Cortado vs Flat White vs Latte: What’s the Difference?

Cortado vs Flat White vs Latte Comparison

Feature	Cortado	Flat White	Latte
Espresso amount	36–40 g double espresso	36–40 g double espresso	36–40 g double espresso
Milk amount	40–60 ml	110–130 ml	180–220 ml
Typical size	90–120 ml	150–180 ml	250–300 ml
Foam	Very little	Thin microfoam layer	Thin to moderate microfoam
Texture	Dense and smooth	Silky and integrated	Creamy and fluid
Perceived coffee strength	Strongest	Strong	Softest
Best for	Espresso intensity with a little softness	Coffee flavour with silky milk	A gentle, milk-forward drink

The exact sizes vary between cafés, but the order should remain useful: Cortado smallest, Flat White in the middle and Latte largest.

What Is a Cortado?

A Cortado combines espresso with approximately the same amount of warm milk. Its name comes from the Spanish idea of coffee being “cut” by milk. The milk reduces sharpness and bitterness without changing the drink into a large, creamy cup.

The texture is smooth but only lightly aerated. There should not be a deep foam cap. A double espresso with 40–60 ml milk in a 120–150 ml glass makes a practical home version. Follow the Cortado recipe for exact measurements.

What Is a Flat White?

A Flat White uses a double espresso with roughly 110–130 ml of steamed milk. The milk contains very fine microfoam and should pour like glossy paint, integrating with the espresso instead of creating separate dry layers.

It normally fits a 150–180 ml cup. That compact size keeps the coffee noticeable while giving the drink more sweetness and a silkier texture than a Cortado. The Flat White recipe uses the same 18 g coffee dose as the other drinks in this comparison.

What Is a Latte?

A Caffè Latte combines espresso with considerably more steamed milk, often 180–220 ml for a double shot. It is usually served in a 250–300 ml cup with a thin layer of microfoam.

Because milk is the largest part of the drink, a Latte tastes gentle, sweet and creamy. It is a useful base for vanilla, caramel or other measured flavours, but a plain Caffè Latte should still have a clear espresso foundation.

Espresso-to-Milk Balance

The espresso can remain identical across all three drinks. If each uses 18 g coffee brewed to a 36–40 g yield, the milk amount controls perceived strength:

• Cortado: around one part espresso to one or one-and-a-half parts milk;
• Flat White: around one part espresso to three parts milk;
• Latte: around one part espresso to five parts milk.

These are practical starting ratios rather than legal definitions. Cup volume, milk expansion and local café convention all create variation. What matters is that the chosen cup supports the intended balance.

Milk Texture and Foam

Milk quantity is only half the distinction. Texture changes how sweetness, aroma and weight reach the palate.

A Cortado needs minimal aeration: add just enough air to remove the feeling of plain hot milk. A Flat White needs fine microfoam distributed through the whole pitcher. A Latte can carry slightly more air, but it should remain fluid rather than becoming a stiff cap.

The Steam Silky Milk lesson explains how to position the steam tip, create a vortex and stop at a temperature that preserves sweetness. For all three, large visible bubbles mean the milk was stretched too aggressively.

Typical Serving Size

Serving size keeps the ratios honest. Putting a Cortado recipe into a 300 ml mug leaves a great deal of empty space or encourages you to add too much milk. Putting a Latte recipe into a 150 ml cup simply will not fit.

Use a 120–150 ml vessel for a Cortado, 150–180 ml for a Flat White and 250–300 ml for a Latte. Preheat ceramic cups briefly so a small drink does not lose heat before the first sip.

Which Tastes Strongest?

The Cortado usually tastes strongest because the espresso is diluted by the least milk. The Flat White follows: it has enough milk for sweetness and silkiness, but the compact cup keeps the coffee prominent. The Latte tastes softest because the same espresso is spread through much more milk.

Perceived strength is not the same as caffeine. If all three use the same double espresso, they contain approximately the same caffeine. Adding milk changes concentration and flavour, not the amount of coffee already brewed.

Which Should You Order or Make?

Choose a Cortado when you enjoy espresso but want its sharp edges softened. Choose a Flat White when you want a balanced meeting of coffee and glossy milk. Choose a Latte when you prefer a larger, gentler drink or want room for a subtle syrup.

At home, begin with the drink that fits your cup and pitcher. A small milk pitcher makes a Cortado easier; a reliable steam wand and 150–180 ml cup favour a Flat White. For every option, first make a balanced shot with the Espresso brew guide, because milk can soften a fault but cannot remove it.

Frequently asked questions

What is the main difference between a Cortado, Flat White and Latte?

The main difference is the amount and texture of milk. A Cortado uses the least milk, a Flat White uses more silky microfoam in a compact cup, and a Latte uses the most milk in the largest serving.

Which tastes stronger: Cortado, Flat White or Latte?

A Cortado usually tastes strongest, followed by a Flat White and then a Latte. They may contain the same espresso dose, but less milk makes the coffee taste more concentrated.

Do all three drinks use the same espresso?

They can. The KAVOVO recipes use an 18 g coffee dose brewed to 36–40 g espresso. Changing the milk quantity and cup size creates the three different drinks.

Which drink has the most foam?

A Latte may have the most total microfoam because it uses more milk, but none should have a thick, dry cap. A Flat White has the thinnest integrated microfoam layer, while a Cortado is only lightly textured.

What cup size should each drink use?

Use roughly 120–150 ml for a Cortado, 150–180 ml for a Flat White and 250–300 ml for a Latte. Correct cup size helps preserve the intended espresso-to-milk balance.

Which is best for someone new to espresso?

A Latte is the gentlest starting point because its larger milk quantity softens bitterness and acidity. A Flat White reveals more coffee flavour, while a Cortado stays closest to the intensity of straight espresso.