Cortado Coffee Deserves All Your Love and Appreciation

Only coffee lovers know how difficult it is to find a coffee that is just right. While some like their coffee strong, others might like it sweet. But this Spanish-originated cortado coffee is every barista’s favorite. Unlike other coffees that have espresso and milk, you need to follow a simple ratio to make this—one-to-one, said Kaleena Teoh, director and co-founder of Coffee Project New York.

All About Cortado

Cortado is a drink made with no added sugar since it’s believed that the natural sugar present in the milk is enough to add sweetness to this coffee. If you ever order a cortado at a coffee shop, you will get a drink that contains two ounces of espresso and two ounces of milk. It may be a little smaller than your other coffee drinks, but it’s definitely tasty. For people who like their coffee a little sweeter, they can always opt for the cortadito, a Cuban version of a cortado.

Recipe

Start with a shot of espresso, which is generally two ounces in a coffee shop. Then you take two ounces of steamed milk and pour it on the espresso shot. You can go for non-dairy milk if that’s what you prefer, as long as it can be steamed. Traditionally, this drink is prepared using a coffee machine and served in small vessels. At many coffee shops, you will find the drink being served in a Gibraltar glass. The best part about this drink is that you can taste the flavor of espresso, which is not overpowered by the milk. You can also use a Nespresso or Keurig machine, as long as you don’t change the ratio. She advises warming the milk to ensure it’s between 130 and 150 °F, either on the stove or in the microwave. Another way to get that instant crystallized coffee is to add a little bit of water to make the espresso shot, and then add the steamed milk to it.