This iced cortado recipe is a cool take on a classic Spanish coffee beverage made with espresso and steamed milk. While this coffee drink is traditionally served hot, I believe a little culinary rebellion every now and then is just fine. 😏
Growing up with an Italian grandmother (who’s family came from Naples when she was a little girl) led me to take certain aspects of Italian culture very seriously. One of those is espresso! While I do take espresso very seriously, it’s also important to be able to experiment and have some fun. If you’re a diehard coffee purist…avert your eyes! We are going to be shaking things up with this cortado! 😛
No matter what you believe, one truth is that there are so many different ways to enjoy espresso. This recipe is similar to an iced latte, so if you are a cold coffee lover, you’ll love this! My iced Americano coffee recipe is another updated twist on a coffeehouse classic. And if you’re looking for even MORE excitement in your coffee cup, this strawberry latte recipe and this double shot shaken espresso should do the trick!
👀 the secret sauce…
✨ the flavor: This recipe hits FOUR flavor factors in one small serving! The Balancing Act, The Pop, The Oomph, and The Intrigue! Bold, acidic espresso smoothed out by creamy milk that adds body and depth, with a silky texture from the lightly frothed milk.
🎯 the method: Brew, chill slightly, pour over ice, layer with milk. The key move is letting your espresso cool for a minute before it hits the ice. This prevents that bitter, overly acidic taste you get when hot espresso flash-cools.
🏆 the win: Never worry about another barista giving you the side-eye for ordering a “non-traditional” drink again. Make it at home and drink your coffee however you want!
☕️ what is a cortado?
A cortado is a coffee drink with Spanish origins that has equal parts milk and espresso. The Spanish word “cortado” means “to cut,” as in cutting the espresso with steamed milk. ✂️
The idea behind the cortado was to make the espresso flavor less acidic or bitter by adding the milk. Similar to how an Americano cuts the espresso with water, a cortado cuts it with the milk of your choice. It’s supposed to be a small drink meant for a little pick-me-up!
Coffee purists will tell you that traditionally, cortados are only served hot. But as someone who lives in an area where it’s cold at 74ºF, I like my coffee over ice. 🥶 So I say, drink your coffee how you want! But, I’ve also included instructions for how to enjoy this beverage hot, if that’s what you’re into.
🛒 ingredients
See the recipe card for the exact quantities.
Wanna save this recipe for later? 📬
I'll email this recipe post to you so you can have it for later!
🍳 step-by-step process for making an iced cortado
Step 1: Brew a double shot of espresso according to your manufacturers’ instructions.
Step 2: Fill your desired glass with ice.
Step 3: Slowly pour the espresso over the ice.
Step 4: If you want a bit of froth in your milk, you can froth it lightly using a hand frother.
Step 5: Gently layer the milk overtop of the espresso in your glass.
Step 6: Serve immediately.
💡tips & tricks for getting it right
🍽️ how to serve your cortado coffee
- brunch ready – serve your iced cortados at a breakfast or brunch spread– it goes great with homemade granola and rich Greek yogurt!
- DIY coffee bar – You can even set up a DIY coffee station for your guests to customize their coffees to their liking. Simply prepare as much espresso as you’ll need for the number of guests you have, place it in a glass pitcher, and allow them to choose their own coffee adventure!
- coffee cocktail – add an ounce of your favorite liquor or liqueur (might I suggest a home infused vanilla rum???) for a delicious alternative to an espresso martini!
ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
- bitter – if your cortado is bitter, it could be due to the extraction of your espresso maker. You may need to troubleshoot the grind level of your espresso beans in order to balance out the flavor. The good news is, once you figure out how to make espresso you like at home, it gets easier to make consistent shots of espresso!
- too much or too little milk – if you prefer a beverage like a latte or flat white that has more milk in it, go ahead and add in more milk! I won’t tell! 😉
- too foamy – if you find that your hot cortado has a lot of foam, it’s possible that you over-steamed the milk. If you’re using a hand frother to whip your milk, take care not to over mix it otherwise you’ll end up with a dense foam.
🔆 top tip
Allow your espresso to cool slightly after brewing. When hot espresso is poured directly over ice, it can lead to a bitter taste.
♻️ customize your cortado
- nondairy milk – while a traditional cortado uses dairy milk, you can use whatever milk you like. This drink would be wonderful with coconut milk or oat milk!
- cold brew concentrate – no espresso? no problem! You can use undiluted cold brew concentrate in place of espresso!
