Cortado

A cortado is a Spanish classic where a small shot of espresso meets warm milk in roughly equal proportions. The milk in this drink isn't heavily frothed like in a cappuccino, but rather gently heated to create a smooth, velvety texture. This allows the milk to soften the coffee's natural strength without burying its delicate tasting notes, which in specialty coffee can be wonderfully diverse. It is traditionally served in a small glass, helping to maintain the right temperature while letting you see the beautiful blend of colors. The name itself comes from the Spanish word for "to cut," because the milk is meant to simply cut through the intensity of the pure coffee.