Whenever I have to pop into a Starbucks to fuel my coffee addition, I usually get a latte. In fact, I get that drink at a lot of coffee shops.
And let’s face it – you never have to worry about it not being on the menu. But every so often you end up at a coffee shop with a more exotic menu that tempts you to try something new.
So, if you see something like a cortado listed and your go-to drink is the latte, should you try it? Will you like it? Let us help you out with that decision.
What Is A Latte?
Hailing from Italy, the latte is probably my favorite drink from my local barista because it is served up in a large, tall mug. And since it has so much milk, the drink gives up a nice creamy taste – though bad ones often are too milky with a fatty terrible taste.
If you’re ordering your lattes in the USA, then it’s most likely being served up to you in large mug or a tall latte mug.
But if you order a latte in other parts of the world, like in Europe, then it will come out in a tall glass like you see in the image above. When I was in Spain they served it in what looked like a tall water glass with no handle, so it was really hot to the touch!
A latte is one part espresso with three parts milk.
The real defining feature of a latte is how milky it is compared to other espresso drinks. The ratio of espresso to milk is 1:3, which means lots of milk.
That milk is steamed and the drink is typically topped with some micro-foam where the barista designs some cute latte art for you.
This drink has a creamy sweetness to it, and people often add sweeteners to it in the form of latte flavorings (caramel, vanilla, etc.).
Cool fact: On some coffee shop menus you’ll only see café latte latte listed. Is there a difference in a latte vs café latte? Nope. It’s exactly the same drink.
What Is A Cortado?
As the name might clue you in, this little espresso drink hails from Spain. It’s also popular in Portugal.
And I’m referring to it as little because it is served in a small glass (or at least it should come out that way).
Though this drink is still just espresso and milk, the ratio is quite different compared to the latte.
A cortado is one part espresso with one part steamed milk.
While there is not as much milk in the cortado, it is still a cooler drink in terms of temperature compared to the latte. This is because the milk for a cortado is only lightly steamed.
Your cortado should not have textured milk – so no foam on this one.
Due to the equal parts of espresso and milk, the cortado has a stronger coffee flavor than the latte.
This drink is ideal for people who want their espresso drink to be not too hot and a bit healthier than most options.
The Takeaway
To make your decision easier, here’s the differences that you can use to determine which drink to order.
- A latte is hotter than a cortado
- A cortado tends to have a stronger, bolder coffee taste
- A latte has a smoother, creamier mouth feel
- A latte has a sweeter taste
- A latte is a larger cup of coffee than a cortado
If that still doesn’t help you make a decision, and you’re curious about calories and caffeine, then you’ll find this interesting:
- A latte tends to have a more calories than a cortado simply because it has much more milk
- Both drinks should have the same amount of caffeine because they both should be made with two shots of espresso.
- Overall, the cortado is healthier than the latte since it has less milk in it
Still not sure? Why order up both and see which one tastes better to you!