Have you ever heard of a Cortado? Not everyone in this country is familiar with it, although it is a very tasty alternative to other classic milk coffees such as the cappuccino or the flat white . I have already told you that it is a milk coffee drink. In this blog article you will find out where it comes from, how it is prepared and which of our selected coffees are suitable for preparation. Elias Fischbacher from the Wildkaffee Rösterei wishes you buena lectura.
As mentioned before, it is a Spanish coffee recipe . More precisely, a latte recipe, which is an interesting, more flavorful alternative to the classics such as cappuccino or flat white .
The Cortado is similar to the classics mentioned above not only in taste, but also in preparation. Cortado means "cut" or "slice" in German. Beer drinkers among you should already be familiar with a cut. It is a glass half-filled with beer, with the other half covered with foam . A similar principle applies to the Spanish coffee drink. An espresso is prepared that is then blended with the same amount of milk.
Where exactly does it come from and where was it primarily consumed?
The Cortado comes from Spain, more precisely from the region around Madrid , where it is still particularly popular today. The pure coffee taste, or rather the acidity in espresso, was often too strong for people at the time , which is why milk was used as a neutralizer. The drink quickly gained popularity and spread rapidly to the north of Portugal. From there it went to the Spanish colonies in Latin America, where the drink is still the most popular milk coffee specialty today.
Today , not everyone is familiar with it, but it is known all over the world and can be found on some cafe menus. In North American cafes, which mostly serve specialty coffee , the Cortado is very popular. There, however, it is sold as Coffee Gibraltar because it is served in a Libbey Gibraltar glass. The Cortado, on the other hand, is served in a special glass.
A recipe with many variations
The Cortado is now part of everyday life in Spain, Portugal and Latin America . It is drunk at any time of day and with pleasure. This is precisely why several variants of the drink have developed over the years. In summer, for example, it is also often drunk with ice cubes and cold milk , as a little refreshment. In these countries, when you order a Cortado, you are generally asked whether you would prefer it warm or cold.
There are also other, more unusual variants such as the Cortado Condensada, also known as Café Bombón . The name already suggests something sweet, as the normal milk is replaced with sweetened condensed milk, which makes for a very sweet end result. Logically, the sweetness takes center stage, which is definitely not for fans of specialty coffee .
Another variation is the Cortado con leche. In this version, both normal and condensed milk are used in a mixture. The customer can individually determine the ratio.
Would you like a coffee with a kick? Then the Barraquito is sure to be an interesting cocktail for you. It is prepared in layers consisting of condensed milk, espresso, milk foam and Liqueur 43. This recipe comes from the Canary Islands and is a very popular coffee cocktail there.
How is it prepared?
A classic Spanish Cortado consists of a 50:50 mixture of espresso and milk. Our dark espresso roasts such as the Wilderer, the Wildsau, the Hauspresso or our Bergsonne are ideal for this.
You need: 17 – 19 g espresso and 40 ml milk
1. Remove the portafilter and wipe it with a cloth.
2. Now add the ground coffee for a double shot (40 ml) into the carrier.
3. Distribute the coffee grounds evenly and compact them using a tamper.
4. Rinse the brewing group and clamp the portafilter.
5. Now place your glass or a similar glass container under the spout and start the brewing process.
6. At the same time, you can heat the milk to just under 70 degrees using the steam nozzle, but foam formation is not desired.
7. Now mix the warm milk with the espresso.
8. Done! Now you can enjoy the delicious Spanish coffee classic!
How does it taste compared to an espresso macchiato?
The most significant difference between Cortado and Espresso Macchiato is the amount of milk and the consistency. With Espresso Macchiato, only about 2 teaspoons of milk foam are added to the espresso to neutralize the bitter substances. This makes the espresso taste much more intense. With the classic Cortado, only warm milk with a small amount of foam is added. This neutralizes the entire espresso to some extent and also preserves the crema. The result is an excellent, unique taste that stands out from other milk coffee drinks. The nutty espresso taste is finely rounded off by the creamy milk and the result is a harmonious cup profile. Ideal for in-between meals and on warm days with cold milk and ice cubes.
The version with condensed milk takes some getting used to. The taste of the coffee is drowned out by the sugar, which is why this version is not our favorite. Nevertheless, it is an alternative for people who like sweet coffee. The Cortado con leche is a slight variation of the Cortado Condensada and is a little milder in taste, but still very sweet.
Back to Barraquito again...
The Barraquito, however, stands out from all the other variants. It is a coffee cocktail that originates from the volcanic island of Tenerife . From there, this version of the Cortado spread to the other Canary Islands such as La Palma and La Gomera . Legend has it that a gentleman named Barraquito ordered a Cortado with condensed milk and vanilla liqueur 43 every morning. Soon, not only the gentleman, but also the order was called "Barraquito". Whether the gentleman mixed the drinks or drank them separately is still unknown to this day. Ultimately, the Barraquito became one of the most popular coffee drinks in the Canary Islands and is still often ordered today.
In the Canary Islands it is drunk in the morning, late afternoon or after a meal. The Barraquito is prepared differently depending on where you are. There are countless variations of this cocktail , which is what makes it so exciting. So if you are ever on holiday in the Canary Islands, just give it a try.
Which of our exquisite coffees is best suited for the Cortado?
Basically, the choice of bean for Cortado is a matter of personal taste. If you prefer a strong coffee flavor, you should go for a dark roast. The Wilderer , theBergsonne or our house espresso in combination with milk provide a more chocolaty, nutty cup profile. Would you prefer something a little more floral, but still strong? Then try our Wildsau . If you generally like your coffee a little milder, then our medium roasts paired with milk are an excellent alternative.
Conclusion!
The Cortado and its many variations are a popular coffee recipe in Spanish-speaking countries . It is now well known here and internationally too and is no longer a rarity on the menus of various cafés . It is a tasty alternative to the milky coffee drinks from, for example, Italy with its espresso macchiato. It is a tasteful composition of high-quality espresso and fresh milk. The drink can be drunk with either warm or cold milk and ice cubes . It is particularly popular in the Basque Country and the Madrid area. From there it spread, especially to Spanish-speaking areas. It can be prepared with all of our espresso varieties: Bergsonne, Hausepresso, Wilderer and Wildsau . The milk is supposed to soften the intensity of the espresso. The result is a pleasantly nutty cup profile with slightly bitter cocoa notes. You should definitely try it!
