what is cortado

A cortado is a Spanish coffee drink consisting of espresso mixed with a roughly equal amount of warm milk to reduce the acidity. The milk in a cortado is steamed, but not frothy and "texturized" as in many Italian coffee drinks. The word "cortado" comes from the past participle of the Spanish verb "cortar" (to cut), in the sense of "dilute", and can refer variously to either coffee or espresso drinks throughout Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries. The exact ratios of espresso to milk can vary by region, but a traditional cortado has equal parts espresso and steamed milk. The serving size is smaller than a latte, and it is less sweet. Cortado is often compared to the Italian macchiato or the French noisette.