- hot cortado – to make a hot cortado (which is the traditional way its served) skip the ice and steam the milk before adding it to the espresso.
- cortadito – a cortadito is a Cuban variation of the cortado using sugar, milk, and espresso. To make a traditional cortadito, you mix espresso with granulated sugar until it forms a paste, then add in steamed milk.
- café bombon – you can swap the milk in a cortado for sweetened condensed milk to create a sweet take on a cortado. Another name for it is “café canario,” because it’s popular in the Canary Islands. You can also top this drink with an added layer of cold foam or homemade whipped cream!
☕️ cortado vs. latte & cortado vs. flat white
All three beverages are made with espresso + milk. But the difference is in the ratios!
- cortados have equal parts of espresso and milk. That means if you have 2 ounces of espresso (one double shot) you will also include 2 ounces of milk. The milk is lightly steamed, so there is not much foam that forms.
- caffé lattes have much more milk than espresso. Typically, lattes have at least double the amount of milk as espresso, sometimes even more! So a 12 ounce latte will have 2 ounces of espresso and 10 ounces of milk. Lattes are made using steamed milk, with a layer of foam on top.
- flat whites are made with slightly less milk than lattes. Additionally, the milk is steamed more vigorously to create a microfoam, which results in a more texturized and velvety mouthfeel opposed to a latte. Think of the difference between cold brew and nitro cold brew!
🧰 equipment needed & storage tips
🫙 can you store a cortado coffee?
For the best flavor, always drink your espresso-based beverages the same day you make them. If you can’t finish your cortado in one sitting, you can store it for up to 24 hours before the flavor starts to deteriorate.
💬 q+a
How many shots of espresso are in a cortado?
A cortado typically has 2 shots of espresso, or one double shot.
Can cortados be iced?
YES! If you want it, you got it! Traditionally, they’re served hot. And sure, some coffee snobs might complain on Reddit boards about ordering a non-traditional drink, but it’s perfectly okay in my book! 😜
How to Make an Iced Cortado (What is a Cortado Coffee?)
Wanna save this recipe for later? 📬
I’ll email this recipe post to you so you can have it for later!
Equipment
- 1 espresso maker
- 1 Gibraltar glass for hot cortado only
Ingredients
- 2 ounces espresso freshly pulled
- 2 ounces milk use milk of choice
- ice to fill glass
Instructions
For an Iced Cortado
- Brew espresso. Brew a double shot of espresso according to your manufacturers instructions.2 ounces espresso
- Chill glass. Fill your desired glass with ice. Choose a glass that can hold at least 6 – 8 ounces.ice
- Add espresso. Slowly pour the espresso over the ice.
- Froth milk. If you want a bit of froth in your milk, you can froth it lightly using a hand frother. Cortados are traditionally not as foamed as lattes or cappucinos.2 ounces milk
- Layer milk. Gently layer the milk overtop of the espresso in your glass.
- Serve. Serve immediately.
For a Hot Cortado
- Brew espresso. Brew a double shot of espresso into a Gibraltar glass according to your manufacturers instructions.2 ounces espresso
- Steam milk. Quickly steam your milk to heat it up and gently froth it, being careful not to foam it too much.2 ounces milk
- Layer milk. Gently layer the milk overtop of the espresso in the glass.
- Serve. Serve immediately.
Notes
ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
- bitter – if your cortado is bitter, it could be due to the extraction of your espresso maker. You may need to troubleshoot the grind level of your espresso beans in order to balance out the flavor. The good news is, once you figure out how to make espresso you like at home, it gets easier to make consistent shots of espresso!
- too much or too little milk – if you prefer a beverage like a latte or flat white that has more milk in it, go ahead and add in more milk! I won’t tell! 😉
- too foamy – if you find that your hot cortado has a lot of foam, it’s possible that you over-steamed the milk. If you’re using a hand frother to whip your milk, take care not to over mix it otherwise you’ll end up with a dense foam.
🍽️ how to serve your cortado coffee
- brunch ready – serve your iced cortados at a breakfast or brunch spread– it goes great with homemade granola and rich Greek yogurt!
- DIY coffee bar – You can even set up a DIY coffee station for your guests to customize their coffees to their liking. Simply prepare as much espresso as you’ll need for the number of guests you have, place it in a glass pitcher, and allow them to choose their own coffee adventure!
- coffee cocktail – add an ounce of your favorite liquor or liqueur (might I suggest a home infused vanilla rum???) for a delicious alternative to an espresso martini!
