A cortado is a small espresso based coffee drink. It is usually made with a double shot of espresso and 2-3 ounces of steamed/textured milk. It slots in between a macchiato (espresso “touched” by a dollop of milk foam) and a cappuccino (a million different definitions, but I go by a double shot and 4oz of steamed milk on the foamier side).
The name originates from “cortar” which is Spanish for “cut” – the small amount of milk cuts the strength and bitterness of the espresso shot. It is also known as a Gibraltar since it is commonly served in a rocks glass.
Where can I find a cafe that serves cortados?
I would say the cortado is usually my go-to drink order at a cafe. However you won’t find a cortado at every cafe like you would a latte or a mocha. I generally find that specialty coffee shops are more likely to have a cortado on their menu. Usually that is how I quickly discern if a cafe is serving specialty coffee – I usually hit up the menu pics in Yelp and see if a cortado is listed – if yes, I generally have found the cafe to be of better quality.