Cortado – A Beautiful Mess

If you’re looking for a perfectly balanced, smooth coffee experience, you’ll never look for anything but Cortado! This delicious espresso-based drink is born in Spain and has gained popularity around the world due to its simplicity and exquisite taste.

And if you want to find a more classic coffee-based drink recipe, check out our entire drink archives that learn to make everything from London’s mist to Mexican coffee.

Related: Latte, Cappuccino, Affogato, Café Au Lait, or Macchiato.

material

• espresso It was newly brewed.
• milk A dairy cow or milk alternative such as oat milk or almond milk.

If you want to sweeten your cortado, we recommend a simple syrup or honey simple syrup.

history

The word “cortado” comes from the Spanish verb “cortar.” This means “cutting”. The name is derived from the process of “cutting” the acidity of espresso by adding a small amount of milk.

I like to think of Cortado as a mini latte. Cortado is the equivalent of espresso and steamed milk, while lattes have more steamed milk and foam. But I think they taste similar, so if you’ve never imagined a mini latte. 🙂

direction

Start by brewing a shot of espresso. If you have an espresso machine, make sure the equipment is clean and the coffee grounds are fresh and finely ground.

Take the milk and pour it into a pitcher or a small metal container suitable for whipping. Heat milk to about 140°F (60°C). Once heated, whisk the milk Milk foam Or steam cane until you achieve a velvety microform texture.

Gently pour the newly brewed espresso into the cup and fill it up to about 1/3 or 1/2 of the cup. The remaining space is filled with milk. Don’t forget that Cortado is not intended to be a big drink. It’s all about balance and taste.

Finally, carefully pour the foamy milk into a cup and mix with the espresso. Milk should be warm, but not too hot. Microfoam creates a smooth, creamy texture on top of the espresso.

Our Favorite Home Espresso Maker

We have tried many espresso makers over the years, and here are our favorites at different prices and skill levels.

• Cafe Automatic Espresso Machine – My current machine. Because we use the whole beans, using high-quality beans will give you a high-quality espresso. Automatically shoots of espresso (no barista skill required) and contains milk from heated and whipped. We’ve been using this machine every day since we got it 7 months ago and I love it! Available in three colors.
• Stovetop espresso -This is the cheapest way to make espresso at home. It’s more labor intensive and you also need a way to grind your beans to get the best results. But this is a classic way to work well when it works well.
• Breville Barista Touch -We bought this once as a wedding gift for a good friend, but they said they love it. It’s a high-end machine that requires some barista skills to operate, but it’s a great home espresso maker.
• nespresso vertuo -For those who want an espresso maker that uses pods, this is my favorite. You can make espresso or coffee depending on the pod you use.

Cortado is a great option for coffee lovers who prefer a gentle espresso-based drink. Its simplicity brings the true essence of coffee to shine, providing creamy texture and fun flavor profiles. Happy Brewing!