Cortado vs latte are both espresso-based coffee drinks made with milk, but they deliver very different drinking experiences. A cortado is bold, balanced, and coffee-forward, while a latte is smooth, creamy, and milk-dominant. Although they may look similar at first glance, their ratios, textures, serving sizes, and flavor intensities set them apart.
- Latte
A latte is probably the most popular drink after a cappuccino. It features double the milk and a single shot of espresso.
- Cortado
In comparison, Cortado contains an equal amount of milk and espresso.
Most coffee flavors are prepared with milk and espresso, but the difference comes in the amount of ingredients, the use of coffee beans, and the brewing process.
Even a small change in ingredients or brewing methods can greatly affect the taste and aroma. When aiming for the perfect cup of coffee, focus on using the right ingredients and brewing technique.
Also, check another exciting comparison between latte and mocha.
Espresso vs Americano vs Cappuccino vs Latte: Comparison
What is the difference between Cortado and Latte?
If you want a strong drink with milk, your best choice is a cortado. It is comparatively more robust and has a more bitter coffee flavor.
A latte is much smoother and sweeter than other coffee drinks because it has a dominant presence of milk.
Infographic Comparison latte vs cortado, ingredients, taste, and calories
But if you want to know all the differences, a latte adds double volume steamed and foamed milk and one espresso shot, and the Cortado uses half-cup espresso and half-cup steamed milk.
Check the difference between cafe con leche and latte.
I love making both drinks any time of the day; whenever I feel low, it reenergizes me. Also, both drinks are dissimilar in taste and texture. However, I personally like Cortado in the early morning because of its strong taste.
Difference in ingredients
There is a difference in ingredients between the two flavors.
Latte ingredients
- Ratio: About 1 part espresso to 3–4 parts milk
- Espresso: one or two shots of espresso
- Size: Typically 8–16 ounces
- Milk Texture: Steamed milk with a thin layer of microfoam
Cortado ingredients
- Ratio: Approximately 1:1 espresso to milk
- Espresso: one shot of espresso
- Size: Usually 4–6 ounces
Also, what I love most is that I can customize these flavors based on my preference and mood. If I want a stronger coffee, I add two espresso shots instead of one and skip the extra milk.
Whereas if I plan something delicious and more flavorful, I add flavors like chocolate and vanilla sauce to my latte. I even add iced cubes to make a cold latte when I crave something icy.
Difference in Milk and Foam
A latte is a milk and foam-dominant drink compared to a cortado. Milk preparation is one of the biggest differences between these two drinks.
- Cortado Coffee milk is gently steamed, not aerated. The result is warm milk with no noticeable foam.
- Latte milk is steamed and lightly aerated to create microfoam, which adds volume and creaminess. Also, it is made with latte art to differentiate it from other flavors.
Cortado vs Macchiato vs latte: Check the diffrences
Latte vs Cortado coffee: Taste Difference?
- Latte Taste
If anyone favors a milder, sweeter, creamier taste, A latte should be the ultimate preference.
No other drink can compete with the taste and aroma of a latte due to the high volume of steamed and foamed milk.
A latte can be consumed at any time of the day. But if you add other flavors or sugar syrup, it may get sweeter.
- Cortado Taste
In my experience, Cortado coffee has a bold, balanced, espresso-forward profile. And usually, it doesn’t come with any added flavors.
However, if you like to add any flavor, you can add flavors. But it should always be less flavor driven.
If anybody dislikes Cortado coffee’s strong taste, the latte should be your preferred choice.
Pros and Cons comparison table:
| Aspect | Latte | Cortado |
|---|---|---|
| Pros | • Creamy, smooth texture •Customizable with flavors • Milder taste | • Stronger coffee flavor • Lower in calories • Less milk dilution |
| Cons | • Higher in calories • Less intense coffee flavor | • Smaller serving size • Less customizable |
Cortado vs latte: Calories and nutrition
If you ask me, I would say a Cortado is healthier than a Latte since it has fewer calories. It uses less steamed milk and more espresso compared to a latte.
| Drink | Calories (Whole Milk) |
|---|---|
| Cortado (4–5 oz) | 60–80 |
| Latte (12 oz) | 150–200 |
- Cortado
A Cortado drink has 60 calories because it contains 2 ounces of milk and 2 ounces of espresso.
- Latte
In contrast, a Latte has twice the volume of milk and contains around 200 calories in a drink. Its calories may increase with added flavors.
When more steamed and foamed milk is added, it only increases the calories.
If you seek a healthier drink with fewer calories, choose a Cortado. But if you like a creamier, richer drink with flavor and aren’t worried about calories, go for a latte.
You will like Latte for a richer, lighter taste.
Cortado coffee vs latte: Which drinks have more caffeine?
