One of the many beauties of coffee is its versatility. Whatever your drink preferences, there’s a coffee out there to suit you. Yet, with so many options adorning your local coffee shop menu, it can be tricky to discover which is right for you.
We delve into the differences between two popular coffee orders, the cortado and the flat white, to help you decide if one of them is your perfect go-to order.
What is a Cortado?
A cortado is an espresso-based coffee drink that originates from Spain. The name (cortar meaning to cut) refers to the milk ‘cutting’ through the intense flavour of the espresso.
It is made with equal parts espresso and steamed milk. One of the cortado’s distinctive qualities is its small serving size – it is usually served in a glass holding 4-5oz.
The resulting drink is a smooth, balanced coffee, ideal for lovers of a slightly mellower coffee flavour without the heaviness of a milkier beverage.
What is a Flat White?
A flat white is another espresso-based coffee drink that is combined with textured steamed milk. It is especially popular in Australia and New Zealand where it was born out of consumers asking for a ‘flat’ version of a cappuccino.
The drink has a slightly higher milk content than a cortado and is usually made with about ? espresso to ? milk. It often has a thin layer of microfoam on top too.
The flat white allows drinkers to enjoy the strong taste of coffee blended with the creamy texture of the steamed milk. The drink is a kind of middle ground between the very milky latte and the foamier cappuccino.
It is typically served in a cup holding 5-6oz.
What’s the Difference Between a Cortado & a Flat White?
While both drinks are made up of the same components, the results are slightly different, and understanding these varying qualities may make all the difference when it comes to making your next coffee shop order!
Milk Ratio:
Perhaps the biggest difference between cortados and flat whites is the milk content. Even minimal adjustments to the milk and coffee ratio can impact the end result significantly – hence the many different names for different coffees that contain the same basic ingredients.
- Cortado: 1:1 espresso & milk.
- Flat white: 1:3 espresso & 2:3 milk.
Serving Size:
They also vary slightly in size, with the cortado being a slightly smaller option, ideal for those who want a small, non-nonsense coffee hit.
- Cortado: 4-5oz
- Flat white: 5-6oz
Cortados are also commonly served in a glass, while flat whites usually come in a standard small coffee cup.
Flavour:
Both drinks typically contain a double shot of espresso so will have the same amount of coffee and caffeine. However, because cortados have less milk, they end up with a slightly stronger flavour than flat whites.
The increased milk content in a flat white makes this drink slightly sweeter.
Typically, neither drinks have additional flavourings or sweeteners.
Drink Texture:
Also thanks to the higher amount of steamed milk with a foamy texture, flat whites have a more noticeable texture, being a bit smoother and creamier.
What About Macchiatos?
The macchiato is another espresso and milk combo that might get thrown into the mix too. Macchiatos only have a splash of milk to ‘stain’ the coffee. This mellows the coffee taste very slightly, while still allowing the espresso’s strength to shine through.
It’s another nice middle ground for people who find espressos too strong and flat whites or cappuccinos too weak.
Whether you prefer the sound of a cortado or flat white, you’ll be able to enjoy both at one of our Esquires Coffee shops. To see what other coffee variations and tasty treats are on offer, see our menu.
And if you’re in the market to buy a coffee shop, we can offer a range of franchising opportunities to give you a headstart on the path to success.
