The cortado is a remedy for people who are unsure of a coffee shop’s reputation. Even while a basic espresso may be fine, the bitterness can be overpowering. You don’t taste much espresso in a latte.
One thing to keep in mind is that the latte has additional milk and the cortado contains more espresso. We’ll discuss the factors that ought to encourage you to purchase a cortado and a latte in this blog.
Latte vs. Cortado: 3 Major Differences
The origin, brew technique, and general flavour of cortado coffees or lattes vary.
The important variations to keep in mind are:
- Espresso with steamed milk are combined in a cortado at a 1:1 ratio. The portion is less sweet and smaller.
- A latte is made with 2/3 steamed milk, 1/3 espresso, and a thick coating of milk froth on top. It frequently has a characteristic, foamy texture and is sweetened.
What is Latte?
Let’s begin with the fundamentals. Lattes are a traditional Italian coffee creation produced with copious amounts pf steamed milk and espresso shots. A thin coating of microfoam is made from the steaming milk and sits on top of the beverage.
The beverage comes in sizes between six and twenty ounces. Depending on how much caffeine you want, you can order a cup of latte with up to three shots of espresso.
Lattes are well-liked because they generate a mellow espresso flavour by blending a lot of effortless, creamy milk with a robust espresso flavour. You can also incorporate a variety of flavoured syrups to aid in creating the exact flavour you’re after.
Pros
- Rich, creamy milk and strong espresso
- can incorporate various flavoured syrups
- A satisfying layer of microfoam can create latte art.
Cons
- The taste of espresso isn’t as intense.
- possibly too milky
What is Cortado?
The beverage that served as the model for the coffee cortado probably came from Spain’s Basque region. A distinguishing characteristic that sets Spanish coffee beverages apart from their Italian counterparts is that they frequently have little to no foam.
The term “cortado” is a Spanish verb that means “to cut.” Although that might appear unusual at first, it actually produces a lot of sense. The milk “cuts” the espresso in a cortado to make the beverage smoother.
Pros
- Emphasises the espresso’s robust flavour
- little smoothing by foamed milk
- An appealing harmony of flavour and texture
Cons
- perhaps too intense
- It’s not a big drink.
- can be challenging to locate
Contrasting Cortado and Latte to Show the Differences
The size of the beverage and the espresso to milk ratio are the primary distinctions between lattes and cortados. Let’s sum up quickly:
Steamed milk with espresso are combined in equal portions to make cortados, which may or may not have any foam or very little microfoam.
The amount of steamed milk in lattes is significantly higher, and a thick coating of microfoam is almost always added on top.
What percentage of milk goes into a cortado or latte?
6 oz (0.18 l) liquid milk is typically used to make one latte. Milk that has been heated and foamed is what is utilised. A cortado is a typical espresso coffee beverage with steamed milk but no foam topping. Typically, 2 oz (0.06 l) is used.
The milk in a cortado is used to weaken the highly concentrated espresso shots to what is deemed “normal strength.”
What makes the flavours different?
Steamed milk is used to make cortados, although lattes also call for a coating of foam on top of the steamed milk.
The drinks will taste quite differently because of the consistency of the milk. Steamed milk gives the potent espresso coffee a smooth flavour, while foamed milk gives it a little bit of structure.
The flavour of these beverages is also influenced by how much espresso is used. A cortado utilises more espresso, therefore it will have less milk flavour and a stronger coffee flavour.
What makes the flavours different?
Which beverage is best for you: a cortado or a latte? Cortados and lattes are both created with steaming milk.
Similar to a latte, a cortado is made by pouring espresso across an equal volume of steamed milk that is whole as opposed to the latte’s 1/4 espresso to milk ratio.
In contrast to a latte, where the foam lies on top underneath the creamy milk, the end product is espresso that has some micro-foam on top.
Conclusion
A latte normally has an espresso to milk ratio of 1:3 or 1:4, with substantially more milk being utilised than in a cortado. A latte’s creamy texture and milder flavour than a cortado are both a result of the steamed milk.
Compared to cortados, lattes are frequently served on larger cups and can be customised with flavouring syrups like vanilla or caramel.
The quantity of milk used in a latte versus a cortado is one of the most important distinctions. The amount of steamed milk in lattes is significantly higher, and a thick coating of microfoam is almost always added on top.