What is a Cortado?

The cortado… you’ve probably heard many a barista nerd out over this little drink, but what is it exactly?  And why do those baristas love it so much?  If you’ve been afraid to ask what a cortado is for fear of being laughed out of a specialty coffee shop, we’re here to help.  

A cortado is basically a teeny tiny latte. It is a four oz drink that should be made up of equal parts espresso and steamed milk.  So it’s two ounces of espresso and two ounces of steamed milk.  The milk should have beautiful micro foam, not too much foam!  And it should be steamed to a not-too-hot drinking temperature, somewhere around 130 degrees Fahrenheit.  The final drink is smooth and creamy and strong. 

Why is it served cooler than a latte you ask?  This begs the story of the cortado’s origin.  Legend has it that the cortado— also known as a Gibraltar on the west coast due to the type of glass it’s served in— was invented by a barista on shift.  The story goes that a barista was hustling at a busy cafe during a rush and really wanted to make themselves a drink.  They knew there was no time to drink a whole latte or another specialty beverage like a pour over.  Enter the Gibraltar glass.  The legendary barista quickly made a very short latte in a Gibraltar glass and tossed it back.  It quickly caught on.

The cortado gained worldwide fame, and any specialty coffee shop worth its salt now offers one.  

Why do we love the cortado at BonLife?  It’s a great way to taste an espresso!  We love a straight shot of espresso as much as the next coffee nerd, but sometimes you want a little milk in your coffee.  We love that the cortado is the perfect compromise in these situations. You can still taste the espresso very clearly through the small amount of milk, and the milk enhances the taste of the coffee.  

The name cortado is derived from the Spanish verb cortar which means to cut.  It’s basically a shot of espresso cut with milk.  It’s all in the name… which begs the alternate origin story of the cortado:  the story that it’s just a popular traditional coffee drink in Spain that coffee nerds discovered in the early years of the specialty coffee industry and carried off to their respective cafes.   

Whichever origin story is true, we may never know!  But one thing is for sure, we love the drink.  Our direct-trade coffees are perfect for crafting your own cortado at home.  You can shop them here.