Are you looking for a cold but balanced coffee flavor? Many flavors are available around, but you need to check the best taste. One of the very best is iced cortado. It has a dominant espresso flavor, steamed milk, and iced cubes, making a fine, cold, and robust combination.
Iced beverages highly consumed in the summer season. But finding the right cold drink is not easy. You will come across a few great and a few mediocre iced coffees and what you need to taste all and end up getting your favorite flavor.
One great coffee taste by far is the iced cortado, a combination of espresso, steamed milk, and iced cubes. This is a popular and highly consumed drink throughout the year without being restricted to summer.
Also, check how to make caffe misto at home.
If you like cold beverages and don’t want to taste all flavors, I will recommend iced Cortado is the best with all its ingredients.
In this article, I will discuss the iced Cortado recipe and how it differs from other iced drinks. Also, I will describe in detail its caffeine and calorie content.
Let’s dive into more details.
What is an iced Cortado?
What makes a cortado unique is that it has an equal volume of steamed milk and espresso shots. The balanced ingredients make a balanced taste.
Unlike other flavors like latte or Macchiato, you will get imbalanced ingredients, and one flavor dominates the taste. For instance, a latte has more milk and less espresso, and the dominant taste in a latte is milk.
Similarly, Macchiato has less milk content and more espresso-based drinks. So, I prefer a balanced coffee taste where the milk and espresso have equal parts in getting the right combination.
We should remember that Cortado is an espresso drink with equal amounts of milk. An iced Cortado is prepared with two espresso shots with two ounces of milk and added with ice cubes. However, you can add iced cubes according to your choice.
Also, you can make it with milk or other non-dairy products, but it needs two espresso shots to make it bitter and pungent. When you add ice cubes, it will become a cold drink.
Another good point about this drink is that it is ideal for those who don’t want extra calories. Because iced Cortado has fewer calories, it only adds calories from milk.
Can we add Flavors to Iced Cortado?
An iced cortado is a good drink to add flavors. Anyone who wants a flavorful iced coffee can add any flavor of his choice. You can add sweetener, whipped cream, vanilla, chocolate, or flavors to your Cortado.
Another good aspect of picking iced cortado is that it can be flavored and tasted according to your preference. It becomes rich, creamy, and delicious with added flavors. But it will increase the calories in your drink.
How to make iced Cortado at home?
It isn’t challenging to make this cold drink at home. I will give simple steps to make this amazing drink. Also, this drink doesn’t require many ingredients to make.
If you have an espresso machine, that will be perfect, but you can also make it with a Moka pot or any other coffee maker.
Ingredients
You need the following ingredients.
- Two espresso shots
- Ice cubes
- 60 ml Skimmed Milk or whole Milk
- Added flavors (optional)
Making this drink will take only around 5 minutes to make this delicious beverage at home.
What type of milk to use in cortado?
You can use a different type of milk for an iced cortado. You may use whole Milk or skimmed Milk. Usually, for hot Cortado, whole milk is the preferred option.
However, you should go with skimmed milk if you don’t want heavy dairy.
Which flavor is best to add to iced cortado?
If you want to add flavors to iced cortado, there are many options around that can add to it. Few of the known options are caramel, hazelnut, or vanilla syrups for your iced Cortado.
Also, these favors add some flavors, but it also reduces bitterness. These flavors improve the richness and taste of this drink. Also, you can add sugar to make it sweeter.
Another option that you may add is coffee syrup if you like coffee syrup with a combination of espresso.
Check this interesting article on How to make iced doppio.
Iced cortado recipe
Pick the right coffee beans for two espresso shots. Medium-roasted coffee beans are my preference for a cortado. But light-roasted coffee beans are also better for this cold drink.
Instructions
- First, make two shots of espresso.
- Pour iced cubes to fill half a glass. You can add more iced cubes if you like.
- When the espresso shots are ready, let them cool down with ice cubes.
