Cortado, a small coffee drink popular in Spain, is something every coffee enthusiast should try. It’s made with equal parts of espresso and steamed milk, so it’s stronger and smaller than a cappuccino, but larger than a macchiato. Many find this to be the perfect size of a coffee drink, and cortado’s popularity is certainly on the rise.
Don’t be surprised if you see a large drink also called cortado—it’s not a mistake, it’s just a double cortado with two shots of espresso and two ounces of steamed milk. Cortado comes from Spain, although most espresso-based drinks have Italian heritage.
To make cortado, you’ll need a milk steamer and some kind of an espresso machine (a French press will do the trick if you don’t have a real machine). If you’re not equipped to make it at home, visit the nearest coffee shop and ask for a cortado. Chances are the barista is going to be surprised, but they will make you a drink likely to become your new favorite.
At the very least, you’ll expand your coffee knowledge and get to brag to your friends about it!
