How to Make a Cortado: The Small Coffee with Perfect Balance

A cortado is one of the simplest espresso drinks, but it is also one of the most satisfying. It combines a strong shot of espresso with roughly the same amount of warm, lightly textured milk. The result is smaller than a flat white, smoother than straight espresso and full of coffee flavour.

Because there is nowhere for poor coffee or badly steamed milk to hide, a cortado rewards good basics. A balanced everyday espresso such as the No Fuss Blend gives you a reliable place to start.

What Exactly Is a Cortado?

The name comes from the Spanish word “cortar”, meaning “to cut”. In this case, the milk cuts through the intensity of the espresso. Unlike a latte, the drink is not built around a large volume of milk. Unlike a cappuccino, it does not have a thick cap of foam.

A typical cortado contains a double espresso and approximately 40 to 60 millilitres of steamed milk. It is often served in a small glass, with a finished volume of around 80 to 120 millilitres.

What You Will Need

• An espresso machine with a steam wand
• A burr grinder
• 18 grams of coffee
• 40 to 60 millilitres of cold milk
• A small milk jug
• A small heatproof glass or cup
• Digital scales and a timer

Use a small jug if possible. Steaming a tiny quantity of milk in a large jug can be awkward because the steam wand may not sit deeply enough to create a controlled whirlpool.

Step One: Prepare a Double Espresso

Measure 18 grams of coffee and grind it finely. Distribute the grounds evenly in the basket, tamp level and begin the extraction immediately.

Aim for about 36 grams of espresso in 25 to 30 seconds. If the shot finishes far too quickly, make your grind finer. If it barely pours or takes much longer, use a coarser setting.

A cortado should still taste like coffee after the milk is added, so make sure the espresso has enough sweetness and balance. Stir the finished shot gently to combine the layers before adding milk.

Step Two: Steam a Small Amount of Milk

Fill your small jug with enough cold milk for one cortado, allowing a little extra because some will remain in the jug. Purge the steam wand, then position the tip just beneath the surface.

Introduce only a small amount of air. You are looking for warm, silky milk rather than thick foam. After one or two seconds of gentle aeration, move the tip slightly deeper and create a whirlpool. Stop steaming at approximately 55 to 65°C.

A cortado is often served a little cooler than larger milk drinks because its small volume is intended to be enjoyed immediately. Overheating the milk can flatten its sweetness and overwhelm the espresso.

Step Three: Bring the Drink Together

Tap the jug lightly to remove any visible bubbles, then swirl until the milk appears smooth and glossy. Pour slowly into the espresso, aiming for a near-equal balance of coffee and milk.

You do not need elaborate latte art. The goal is even integration and a thin surface of microfoam. Serve straight away while the temperature and texture are at their best.

How Is a Cortado Different from a Flat White?

Both drinks use espresso and finely textured milk, but the cortado is smaller and uses much less milk. A flat white normally has a creamier texture and a finished volume closer to 160 to 180 millilitres. A cortado is often around 80 to 120 millilitres, so its espresso flavour is more concentrated.

If a flat white feels a little too milky but straight espresso feels too intense, the cortado may be your ideal middle ground.

Common Cortado Mistakes

Using too much milk: This turns the drink into a small latte or flat white. Begin with a roughly equal espresso-to-milk ratio.

Creating thick foam: A cortado should be smooth, not dry or bubbly. Add very little air during steaming.

Overheating the milk: Because there is so little milk, it heats quickly. Pay close attention and stop sooner than you would for a latte.

Ignoring the espresso: Milk will soften the shot, but it cannot rescue an extremely sour or bitter extraction. Adjust your grind first.

Make It Decaf

A cortado is also a great after-dinner drink. Swap your regular beans for Nightwatchman Decaf and use exactly the same recipe. You still get the short, satisfying coffee ritual without making the drink larger or sweeter.

A Small Drink Worth Slowing Down For

The cortado proves that a great coffee does not need a long ingredient list. Fresh espresso, a little carefully steamed milk and a few minutes are enough. Once you have the balance right, it becomes an easy drink to repeat.

That straightforward approach is at the heart of No Worries Bru. Read more about the brand on Our Story, then give this recipe a go. Small cup, big character, no unnecessary fuss.