With one or two espresso shots, both Cortado and Latte have a similar level of Caffeine.
Usually, a latte consists of one shot of espresso, almost 63 mg of caffeine, with steamed milk, and added flavor. And Cortado serves with two shots, nearly 126 mg of caffeine. It clearly shows Cortado is a much more potent drink.
A balanced caffeine content should be the first option when you look to brew your favorite cup of coffee. Adding less caffeine makes coffee smoother and slightly sweeter.
High caffeine is not recommended since it may lead to health issues. Espresso contains most of the caffeine. It also depends on the types of coffee beans used.
Cortado and latte have the same level of caffeine if they come with one espresso shot. But if you add two espresso shots to a Cortado, the caffeine content will be doubled.
Also, check the difference between cortado vs cappuccino.
You should go for a Cortado if you like a more robust flavor and a highly caffeinated drink. But if you enjoy a small amount of espresso and steamed or simple milk, you should go for a latte.
Latte vs cortado: What is the serving size?
The serving of any drink depends on the volume of coffee. If a coffee is made with milk or water, it needs a larger glass than a drink that contains only coffee.
- Cortado serving size
Typically, Cortado is served in a small glass, usually an espresso glass. It contains 2 ounces of espresso and 2 ounces of milk. So, cortado has a larger cup than espresso and is smaller than a latte.
This cup size you can get in every kitchen, unlike a latte that is prepared in a large glass.
- Latte serving size
A latte has no specific size to prepare; it can be prepared in an 8 to 12-ounce cup. It depends on how much milk you prefer in a single shot of espresso; more milk means more calories and a less intense drink.
Cortado vs latte: Which drink should you pick and why?
If you are new and want to taste both drinks, go for a Latte for a few drinks. Also, add new flavors and syrup to your coffee because a latte is a milder coffee with milk and other flavors.
You will like its taste, texture, and aroma.
Afterwards, you can drink Cortado, a slightly firm and bitter drink, and it will take time before you start liking its taste.
I love both Latte and Cortado because they have different tastes. At times, I prefer a Latte more because of the extra steamed milk.
At this point, you should know some basic differences between a Latte and a Cortado. You can decide between these two drinks better, but if you want more details, continue reading this blog.
What is a cortado coffee?
Cortado is a Spanish drink. The word cortado comes from a Spanish word, cortar, which means “cut” an equal amount of espresso and steamed milk.
Typically, it doesn’t add any sugar or flavors to this drink. Similarly, Cortado is a robust and rich drink with smooth foamed milk. The Cortado might be heavy for you if you’re new to coffee drinks.
It will take some time to feel the real taste of this drink. Cortado is an easy drink to make and enjoy at any time of the day. So, make sure you use dark roasted beans; it gives a smokey nutty flavor.
Cortado is typically served in a smaller cup than a latte but with a sharper taste. Now, let’s check the pros and cons of Cortado.
How to make a cortado coffee?
Cortado is an easy drink to make and enjoy at any time of the day. So, make sure you use dark roasted beans; it gives a smoky, nutty flavor.
Also, I prefer darkly roasted coffee beans to create the bitter taste of your Cortado. Also, medium-grind beans are fine, but make sure they don’t turn into powder.
One ounce of milk is enough if you prefer two-ounce milk in your Cortado. However, lower-fat milk is perfect for a cortado; in fact, low-fat milk should be suitable for any coffee flavor.
Here are the steps to follow to get your tasty Cortado drink.
Instructions
- The first step is to prepare ground coffee for your espresso. While making espresso, roasted beans should be your preferred option. Follow these steps for espresso.
- First, tamp the coffee beans into a portafilter and compress them. However, only compress them partially, as they may resist water flowing in an espresso machine.
Also, it ensures coffee is under-extracted and produces a strong taste.
- In the Second step, in the espresso machine, put the filter on the coffee grounds to get the water flowing. You will get two espresso shots.
- Meanwhile, put the milk into a stainless jug and steam it. You don’t need to make any foam out of it; boil the milk and put it off before it gets to boiling point.
Now, you can pour steamed milk into the cup of espresso. A cortado coffee is ready. If you like, you can add extra flavor or syrup to it. Your strong Cortado is ready to serve.
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Which coffee beans are best for a Cortado?
While there are basic rules for brewing coffee with specific beans, certain coffee flavors require additional components to achieve the desired taste.
In that case, the Cortado is usually prepared with robusta coffee beans. We should know that robusta coffee beans are bolder and tougher notes compared to Arabica coffee beans.
I suggest getting darker a coffee roast for a cortado. As it will add a more bitter and bolder taste to the coffee.
Because use of milk reduces the intensity of espresso so dark roast robusta beans will be the ideal combination.
