Espresso, “cut” with milk
Starbucks Cortado: Calories, Price, and Caffeine
The small Spanish espresso drink that coffee lovers order when a latte feels too milky: where it comes from, its cousins (cortadito, Gibraltar, piccolo), exact ratios, the Starbucks Cortado, and a 5-minute home recipe.
Quick answer. A cortado is espresso “cut” with an equal amount of warm, lightly steamed milk, served in a small 4 to 5 oz glass. It is stronger than a latte and smoother than straight espresso. At Starbucks, the Cortado is three Blonde ristretto shots with steamed whole milk: 90 calories and about 230 mg of caffeine in a Short cup, for about $5.79.
- Calories: 90
- Caffeine: 230 mg
- Average US price: $5.79
Checked October 2026. Prices are average US prices and vary by store.
Where the Cortado Comes From
Cortado is the past participle of the Spanish cortar, “to cut.” In Spain and Portugal it is a mid-day or afternoon coffee: a shot of espresso softened with a splash of hot milk, often served in a small glass. Variations spread across Latin America and into US specialty cafés, picking up new names along the way.
The cortado family
| Drink | Where | What makes it different |
|---|---|---|
| Cortado | Spain | Espresso + about equal warm milk, little foam |
| Cortadito | Cuba and Miami | Espresso sweetened while brewing, then topped with steamed (often evaporated) milk |
| Gibraltar | San Francisco and US cafés | A cortado served in a 4.5 oz “Gibraltar” glass |
| Piccolo latte | Australia | A ristretto with a little more milk and latte-art foam in a small glass |
| Café con leche | Spain and Latin America | Much more milk, usually in a larger cup |
Cortado vs. Latte, Flat White and Cappuccino
| Drink | Espresso : milk | Foam | Typical size | Taste |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cortado | About 1 : 1 | Very little | 4 to 5 oz | Bold, smooth |
| Flat White | About 1 : 2 | Thin microfoam | 5 to 6 oz (Starbucks Tall 12 oz) | Rich, velvety |
| Cappuccino | About 1 : 1 : 1 with foam | Thick cap | 5 to 6 oz (Starbucks up to 20 oz) | Airy, coffee-forward |
| Latte | About 1 : 3 or more | Light | 8 oz and up | Mild, milky |
Full comparisons are on the cappuccino and caffè latte pages.
The Starbucks Cortado
| Starbucks Cortado (Short, 8 oz cup) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Build | 3 ristretto shots of Blonde Espresso + steamed whole milk |
| Calories | 90 |
| Sugar | 6 g (from milk) |
| Caffeine | About 230 mg |
| Average price | $5.79 |
Starbucks uses ristretto shots, “restricted” shots pulled with less water, which taste sweeter and less bitter, plus smooth Blonde Espresso. With three shots, the little Short Cortado has more caffeine than a Grande latte. Starbucks also sells flavored versions, including the Brown Sugar Oatmilk Cortado, covered with a home recipe in our Brown Sugar Oatmilk Cortado page. See every espresso drink on the hot drinks menu.
How to Make a Cortado at Home
Ingredients
- 2 shots (2 oz / 60 ml) espresso, or 3 ristretto shots for a sweeter, Starbucks-style cup
- 2 oz (60 ml) whole milk
- Optional: 1 teaspoon sugar (for a Cuban-style cortadito, see below)
Instructions
- Warm the glass. Rinse a 4 to 5 oz glass or small cup with hot water so the drink stays warm.
- Pull the shots. Brew the espresso directly into the glass. No machine: use 2 oz of strong moka pot coffee.
- Steam the milk. Steam 2 oz of milk to about 130–140°F (55–60°C) with only a little air, so it is silky with very thin foam. No wand: warm the milk and whisk or froth it briefly.
- Pour. Pour the milk into the espresso in a steady stream until the cup is full, roughly equal parts coffee and milk. Serve right away.
Variations and tips
- Cortadito: add 1 to 2 teaspoons sugar to the espresso as it brews (or whip the first drops with sugar into a foam called espumita), then top with steamed milk or evaporated milk.
- Starbucks-style: use 3 ristretto shots of a light or Blonde roast and whole milk in a slightly larger cup.
- Oat cortado: barista oat milk steams well and adds natural sweetness.
- Do not over-foam. A cortado should be silky, not frothy; stop adding air after a couple of seconds.
- Keep it small. Larger cups turn it into a flat white or latte.
Watch: Cortado Recipe from Starbucks at Home
Want it sweeter? The Brown Sugar Oatmilk Cortado adds brown sugar syrup, cinnamon and oat milk for 130 calories.
Cortado FAQs
What is a cortado?
A cortado is a small espresso drink made with roughly equal parts espresso and warm, lightly steamed milk. The name comes from the Spanish cortar, “to cut,” because the milk cuts the espresso’s intensity.
Cortado vs. latte: what is the difference?
A cortado is about 1:1 espresso to milk and served small (4 to 5 oz). A latte has two to three times more milk and is much milder. At Starbucks, a Short Cortado has 230 mg of caffeine, while a Grande Latte has 150 mg.
Cortado vs. flat white?
A flat white has more milk (about 1:2) and a thin layer of velvety microfoam. A cortado is smaller and stronger, with very little foam.
Cortado vs. cappuccino?
A cappuccino has a thick foam cap and more milk overall. A cortado has almost no foam and tastes more of espresso.
What is a cortadito?
A Cuban-style cortado made with espresso that is sweetened while brewing, then topped with steamed milk, often evaporated milk in Miami cafés.
What is a Gibraltar coffee?
A US name for a cortado served in a 4.5 oz Libbey “Gibraltar” glass, popularized by San Francisco cafés.
Does Starbucks have a cortado?
Yes. The Starbucks Cortado is three ristretto shots of Blonde Espresso with steamed whole milk in a Short cup: 90 calories and about 230 mg of caffeine, for about $5.79.
How much caffeine is in a cortado?
A homemade double-shot cortado has roughly the caffeine of a double espresso. The Starbucks version, with three ristretto shots, has about 230 mg.
Starbucks nutrition, caffeine and prices are from starbucks.com and average US prices (October 2026). starbukmenu.com is not affiliated with Starbucks Corporation.
