Cortado vs Macchiato – 5 Key Differences You Need To Know

Now:

Cortado and Macchiato are two of the smallest espresso-based drinks.

But can you tell them apart?

This post compares the Spanish-origin Cortado and Italian-origin Macchiato, comparing their origin, preparation, and taste differences.

The goal is to make it easier for you to choose and order and the best part – you will have the know-how on how to make them at home.

With that out of the way, let’s get into the business of the day.

Cortado vs Macchiato – What’s the Difference?

A Cortado is an espresso drink containing 1 or 2 shots of espresso and an equal amount of steamed milk without foam. Macchiato on the other hand contains 1 or 2 shots of espresso and a spot of steamed milk. It contains the least milk among all the espresso drinks.

Here is a simple table comparing the origin, ingredients, nutritional value, and taste of these two drinks.

	Cortado	Macchiato
Origin	Spain	Italy
Ratios	1:1 Espresso and steamed milk	1:<1 1- 2 shots of espresso stained with steamed milk.
The number of espresso shots	2	1-2
Serving size	3-4 oz	3 oz
Caffeine content	126 mg	126 mg
Calories	59 (when 2 shots are used)	10-25
Toppings	Vanilla syrup Honey syrup	No
Taste	Intense espresso taste yet sweet	Strong espresso flavor

5 Key Differences Between Cortado vs Macchiato

1. Origin

Now:

The Cortado and Macchiato originated from two neighboring European countries. History points out that the first Cortado drink was made in Spain.

To date, the Cortado is still one of Spain’s most popular and readily available coffee drinks.

Macchiato on the other hand originated in Italy in the 1980s. The word Macchiato is an Italian word meaning marked, stained, or marked in English.

Surprisingly the staining of espresso with steamed milk was to mark the drink.

2. Ingredients

Now:

Macchiato and Cortado are both made of espresso and steamed milk.

On one hand, a Cortado is prepared with equal parts of espresso and steamed milk. This is traditionally two shots and an equal amount of steamed milk.

The milk should have little or no foam so that it can blend perfectly with the espresso.

A Macchiato is made of espresso, which is also traditionally two shots and a little bit of milk. With a Macchiato there is no specific amount of steamed milk to use, but it should be less than the amount of espresso.

This is unlike a Latte, which is the largest espresso drink and also the milkiest.

While the traditional Macchiato recipe uses steamed milk, some recipes use foamed milk.

3. Taste

As you would expect, Cortado and Macchiato have different tastes.

Cortado contains an equal part of steamed milk to dilute the espresso flavor.

The result?

A soft, rich, and strong drink.

The espresso flavors are distinct but not near what you get from a shot of espresso.

A Macchiato on the other hand contains very little milk. This results in a very strong espresso flavor and a bit of texture from the steamed milk.

4. Serving

Now:

Because a Macchiato and Cortado traditionally contain two shots of espresso, the amount of milk determines the size.

A Cortado contains an equal amount of steamed milk to the espresso, while Macchiato has more milk than espresso.

That’s why a serving of Cortado prepared with two shots of espresso is bigger than a serving of Macchiato containing two shots. 

Cortados are normally served in 3-4 oz glasses, while Macchiato is served in 3 oz glasses. However, this may change from one coffee shop to another.

5. Nutritional value

Since Cortado and Macchiato contain 1 or 2 shots of espresso, they both contain the same amount of caffeine.

That is, 63 mg for 1 shot and 126 mg for 2 shots. A Cortado contains the most calories as it has more milk content.

The Starbucks Espresso Macchiato has between 10 and 25 calories depending on the size, while the Starbucks 2 ristretto shots Cortado has 59 calories.

Conclusion

While they both contain shots of espresso and steamed milk, Cortado and Macchiato are completely different espresso drinks. Below is a recap of the differences.

• Cortado originated in Spain, while Macchiato originated in Italy.
• A Macchiato contains 1 or 2 shots of espresso and a spot of milk.
• Cortado contains 1 or 2 shots of espresso and an equal amount of steamed milk.
• A Cortado is served in 3-4 Oz glasses, while Macchiato is mostly served in 3 Oz servings.
• A Macchiato is prepared with either steamed or foamed milk.
• Cortado is prepared with steamed milk without foam.

And that is it for the differences between the Cortado and Macchiato. Did I leave anything out?

Go ahead and try any of the two drinks. You will probably identify another one of your favorite coffee drinks. Let me know how it goes in the comment section below.

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