- When the espresso is cooled, slowly pour the espresso shots into the glass with ice cubes.
- Prepare steam milk with a steam wand or any manual method.
- Lastly, now pour the steamed milk into the glass.
- Optionally, you can add flavors.
- Stir the glass well.
Your delicious beverage is ready to drink.
Iced Cortado: How many calories per serving?
This Iced Cortado has fewer calories if you don’t add flavors to it. Espresso shots contain only around ten calories per drink. However, the calories add through steamed milk.
When making iced cortado, remember that calorie content depends on the type of milk you use. if you make it with Whole milk. It will add 34 calories per drink.
Also, adding a spoonful of sugar will add 16 calories. On the other hand, If you add low-fat milk, it will contain fewer calories.
So if you use whole milk, this drink has around 45 calories per serving.
Another exciting post on how to make iced Americano with cream.
What is the difference between iced coffee and cold brew?
Iced coffee is prepared at a hot temperature then ice is added to make it a cold drink. As I discussed, an iced Cortado adds with iced cubes. Whereas cold brew prepares with cold water.
Also, the brewing process of cold brew makes it a lot bitter and pungent in taste compared to iced cortado. Also, cold brew is a highly caffeinated drink due to the 12-hour steeping process.
Both drinks have certain benefits and a few shortcomings. You can pick anyone for your next drink. They differ in the brewing process, ingredients, and taste. Cold brewing takes 12 to 18 hours to get an excellent cold-brewed coffee.
Since no heat is involved while making this coffee, it tastes different from iced coffee. And iced cortado can brew within 5 minutes.
Iced Cortado vs iced latte: what is the difference?
Both drinks are highly consumed and unique in terms of taste, ingredients, and brewing methods. The first significant difference between an iced Cortado and an iced latte is the use of milk in the two beverages. The iced latte comes with 2/3 milk and 1/3 of the espresso shot.
In contrast, the iced Cortado prepares equal milk and espresso in a cup. So the Cortado has a much bitter and strong taste than the latte. The use of milk cuts the intensity of latte coffee.
Related article. Iced latte vs iced Macchiato: Why are they different?
An iced latte is a better option if you like more milk drinks. However, an iced latte contains more calories and caffeine. An iced Cortado has more caffeine and fewer calories.
Does Starbucks have Iced Cortado?
Starbucks doesn’t have iced Cortado on its menu. If you want it at Starbucks, they can make a customized drink for you. A barista can make this cold drink according to your given instructions.
Suppose you enter a Starbucks and you are craving an iced cortado. Ask the barista for two espresso shots with steamed milk. The milk and espresso shots should have the same volume.
Alternatively, you should preferably avoid steamed milk and ask for whole milk instead. Lastly, ask the barista to add ice cubes to your drink.
Iced Cortado Costa: is it available at costa coffee shop?
Costa is also known for its unique and robust coffee taste. You will get iced cortado on Costa’s menu.
Additionally, you can add ice, fresh espresso, and chilled milk at Costa. It creates creamy, solid, and cold coffee.
Related article.
Nitro cold brew vs cold brew: what is the difference?
Final thoughts
Here, I discussed everything about iced cortado—a well deserves to be included in your priority list—and an easier drink to brew at home. What I like about this is its consistent and balanced taste.
Compared to other iced drinks, this coffee has various advantages you may not get in different coffee flavors. Anyone who knows the basics of coffee flavors can brew this iced drink.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to make a Cortado iced?
Cortado makes with milk and espresso at a ratio of 1:1. So add iced cubes to it, but avoid steamed milk.
Why do people drink Cortado?
Cortado uses the same amount of milk and espresso in one cup. People prefer to get less steamed milk. Also, it is a strong drink with fewer calories. This is the best drink for the summer season.
Is Cortado a healthy drink?
Cortado is a healthier drink; it contains fewer calories. It also has caffeine content. Cortado is a healthy drink with or withour iced.
