Making-Cortado
  1. Start by brewing an espresso shot using your preferred method (e.g. espresso machine, stovetop pot, or pour-over). You’ll need about 1 ounce of espresso for a traditional cortado.
  2. While the espresso is brewing, heat up about 2 ounces of milk in a small saucepan or using a steam wand of an espresso machine. You want the milk to be hot, but not too hot to touch.
  3. Once the milk is heated, use a milk frother or a whisk to create a small amount of foam on the surface of the milk.
  4. Pour the brewed espresso shot into a 4-6 ounce glass.
  5. Slowly pour the steamed milk into the glass, holding back the foam with a spoon if necessary. The milk should be poured in a circular motion to create a “tiger stripe” effect on the surface of the drink.
  6. Serve the Cortado immediately and enjoy! You can add a small amount of sugar if you prefer a sweeter drink.

Note: You can experiment with different ratios of milk and espresso to find the balance of flavors that you prefer. Also, you can use different types of milk like whole milk, skim milk, almond milk, soy milk, etc. Each type of milk will give a different texture, taste, and foam to your cortado.

You might also like to read: How to brew a perfect cup of espresso at home

How to order a Cortado at Starbucks

At Starbucks, a Cortado is known as a “Gibraltar.” To order a Cortado at Starbucks, you can simply ask the barista for a “Gibraltar.”

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to order a Cortado at Starbucks:

  1. Walk up to the counter and let the barista know you would like to order a Gibraltar.
  2. Specify the size of the drink you would like (e.g. tall, grande, venti).
  3. Tell the barista if you would like to customize the drink with any additional flavors or syrups.
  4. Pay for your order and pick up your cortado when it is ready.

Note that you may also be able to customize your Cortado with different types of milk, such as soy milk, almond milk, or oat milk. You can also ask for a flavored syrup to be added to your drink.

The availability of a Cortado may vary by location and time, as it is not a very common drink in Starbucks, but the baristas should know how to make it.

You might also like to read: What are the popular espresso drinks

Final Thoughts

A Cortado is a traditional Spanish and Portuguese coffee drink made of equal parts espresso and steamed milk. It is similar to a Macchiato but less sweet.

The milk tempers the strong espresso flavor, creating a balance of flavors in the drink. It is served in small glass, traditionally 4-6 oz. “Gibraltar” is the term used to order a Cortado at Starbucks.

It’s becoming increasingly popular among coffee enthusiasts.

FAQ’s

Q1: Cortado vs. Latte

A Cortado and Latte are both coffee drinks that feature espresso and steamed milk, but they are made in different proportions and have distinct differences in taste and texture.

A Cortado is traditionally made with equal parts espresso and steamed milk, whereas a Latte is made with more steamed milk and less espresso. This means that a Cortado is stronger and has a more intense coffee flavor, while a Latte is creamier and has a more prominent milk flavor.

A Cortado is also served in smaller glass typically 4-6 oz, and typically has a very thin layer of foam, if any, on top of the drink. A Latte, on the other hand, is typically served in a larger glass, and features a substantial amount of foam on top, which gives it its signature latte art.

In summary, a Cortado is a coffee drink with a balance of coffee and milk, whereas a Latte is a coffee drink with a more prominent milk flavor and more foam.

Q2: Cortado vs. Cappuccino

A Cortado is traditionally made with equal parts espresso and steamed milk, whereas a cappuccino is made with a third of espresso, a third of steamed milk and a third of foam on top. This means that a Cortado has a more intense coffee flavor and a less creamy texture, while a Cappuccino has a creamier texture and a more prominent milk flavor due to the added foam.

A Cortado is typically served in a smaller glass, typically 4-6 oz, and has a very thin layer of foam, if any, on top of the drink. A Cappuccino, on the other hand, is typically served in a smaller glass as well, but it has a thick layer of foam on top, which gives it its signature Cappuccino look.