Also, espresso is a generally intense coffee. Still, when we make it with lightly roasted coffee beans, it makes a very light-tasting espresso shot, and you will miss the essence of espresso in any coffee flavor.
And cortado also adds steamed milk, which makes it less intense, so strong espresso is essential for a cortado.
What is a Latte?
Latte originated in Italy; it is famous for its smoother, delicious taste. Even though Italy is known for solid coffee flavors, a latte is an excellent, unique addition.
The latte coffee primarily consists of milk and espresso. You can add other flavors to make it tastier and more flavorful.
What makes the latte a unique and most preferred drink for many is due to its latte art.
Latte art
The latte coffee is well-known for its latte art, which features aesthetic designs created using microfoam on top.
Because of the milk texture, lattes are ideal for latte art, something you seldom see on a cortado.
Do you know that you can also brew upside-down latte?
The latte contains more steamed and foamed milk with one espresso shot. Combining one or two ounces of espresso and up to six ounces of steamed milk makes a perfect large cup of Latte.
Also, this drink is made with slight changes like adding more foamed milk and less steamed milk if you want a fluffier drink.
Similarly, this drink can add two espresso shots if you feel that the high volume of milk is diminishing the taste of espresso.
With two espresso shots, you will get a more robust coffee taste. Even one and a half espresso shots will make a strong enough latte.
How to make a latte Coffee?
Like cortado, this drink is also very easy to brew. If you have the required ingredients you can pull off great latte flavor.
But make sure to put everything precisely mentioned in the instructions and you will get the desired results.
Ingredients
- Espresso shot
- Whole milk
Instructions
- First, make an espresso shot(30ml) in an espresso machine. To get a perfect taste, you need an espresso machine with a grinder, but you can make it with coffee makers like Moka Pot or Aeropress.
- Meantime, start steaming the milk(90ml). Again preferable option should be made in the steam wand, but you make it manually.
- In the next step, slowly pour steamed milk into the espresso glass.
- Now you can add milk foam on the top of your drink. You can make latte art on the top, but if you don’t know this technique, add simple foamed milk.
- Also, you can add syrups or flavors to make the latte more flavorful.
A delicious cup of latte is ready to enjoy.
Which coffee beans are best for making a latte?
Arabica coffee beans are usually added to brew a latte coffee. Since it has a milder, sweeter note, it adds a balanced coffee.
However, it can be made with a combination of arabica and robusta coffee beans, it will give an intense latte with a slightly bitter flavor.
Also, the question arises of how much coffee beans are roasted to get an ideal taste. It depends on how strong a coffee you want.
If you want a strong coffee, darkly roasted coffee beans are probably a better option. The dark roasted coffee beans always have a strong flavor with a slightly acidic note.
However, many people prefer medium roasted coffee beans for a latte. It gives slightly less intensity and makes a milder coffee.
S,o if youare considering a completely milder coffee, the medium roast in latte makes a perfect combination.
Personally, I prefer dark roasted coffee beans in a latte because they combine well with the smoothness of milk, resulting in a balanced drink.
However, a better option is to try both types of coffee beans.
Do you know the difference between Frappea and latte?
Iced cortado vs iced latte: what is the difference?
A latte coffee allows for various flavor additions, making it more versatile than a cortado.
The latte adds iced cubes for the summer to make it a cold coffee. The iced latte has the same ingredients as we use for a regular latte.
Also, it doesn’t require steamed milk; only fresh milk will do the job.
However, the iced Latte can also use cooled brewed coffee with a splash of milk.
Also, you can make iced cortado coffee, basically adding iced cubes to cortado. Iced cortado is an excellent alternative for the summer season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cortado is a Spanish drink with untextured milk, whereas a flat white is an Australian drink with microfoam milk.
A macchiato is an Italian coffee made with espresso and a small amount of milk. However, in the Latte, a lot of milk is used. Also, Cortado is made with a similar amount of espresso and milk.
You can, but it’s uncommon. Cortados are meant to highlight espresso.
A latte is usually more beginner-friendly due to its mild taste.
Final Thoughts: Which drink to pick?
Choose a Cortado if:
- You love bold espresso flavor
- You dislike overly milky drinks
- You want a small, strong coffee
Select a Latte if:
- You prefer creamy, smooth coffee
- You enjoy flavored drinks
- You want a larger, slower-sipping beverage
It’s unfair to choose one coffee flavor over another, as both have unique qualities that set them apart.
Both drinks should be consumed without any hesitation. Latte is sweeter and more flavorful, but cortado is a balanced drink.
Also, you can make them more scrumptious by adding flavors of your choice.
None of the flavors is difficult to make; pick the right ingredients, follow the instructions, and make your dream coffee flavor.
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