Cortado

A cortado.

A cortado is an espresso cut with a small amount of warm milk.^[1] The word cortado is the past participle of the Spanish verb cortar (to cut). In Spanish-speaking countries, a cortado is similar to the Italian caffè macchiato (Italian pronunciation: [kafˈfɛ makˈkjaːto]), where a small amount of warm milk is added to "cut" (literally "stain") the espresso. In the United States, the ratio of milk to coffee is between 1:1 and 1:2, and the milk is added after the espresso.

Other names and variations

A cortado is also known as "Tallat" in Catalan, "Ebaki" in Basque, "Pingo" or "Garoto" in Portuguese and "noisette" in French. In the United States its name varies largely by region. On the East Coast, it is generally known as a cortado, and on the West Coast, it is called a "Gibraltar." The name Gibraltar originated in San Francisco, California, where roasters – first Blue Bottle Coffee Company, later Ritual Coffee Roasters and others – started the cortado trend by serving the drink in Libbey Glass Company glassware by the same name.^[2][3]

A Gibraltar, served in San Francisco

In Cuba, it is known as a cortadito. It's usually served in a special glass, often with a metal ring base and a metal wire handle. There are several variations, including cortado condensada, cafe con leche condensada or bombon (espresso with condensed milk,) and leche y leche (with condensed milk and cream on top). Brought to the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami, Florida, by Cuban-Americans in the 1960s, the drink is now found throughout the city, and is an important part of everyday culture, particularly among Cubans. However, the cortadito is a drink distinct from Cuban-style coffee, which includes sugar in addition to milk, and has its own brewing method as espresso.

Similar drinks

However a cortado is made in non Spanish-speaking countries, it should be distinguished from the Italian caffè macchiato or cappuccino. A macchiato has only a small amount (a spot) of milk foam added, while a cappuccino has both foam and milk.^[2] A similar drink in Australia is known as a piccolo latte, or simply a piccolo.^[4] This is a single ristretto shot in a macchiato glass that is filled with steamed milk in the same fashion as a cafe latte. A larger drink, popular in Portugal, is the galão, which uses 1:3 proportions but is otherwise similar to a cortado.

See also

• List of coffee beverages

References

External links

• The dictionary definition of cortado at Wiktionary

Coffee Topics Economics Fair trade History Production Coffee production List of countries by coffee production Species and varieties Arabica S795 coffee Charrieriana Liberica Robusta Components Cafestol Caffeic acid Caffeine Coffee bean Processing Coffee roasting Coffee wastewater Decaffeination Home roasting Preparation AeroPress Chorreador Coffeemaker Coffee syrup Cold brew Drip brew Espresso lungo ristretto Espresso machine French press Handpresso Instant coffee Knockbox List of coffee dishes Moka pot Percolator Turkish coffee Vacuum maker Coffee drinks Affogato Americano Bica Bicerin Cà phê sữa đá Café au lait Café de olla Café con leche Café Cubano Caffè mocha Café Touba Caffè corretto Café com Cheirinho Caffè macchiato Cappuccino Carajillo Coffee milk Cortado Espresso Flat white Frappuccino Galão Garoto Greek frappé coffee Iced coffee Indian filter coffee Ipoh white coffee Irish coffee Karsk Kopi Luwak Kopi tubruk Latte Latte macchiato Liqueur coffee Long black Mazagran Red eye Ristretto Rüdesheimer Kaffee Turkish coffee White coffee Yuanyang Organisation lists Coffee companies Coffeehouses Lifestyle Barista Café Caffè Caffè sospeso Coffee break Coffee ceremony CoffeeCon Coffee culture Coffee cupping Coffee Palace Coffeehouse Fika Kopi tiam Latte art Viennese coffee house Substitutes Barley tea Barleycup Caro Chicory Dandelion coffee Inka Postum Qishr Roasted grain beverage Misc. Coffee and doughnuts Coffee leaf rust Third wave of coffee Coffee portal  Category: Coffee