In summary, a Cortado is a coffee drink with a balance of coffee and milk, whereas a Cappuccino is a coffee drink with a more prominent milk flavor and more foam.

Q3: Cortado vs. Macchiato

A Cortado is traditionally made with equal parts espresso and steamed milk, whereas a macchiato is made with a shot of espresso, with a small amount of steamed milk added to it and a dollop of foam on top. This means that a Cortado has a more balanced flavor of coffee and milk, while a Macchiato has a stronger espresso flavor and a less prominent milk flavor.

Cortado-vs-Macciato

A Macchiato is typically served in a small glass, and has a dollop of foam on top, which gives it a different texture and look.

In summary, a Cortado is a coffee drink with a balance of coffee and milk, whereas a Macchiato is a coffee drink with a stronger espresso flavor and less milk.

You might also like to read: Best espresso machines for home barista

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Does coffee prevent Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases?

Could it be that coffee is good for you? Perhaps really good for you? Healthy coffee may be a reality!

There is increasing evidence that the consumption of coffee may be beneficial in delaying or preventing Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, and other neurodegenerative diseases.

coffee-prevent-alzheimer

For many years, parents have tried to keep their children from drinking coffee with the threat that drinking coffee would stunt your growth. Not only is there no evidence that threat is true, many studies by well-respected researchers at top universities and other well respected research groups have indicated drinking coffee might have significant health benefits. Studies have shown coffee to be associated with good outcomes with respect to type II diabetes, liver functionality, heart disease, and other health problems.

Most recently, there have been a number of studies that suggest that the consumption of coffee is linked to prevention or delay of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS. And researchers believe they are beginning to understand the mechanism that explains the cause of this strong statistical link.

Scientists have discovered that misfolded proteins, leading to amyloid and tau plaques in the brain, appear to be linked to neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease).

Brain-Plaques

Research suggests that something in coffee enhances the level of substances in our bodies that actively reduces or prevents these misfolded proteins. Epidemiologic studies show a strong association between the consumption of coffee and the delay in or prevention of these devastating diseases.

coffee-in-clear-glass

This would be an important breakthrough on a personal level for many of us as we all have been affected in some way by Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease alone affects over 5.7 million Americans, causing enormous health and financial impacts. Worse, Alzheimer’s is increasing as the population ages.

Studies show that those consuming coffee appear to reduce or delay this misfolding of proteins. Studies to date suggest:

  • It appears unrelated to the level of caffeine (so tea doesn’t have the same effect). This is a surprise, because early studies presumed caffeine was the beneficial compound.
  • It is related to the darkness of the roast of the coffee (the darker the better)
  • Within reasonable ranges, the more coffee you drink the better the results. Some studies suggest 3 or more cups per day.

Research is moving fast in this area, and there are also a number of vaccines and other medications that are moving through testing that may be helpful with Alzheimer’s delay or prevention.

But wouldn’t it be great if we find that enjoying our daily espresso keeps us mentally sharp and productive over an extended life? This may be another indication that coffee makes you live longer.

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What is decaf espresso?

What in the world is decaf espresso? Many would consider those two words used together as an oxymoron, but they’re really not! Decaf espresso, like regular decaf coffee, is made by removing most of the caffeine from the beans before they are ground and used to make coffee.

You might also like to read: What is espresso?

How much caffeine?

Many of us would think of espresso as a unique kind of coffee bean– but it’s really not! A shot of espresso can be made from many kinds of beans. And while espresso tends to have more caffeine per ounce than “regular coffee”, that really has more to do with the brewing process than with the coffee itself.

A single shot of espresso might have between 30 to 100 mg of caffeine. Surprisingly, your morning cup of coffee probably has around 96 mg of caffeine.

Normally your morning cup of coffee is made by slowly dripping water through unpacked ground coffee beans. Conversely, espresso machines use high pressure to pump hot water through a porta filter filled with a “puck” of compressed, friendly ground coffee.

