There are a number of different coffee drinks that you can get and making sense of the differences between them can be difficult.
This post will show you the differences between macchiato and cortado, how they are made, how they taste and drinks that are similar to them.
So, what is the difference between macchiato and cortado? Cortado is where foamed milk is added to espresso. Macchiato is where a dot of foamed milk is added to a double shot of espresso. The difference is that less foamed milk is added with a macchiato. Cortado tastes creamier compared to macchiato.
Depending on the way that they are made, the two drinks can actually vary a lot in the way that they taste. There are also a number of different ways to make them and there are a number of drinks that are similar to them.
Differences between macchiato and cortado
Below, I will show you the differences between macchiato and cortado, how to make them, what impacts their taste and drinks that are similar to them.
Macchiato
Macchiato is where a small amount of foamed milk is added to espresso. It has a strong taste that is rich and can be slightly bitter depending on how the espresso was made.
Espresso is the mixture that you get when you push hot and pressurized water through finely ground coffee. Espresso is very rich and can be slightly bitter.
How to make macchiato
To make macchiato you make the espresso, froth milk and then add a teaspoon of the foamed milk to the espresso.
There are a number of ways to make espresso including to use a semi-automatic espresso machine, an automatic espresso machine or to use a pod-style espresso machine.
To make espresso using a semi-automatic espresso machine you will need to get and grind the beans, press them into a container, put the container into the machine and then press a button to make the espresso.
You can watch the video below to see how to make Macchiato using a semi-automatic espresso machine.
Semi-automatic espresso machines will give you the most amount of control over the taste of the espresso and it will have a very fresh taste.
However, they can have a steep learning curve and they require the most effort in making the espresso and in cleaning the machine.
The semi-automatic machine that I would recommend the most would be this one that you can get from Amazon.
To make espresso using an automatic machine you just put the coffee beans into the machine, select the type of espresso that you want and then press a button. You can then use the milk frother to froth milk and then add a teaspoon of it to the espresso to make macchiato.
Automatic espresso machines will give you fresh-tasting coffee since you still use fresh coffee beans but they require much less work than with semi-automatic espresso machines. However, pod-style espresso machines require even less effort in maintaining the machine.
The automatic espresso machine that I would recommend the most would be this one on Amazon.
To make espresso using a pod-style espresso machine you just need to put a pod into the machine and then press a button to make the espresso.
Pod-style machines are quick and easy to use and they require less maintenance compared to automatic and semi-automatic espresso machines. However, the espresso will not be as fresh tasting but it does still taste good.
The pod-style espresso machine that I would recommend would be this one on Amazon since it will automatically froth the milk for you making it easier to make milk-based espresso drinks.
What impacts the way that macchiato tastes
There are a number of things that will have an effect on the taste of the macchiato.
If the macchiato is made using more milk foam then it will give the macchiato a creamier and less strong taste that is more like a cortado.
The way that the espresso is made will also have an impact on the taste of the macchiato.
If Arabica beans are used it will normally give the espresso a smoother taste that is less bitter but it can sometimes cause it to taste sour. Whereas, if Robusta beans are used it will give the espresso a richer taste that is more bitter.
If beans with a light roast are used then it will give the espresso a less bitter taste but they can be sour. If beans with a dark roast are used then it will give the espresso a more nutty taste that can be more bitter.
If beans from a single origin are used then it will normally give the espresso a very sharp taste that can sometimes be sour. If a mix of beans, from multiple origins, are used then it will normally give the espresso a more balanced taste.
If the grind, used to make the espresso, is too fine then it will cause the espresso to have a richer taste but if it is too fine it can cause it to be bitter. This is because a fine grind will cause the water to take longer to pass through the coffee grind and more coffee will mix with the water.
Similar drinks to macchiato
In addition to cortado there are a number of other drinks that are similar to the macchiato as well such as:
- Con panna
Con panna is where a small amount of whipped cream is added to espresso. It has a creamier taste compared to macchiato since due to the higher fat content in the cream.
- Short macchiato
A short macchiato is where a small amount of milk foam is added to a single shot of espresso. This is different to a regular macchiato which is where a small amount of milk foam is added to a double shot of espresso.
- Doppio
A doppio is a double shot of espresso. It is rich, can be slightly bitter and will have a Crema on top which can be very rich.
Questions people ask about macchiato
Is macchiato hot or cold? You can get macchiato hot or cold.
Is macchiato strong? Macchiato is where a small amount of milk foam is added to espresso. This means that macchiato will have a strong taste that is stronger than latte and cappuccino.
Cortado
Cortado is where milk foam is added to espresso. The difference between macchiato and cortado is that more milk foam is added to the espresso when making a cortado. This gives the cortado a creamier and less strong taste compared to the macchiato. However, the cortado still has a strong taste that is stronger than a latte or a cappuccino.
To make cortado you make the espresso, foam the milk and then add the foamed milk to the espresso. You can do it by using either a semi-automatic, automatic or pod-style espresso machine.
You can watch the video below to see how to make a cortado and how to make a macchiato.
What impacts the way that cortado tastes
If more milk foam is used then it will give the cortado a creamier and less strong taste that is similar to cappuccino.
Additionally, as discussed above when talking about what impacts the taste of macchiato, the way that the espresso is made will impact the taste of the cortado.
Questions people ask about cortado
Is cortado strong? Cortado is where foamed milk is added to espresso so it will have a strong taste that is less strong than macchiato.
Is cortado sweet? It is slightly sweet. Macchiato is also rich and slightly creamy.
Can you have cortado cold? Yes, you can have cortado cold.
