Cortado vs Cortadito – Are They Different or It’s The Same Drink?

Now:

Judging from the names, a Cortado, and a Cortadito sound like the same drink. While they are related, these two espresso drinks are not the same.

This post dives deeper into the similarities and differences between the Spanish-origin Cortado and Cuban-origin Cortadito. In the end, you will be able to tell them apart and it will be easier to make an order.

With that out of the way, let’s get things rolling.

Cortado vs Cortadito – What’s the Difference?

The Spanish-origin Cortado is an espresso drink containing equal amounts of espresso and steamed milk without foam. On the other hand, a Cortadito is the Cuban relative of the Spanish Cortado. It’s prepared with equal amounts of presweetened espresso and steamed milk.

From the definition, you can easily tell the difference between a Cortado and a Cortadito. But there is more.  Let’s get deeper and compare the origin, preparation, servings, and taste.

	Cortado	Cortadito
Origin	Spain	Cuban Americans
Ratios	1:1 Espresso and steamed milk	1:1 Presweetened espresso and steamed milk
Number of espresso shots	1-2	1-2 shots
Serving size	3-4 oz	2-4Oz
Caffeine content	63 mg – 126 mg	63 mg – 126 mg
Calories	59 for a 2 shot Cortado	100
Toppings	Vanilla syrup Honey syrup	None
Taste	Intense espresso taste yet sweet	Extremely sweet and strong espresso flavor

5 Key Differences Between Cortado vs Cortadito

1. Origin

Now:

History shows that the Cortado comes from Spain’s Basque Country. The Spanish origin is confirmed by the drink’s name, which in Spanish means“to cut”.

The drink gets its name from the act of cutting or diluting espresso to tone and balance the flavors and acidity.

On the other hand, the Cortadito is one of the four Cuban coffee drinks, among cafe Cubano, Colada, and Café Con Leche.

The Cortadito was invented in Florida by Cuban Americans in the 1960s. While Café Cubano and Café Con Leche have spread to other places, the Cortadito is most popular in Miami.

That’s why it’s rare to find a Cortadito in your nearest Starbucks or coffee shop. The only Starbucks that serves Cortadito is the Coffee Ventanita in Miami. Below is how Starbucks Cortadito

“Our signature espresso roast topped with steamed milk with some added sweetness and a little bit of foam”

Note:

In Cuban culture, drinking coffee is about socialization and not about the drink. Cuban coffee drinks are also known to be very strong for using dark roasted beans, which is why brown, white, or demerara sugar is added.

2. Ingredients

Now:

A Cortado contains one or two shots of espresso and an equal amount of steamed milk without foam. The milk is steamed carefully without introducing foam. This makes sure the milk cuts through the drink forming a perfect blend.

On the contrary, a Cortadito is made with an equal amount of presweetened espresso and steamed milk. The milk is not frothed or foamed.

The use of presweetened espresso is common in Cuban coffee drinks. This is done either by whipping sugar in a small amount of espresso or adding sugar to the water in the Moka pot. When sugar is whipped in a little espresso, you get an espuma.

Sometimes:

Instead of steamed milk, condensed milk, or evaporated milk is used.

Preparing a traditional Cortadito at home is very easy since there is no need for an espresso machine or frothing equipment. Even in Cuban coffee shops, espresso is made with a Moka pot.

3. Taste

Here is the thing:

The tradition of cutting espresso with milk started when some people found espresso to be very strong.

Unlike cappuccino or latte, which have a mild espresso flavor, a Cortado has a strong espresso flavor. The perfect way to describe Cortado is an intense yet sweet drink.

Cortaditos on the other hand are extremely sweet but still pack a punch. When presweetened espresso is added, steamed milk is used and not condensed milk. Condensed milk is preferred when the espresso is not presweetened.

While the milk and sugar tone down the espresso flavors and acidity, the espresso flavors are still vibrant.

4. Serving

Both Cortado and Cortadito are small-sized drinks. Also unlike most other espresso drinks, they are available in just one size.

Since they are made with 1 or 2 shots of espresso and an equal amount of steamed milk, the two drinks are served in 3-4 Oz glass cups.

For the Cortadito, it is typically served in a demitasse cup or tacitas. In some places, Cortado is referred to as Gibraltar Coffee when served in a Gibraltar cup.

5. Nutritional value

Now:

A Cortado and a Cortadito contain the same amount of caffeine. That is 63mg for one shot and 126 mg for double shots.

When it comes to calories, Cortadito takes the lead. First, Cortadito is made with presweetened espresso, or sugar is added. Sometimes condensed or evaporated milk is added.

Since most Cortadito recipes use 4 tablespoons of sugar, there are 60 calories from the sugar.  According to the USDA, one tablespoon of sugar has 15 calories.

There are even more calories from steamed milk. According to the USDA 250ml of whole milk contains 152 calories.

Conclusion

While a Cortado and a Cortadito sound like the same drink, they are different. Here is a recap of the differences.

• The Cortado originated in Spain while the Cortadito was invented by Cuban Americans in Florida
• A Cortado is made with 2 shots of regular espresso.
• Cortaditos contains 2 shots of presweetened espresso.
• Cortadito can be made with steamed milk, evaporated, or condensed milk.
• Cortadito’s espresso is typically made with a Moka pot.
• A Cortado has a balanced espresso and milk taste, while a Cortadito is extremely sweet.
• Because of presweetened espresso, a Cortadito has more calories.

And that is all for the differences between Cortado and Cortadito. Now, it will be easy to order any of the two drinks. Order a cup of Cortadito when you want a sweet and calories-heavy drink and Cortado when you want a balanced drink.

---

Frequently Asked Questions