- Origin: Spanish
- Also called: gibraltar
- Ratio: 1 espresso : 1 steamed milk
- Availability: Specialty
Cortado means "cut" in Spanish. The milk cuts the espresso's acidity without burying it. The 1:1 ratio of espresso to steamed milk lands between a macchiato and a flat white in milk volume, and the small glass it is served in (often a Gibraltar) has become shorthand for the drink in American cafés. It is a popular order for people who want milk's smoothing effect without the volume of a latte.
Etymology
From the Spanish verb 'cortar,' to cut. The milk is said to 'cut' the espresso's acidity.