What is the Difference Between Cortado and Piccolo

Cortado and piccolo are two small but powerful coffee drinks. They often confuse people because they look quite similar. Although both are espresso-based with milk, cortado and piccolo are not the same.

What is the difference between cortado and piccolo? A cortado is made with equal parts espresso and steamed milk, whereas a piccolo is made with a single shot of espresso topped with just a small amount of steamed milk.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Cortado  
     – Definition, Features 
2. What is Piccolo
     – Definition, Features 
3. Similarities Between Cortado and Piccolo
     – Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Cortado and Piccolo
     – Comparison of Key Differences
5. FAQ: Cortado and Piccolo
     – Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Key Terms

Coffee, Cortado, Piccolo

What is a Cortado

A cortado is a small but powerful coffee drink that comes from Spain’s Basque Country. The word cortado means “cut” in Spanish, and it describes how a little steamed milk “cuts” the sharp taste of espresso.

This drink is made with equal parts espresso and steamed milk, usually about two ounces of each. That makes it stronger than a cappuccino or latte but smoother than drinking espresso on its own. The milk is warm, not boiling hot, and it doesn’t come with a foamy top like many other coffee drinks. Instead, the texture is silky and balanced, giving you a rich coffee flavour that’s softened just enough to be easy to sip.

Traditionally, cortados are served in small glasses, and in Spain, you’ll often see people enjoying one in the afternoon. Over time, the drink spread beyond Spain, becoming popular in Portugal and Latin America. Now it’s enjoyed around the world.

What is a Piccolo

Piccolo, also known as piccolo coffee or piccolo latte, is a small milk beverage that’s usually served in a 3–4 oz glass. We can also describe it as a ristretto shot topped with milk and served in a small latte glass. A ristretto shot is made with the same amount of coffee we use to make an espresso shot, but halving the amount of water used for the shot.

Piccolo is also an Italian name, meaning small, so piccolo latte actually means small latte. This beverage is popular among Australian coffee lovers. To make a piccolo coffee, you need an espresso machine, your favourite coffee ground, milk of choice, and a frother or streamer (only if your espresso machine doesn’t have one). Then brew a ristretto shot using the espresso machine. Next, steam the milk, but make sure not to make it too frothy. You will mainly need milk, not foam, as you are working with a smaller glass. Now you can mix the ristretto shot and milk and enjoy your piccolo.

Similarities Between Cortado and Piccolo

1. Both drinks mix espresso with steamed milk.
2. They are both smaller than lattes or cappuccinos.
3. They don’t usually come with syrups, whipped cream, or fancy toppings

Difference Between Cortado and Piccolo

Definition

• Cortado is a small Spanish coffee made with equal parts espresso and steamed milk, whereas Piccolo is an Australian coffee made with a single shot of espresso topped with about three parts steamed milk.

Size

• A cortado is usually around 4 oz (equal parts espresso and milk), while a piccolo is smaller, around 3 oz, made with a single ristretto shot and a little milk.

Coffee Base

• Cortado uses a full shot of espresso. Piccolo uses a ristretto shot, which is shorter, more concentrated, and sweeter.

Milk Ratio

• In a cortado, milk and espresso are balanced 1:1. In a piccolo, there’s more coffee than milk, which gives a stronger coffee flavour.

Texture

• Cortado milk is warm with little to no foam. Piccolo uses textured milk similar to a latte but in a tiny size.

Taste

• Cortado is smooth and balanced, while piccolo is bolder, more intense, and creamier because of the ristretto base.

FAQ: Cortado and Piccolo

1. Which is stronger, cortado or piccolo?

A piccolo is usually stronger than a cortado. That’s because a piccolo has more espresso compared to the amount of milk, while a cortado balances espresso and milk in equal parts.

2. Is cortado like piccolo?

Yes, a cortado is somewhat like a piccolo. Both are small, strong coffee drinks made with espresso and milk. But a cortado uses equal parts espresso and milk, while a piccolo has more espresso and less milk, so it tastes stronger.

3. Is a piccolo 1 or 2 shots?

A piccolo is usually made with a single shot of espresso (about 30ml) topped with steamed milk in a small glass. Some cafés may use a double shot, but traditionally it’s just one.

4. What drink is closest to cortado?

The drink closest to a cortado is a flat white. Both balance espresso with milk, but the cortado is smaller and has equal parts coffee and milk, while a flat white has a bit more milk and a creamier texture.

Reference:

1. “What Is A Cortado Coffee?” Tank Coffee.

2. Marie, Sophie. “What Is a Piccolo Coffee? A Complete Guide to My Favourite Coffee Drink!” Australian Coffee Lovers

Image Courtesy:

1. “Fab Assembly Coffee piccolo at Over Under Coffee, Soho, London (27191548379)” By Bex Walton from London, England – (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia

2. “Testing cortado at Seven Grams Cafe” By Alexandra Guers (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) via Flickr