COMPARISON
Cortado vs Latte
Verdict: Order a cortado for a short, strong, coffee-forward drink; order a latte for a big, mild, milky one.
A cortado and a latte are both espresso with steamed milk, but they are worlds apart in size. A cortado is small and roughly equal parts coffee and milk; a latte is large and mostly milk, so it tastes milder.
The decision
Which should you order?
- Cortado
- A short cup where the espresso leads and the milk only takes the edge off.
- Latte
- Go big and mild: mostly steamed milk, with the coffee turned gentle.
Both drawn to the same scale.
The difference
How Cortado and Latte compare
The cortado and the latte start from the same place - a shot of espresso and some steamed milk - but they end up as very different drinks because of how much milk goes in.
A cortado keeps the milk short and roughly equal to the espresso, in a small glass, so the coffee stays strong and clear. A latte pours far more steamed milk over the same shot, in a tall cup, so it becomes large, soft, and mild. If you want to taste the espresso, choose the cortado; if you want a gentle, milky cup, choose the latte.
HOW EACH IS BUILT
The numbers
Side by side
| Feature | Cortado | Latte |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso | 2 oz | 2 oz |
| Milk | 2 oz | 9 oz |
| Foam | None | Thin |
| Cup size | 4-4.5 oz | 10-12 oz |
| Temperature | Hot | Hot or iced |
| Strength (concentration, not caffeine) | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Caffeine (typical) | ~126 mg | ~126 mg |
| Quantity bars share one scale per row. Strength is concentration, not caffeine. | ||
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What's the main difference between Cortado and Latte?
Milk volume. A cortado keeps the milk short and roughly equal to the espresso, so it tastes strong and coffee-forward. A latte pours far more steamed milk over the same shot, so it is much larger and milder. The espresso is similar; the amount of milk is not.
Is Cortado stronger than Latte?
Yes. Cortado rates 4/5 to Latte's 2/5 on our concentration scale, so it tastes more concentrated. (Strength here is about taste, not caffeine.)
Which has more milk?
Latte - about 9 oz of milk to Cortado's 2 oz.
Which has more caffeine?
About the same - both land near 126 mg (typical).
Can you get Cortado iced like Latte?
Cortado is traditionally served hot; Latte is served both hot and iced.