How to Make a Cortado (With Step By Step Instructions)

❓ What is a Cortado?

Cortados are coffee drinks with Spanish origins; the name, or Spanish word, is actually the past participle of cortar which means “to cut.” Contrary to what you might think, “cut” doesn’t refer to any blades, but rather refers to dilution. As in, we’re “cutting” the bitterness of our espresso with steamed milk, and perhaps adding a bit of "latte art" while we're at it!

I first tried a cortado in Spain back in 2013, and have since seen them rise in popularity on cafe menus all over the United States! While living in San Francisco, I remember popping into Blue Bottle Coffee Company and finding their Cortado delightful!

⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe 

At its core, a café cortado is simply equal parts espresso and steamed milk. How easy is that? And despite their simplicity, these espresso-based drinks are quite delicious. The floral notes of the espresso are somehow enlivened by the addition of slightly sweet warm milk, creating a beverage that is warming, cozy, caffeinated, and, in my opinion, perfectly balanced.

Aside from just having two ingredients added in equal proportions, this cortado recipe is also:

• Quick & Easy - You’ll only need about 3 minutes total for this espresso drink!
• Budget-Friendly - Being your own barista has serious benefits for your wallet. You can make your own 
• Easier Than Ordering - If you check the menu, Starbucks cortados aren’t really a thing. You’ll need to order a double shot of espresso with 2 ounces of steamed milk if you hope to get one while you’re out and about. Making an espresso cortado at home takes less time than it would take to explain what you want, which is definitely a win in my book.

Looking for more coffee recipes to try? Look no further than my spiced mocha orange coffee, hot chocolate coffee or coffee macarons!

🍴Ingredients

As promised, you coffee lovers only need an equal amount of two ingredients to make a classic cortado coffee at home:

• Espresso - Any coffee beans that are finely ground can be used for making homemade espresso, so feel free to swap in your favorite roast.
• Steamed, Hot Milk - Calvin and I typically reach for whole milk, but you’re welcome to swap in any dairy or plant-based milk of your choice like oat milk or almond milk. Note that if you’re using non-dairy milk, you should opt for an unflavored (and preferably unsweetened) version.

⚒️ Equipment

You don’t need to drop a month’s rent to equip yourself for playing barista at home. Here’s everything you’ll need to grab as a coffee aficionado:

• Espresso Maker - Sure, you can drop thousands on a professional-grade espresso machine if you want. You can also purchase a perfectly decent countertop model for around $100, or use a space-saving stovetop espresso maker that runs around $30.
• Milk Frother - I love my little $10 hand frother. It fits in a drawer and has all the power I need! In fact, you can even use it to whip up a small amount of homemade chantilly whipped cream if you want. You can also splurge a little here if you like and opt for a countertop model with a steam wand that will froth cold milk or steam and froth it for you. If you don’t want to invest any money, simply microwave your milk in a mason jar, then screw the lid on tight and shake like the dickens.
• Small Mug or Gibraltar Glass - Traditionally speaking, a coffee cortado should fill whatever cup you’re serving it in. That said, feel free to use whichever mug you prefer because this is your coffee break!

📖 Step by Step Instructions

Making cortados at home is about as easy as it gets. Here’s how it’s done:

Step 1: Add espresso into a small mug.

Step 2: Slowly pour in the steamed milk before enjoying it! 

⏲️ Substitutions & Variations

While a plain Jane cortado is a delicious beverage in its own right, there are always plenty of opportunities for you to customize based on your needs and preferences. Here are a few variations to consider:

• Cortadito - This Cuban variation of the cortado coffee beverage swaps in warmed sweetened condensed milk for steamed milk. It’s sweet and delicious!
• Flavored Cortado - Feel free to add vanilla syrup, caramel sauce, or any other flavored syrup you like to this spanish drink. 
• Iced Cortado - Skip steaming the milk and simply pour equal parts of espresso and your milk of choice over ice.
• Vegan Cortado - Use your favorite plant-based milk to make this a vegan-friendly delicious drink.
• Decaf Cortado - Swap in decaf espresso beans or strongly brewed roasted chicory so you can drink a cortado in the afternoon and still be able to fall asleep come bedtime.

👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tips

• Use freshly pulled shots of espresso. I recently learned from a friend who used to be a barista that espresso shots significantly change flavor just 10 seconds after pulling them, which is why professional coffee shops train baristas to dump shots that are left out for longer than that. While I don’t think you need to be quite as extreme (after all, 10 seconds isn’t very long!), make sure you use espresso that was pulled on the same day as you plan on making your cafè cortado.
• Bring your milk to a simmer, not a boil. You’re looking for a temperature range of about 130-150F. If you go any higher, the milk is liable to taste scorched or burnt. Once the milk is warmed to your liking, use a milk frother or steamer wand to aerate it for the proper mouthfeel of steamed milk before adding to your cortado glass and perhaps making a little foam art!

💭 Recipe FAQs

More Starbucks Copycat Recipes