Three-Way Comparison

Cortado vs Latte vs Cappuccino

The cortado is the smallest and most balanced of these three. Spanish in origin, it is espresso "cut" (cortado) with an equal amount of lightly steamed milk — no thick foam, no large volume of milk, just a smooth 1 : 1 balance served in a small glass.

Where a latte drowns the espresso in milk and a cappuccino tops it with foam, the cortado keeps things even and lets the coffee stay clearly in view.

A cortado in a small gibraltar glass beside a latte and a cappuccino

The three side by side

Feature	Cortado	Cappuccino	Latte
Espresso	1–2 shots	1 shot	1–2 shots
Milk	Equal to espresso	Moderate + foam	Lots
Foam	Minimal	Thick	Thin
Size	~4 oz	~6 oz	~10–12 oz
Texture	Smooth, dense	Airy	Creamy
Coffee intensity	High	Medium-high	Low-medium

Who each drink is for

The cortado is ideal if you find a cappuccino too foamy and a latte too milky but still want the espresso softened. It delivers a strong, clear coffee flavor without the airy top of a cappuccino or the dilution of a latte, which is why it is a favorite among specialty-coffee drinkers who want to actually taste the beans.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a cortado stronger than a cappuccino?

A cortado usually tastes stronger and more coffee-forward because it has little to no foam and a tight 1:1 espresso-to-milk ratio, though caffeine depends on the number of shots.

What is the difference between a cortado and a latte?

A cortado uses roughly equal parts espresso and milk in a small glass, while a latte uses far more milk in a much larger cup, making the latte milder and creamier.