Making a shot of espresso typically results in a coffee drink with concentrated caffeine. However, just like with regular coffee, there are ways to remove or drastically reduce the amount of caffeine and the resultant shot. The goal is to remove the caffeine without removing the taste or other attributes of the espresso.

Caffeine is typically removed from coffee beans with the use of a solvent of some sort–perhaps water, carbon dioxide or other organic solvents. These processes can remove about 97% of the caffeine and have minimal effect on the taste of the coffee drink. Many prefer processes using pure water to remove the caffeine rather than organic solvents.

Does Starbucks sell decaf espresso drinks?

Starbucks and many other coffeehouses sell decaf espresso drinks as well as decaffeinated coffee beans. Starbucks tends to have slightly more residual caffeine than some other beans. Research has shown a shot of decaffeinated espresso at Starbucks contains in the range of 3 to 15.8 mg per shot.

You might also like to read: How to choose the best coffee beans?

You can purchase decaffeinated beans for your espresso at your favorite coffee shop and many upscale markets. Or you can try some of our favorites:

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Conclusion

So back to the fundamental question: should you drink decaf espresso? The answer is “it depends”.

The reasons for choosing caffeinated or decaffeinated espresso are much the same as how you choose caffeinated or decaffeinated drip coffee. Are you trying to wake yourself up? Or are you trying to make sure you can go to sleep in an hour? How does your stomach react to caffeine? The choice is yours.

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Cleaning And Caring For Your Espresso Machine

You’ve shown yourself to be in the top few percent of espresso aficionados by purchasing an espresso machine that can make you the perfect cup of espresso anytime you want it. And you’ve spent your time to learn how to make that perfect drink.

But nothing can ruin that drink faster than a poorly maintained or poorly cleaned espresso machine. We find time spent caring for your machine to be very rewarding in the quality of the drinks produced.

Clean your machine regularly

Fortunately, newer espresso machines require less maintenance and have simplified cleaning compared to older machines. Also, your machine almost certainly has a reminder mechanism to tell you when maintenance procedures are required.

Removing the oily residue

Although it may not seem like it, coffee beans have quite a bit of oil in them. While these oils are critical to the taste and body of the coffee you are drinking, those same oils have a propensity for coating the workings of your machine and attracting other impurities. So, it is important to regularly clean the parts of your coffee maker that come in contact with the coffee beans or grounds.

Make sure to consult your owner’s manual for the best method of cleaning, including identification of parts like the brew head that can be removed for easy cleaning.

Cleaning the milk system

Cleaning your milk system of your espresso machine is an obvious no-brainer. You don’t want dry, stale milk to contaminate tomorrow’s drinks. Espresso machines typically have a way to purge the belt system easily with hot water from the espresso machine.

In addition to perjuring the milk system, there are several products for more aggressively cleaning the milk system. We generally use Rinza.

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Cleaning your grinder

First, try to avoid overly oily beans. As previously mentioned, the oil will go to cup your whole machine and most especially the grinder. Make sure you follow the grinder instructions for your machine and consider using a product like Supergrindz periodically to keep your grinder functioning perfectly.

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Descaling

All water contains some dissolved minerals. Over time, those minerals can deposit the scale on the water passages of your machine. One way to minimize scaling is to use distilled water for your drinks, although that can be more expensive and a bit of a hassle. Some filters will also work to reduce the minerals in your water. However, you should expect that some descaling will be required.

Newer machines will have an indicator to show you when descaling is needed. Since the scale is fundamentally limestone, it can actually be removed with vinegar–but it becomes difficult to remove the remaining vinegar odor and after-taste.

Again, read your owner’s manual. There are variety of products, often in the form of tablets, that you can run through your system to remove scale without leaving an aftertaste. For example, we use Cino Cleano tablets to descale our espresso machines.

View Product on Amazon.com

A clean machine will produce superb espresso; maintenance doesn’t take much time, but it makes your drink much better!

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