What's the difference between an espresso macchiato and a cortado?

An espresso macchiato and a cortado look similar at first glance: small coffee drinks with espresso and milk. Yet the difference lies in the ratio, flavour and even the origin. While the macchiato comes from Italy and contains just a spot of milk, the cortado is Spanish and much smoother due to the almost equal amount of milk and espresso.

What is an espresso macchiato?

An espresso macchiato is an espresso with a small ‘spot’ of milk or milk foam.

The word macchiato literally means “spotted” in Italian. So the espresso is “spotted” with a dollop of milk foam or a small splash of warm milk. This hardly changes the flavour but softens the sharp edge of the espresso just a little.

In Italy, the macchiato is mainly enjoyed by people who love the intensity of espresso but want just that tiny bit of softness. It’s served in a small cup and remains a compact, powerful drink.

What is a cortado?

A cortado is an espresso diluted with almost equal parts warm milk.

The word cortado comes from Spanish and means “cut”: the strong flavour of the espresso is essentially “cut” by the milk. Unlike a latte, a cortado contains no thick foam layer, just warm milk, roughly in a 1:1 ratio with the espresso.

In Spain, the cortado is often drunk in the afternoon because it tastes softer and rounder than a pure espresso but remains smaller and more intense than a cappuccino or latte.

The main differences at a glance

Macchiato and cortado look alike, but the details make the difference.

It’s true that both coffee drinks can be made with espresso coffee beans.

How much milk is in a cortado?

A cortado contains about as much milk as espresso, usually around 30 ml milk to 30 ml espresso.

That 1:1 ratio makes the cortado smoother and creamier than an espresso but less milky than a cappuccino or latte. Because the milk in a cortado is warm but not frothed, you taste a pure coffee flavour with a mild, full finish.

If you order a cortado in Spain, you’ll often get exactly this ratio in a small glass. In other countries it may vary a little, but the essence remains: half espresso, half milk.

Which one to choose when?

Whether you choose a macchiato or a cortado depends on how strong and creamy you want your coffee.

Choose an espresso macchiato if you love the intense flavour of espresso but want just that tiny touch of milk to take the sharp edge off. Ideal as a pick-me-up or after a meal.

Go for a cortado if you want a smoother, rounder coffee that still stays compact. The milk noticeably softens the espresso without turning it into a large, milky drink like a latte.

That way you know exactly what to order at the café and at home.

Read more about the differences between ristretto, espresso and lungo here.