Cortado vs. Piccolo: What’s the Difference?

[@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters]

Have you personally tried a piccolo and a cortado? What do you think, which is your favorite?

[@karasong7701]

I'm doing both in my pop-up business. It's really nice when people who think they're getting into a coffee "kill zone" go wide-eyed in wonder at the taste of truly nicely done strong coffees like a cortado.

[@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters]

Very cool

[@alexwilson27]

Perfect timing for this video as Starbucks is just about to launch a “cortado” in the US, which is actually a triple ristretto in a 220ml cup.

[@StefanHanrath]

In grande, venti and tall?

[@AlexSweeney-rz4jg]

@@StefanHanrath In America, it will be served in their short size cup, which is 8oz or ~240mL

[@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters]

and this is why no one knows how to make anything! Starbucks are not specialty coffee and they just do what they want so I wouldn't refer to them for recipes.

[@alexwilson27]

@@AlexSweeney-rz4jg my bad, I was trying to do the math in my head, thought I was close 😂

[@alexwilson27]

@@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters oh of course, that’s what I’m saying here is that I hope a lot of people look up what a real cortado is and end up here

[@PositivelyNice]

I admire your skills a lot. If I go back to Australia one day, I’ll go and look for an Artisti. 😊 Smiles from Singapore.

[@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters]

Thanks. We love when people visit us. Make sure you tell the team to come find me. Jimmy

[@marie-claudecuerrier6818]

Love a cortado! Starbucks just launched its cortado here in Canada and it’s served in one size only-piccolo! 😂

[@gabrielgould3549]

Cortado is my daily drink. In my shop we serve cortados the same way you did but we do a 22g in 33g out ristretto shot. Lots of people get cortados here in the USA. I’ve never even heard of a piccolo until today. Sounds good though. Fort Smith Coffee Co. Arkansas, USA

[@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters]

Hey, I love that ratio. We're all about the piccolo here in Aus. Cheers, Jimmy

[@Seinkal]

The cortado in Argentina (at least in speacialty coffee shops) are just like a piccolo, 1 shot of espresso and milk in a 100ml glass. Its by far my favourite drink at the moment, because of that same reason, the sweetness of the milk combined with a rich taste of the espresso ♥

[@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters]

Interesting how it can be a different drink in another country!

[@risingphoenix01]

I've just learned a few things today, definitely trying a Cotado as over the last few years my coffee tastes have changed and I'm liking my coffee a lot stronger but I still can't do straight shots of coffee though, so a Cotado sounds perfect! Who knew that Piccolo was an Australian thing, I'm still blown away that the rest of the world is only just finding out about flat whites, go figure.

[@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters]

I think enjoying strong coffee is learnt over time the more you drink coffee. Coffee is still new to some people, after 20 years in it, that blows my mind 🤣

[@kitcraft9516]

I find cortados quite the interesting topic. Having lived in Spain for many years before I even knew what specialty coffee was, it has always been my go-to drink. A Spanish cortado from a random, non-third wave cafe/pub, has some real punch. Quite darkly roasted, and most places seem to make all of their drinks with the same grind. You can almost always seem the coffee being made if you are inside and they seem to pull something closer to a lungo. About 2/3 coffee and 1/3 milk. So, as you can imagine, when I had my first cortado from a specialty shop it was quite a different experience. Giving a taste more like the milk leftover from a bowl of cereal. Sweeter, lighter and slightly floral. Almost like there was no coffee at all, lol. Point being, it is almost like they aren't even the same drink. Now at home I just pull a double into an 89ml demi and top up with steamed milk. Call it what you will. Basically, make my cortado in the piccolo glass and I'll be happy.

[@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters]

It is interesting how the definition of a drink can change between locations. We really just do what we want here 😅

[@candypero]

Thanks so much I have really learnt a whole lot from your videos

[@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters]

You are most welcome! Glad to hear they are helping you :)

[@iciervasotomayor]

Here in Spain, a cortado usually has much less milk. One part milk to four parts water, or less. That mixture at 50% here would be a “café con leche”.

[@stephenjenkins1102]

So if a piccolo is 1 shot to 60ml of milk and a cortado is a double shot to 60ml of milk, how is a piccolo stronger?

[@JohnSmith-zy1ur]

Ristretto?

[@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters]

The piccolo is 1 shot (22.5g yield) to 90mls of milk while the cortado is 2 shots (45g yield) to 120ml of milk. Twice as much coffee but only 30ml more milk, hence why it's stronger. Does this make sense? Jimmy

[@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters]

No, still single shot for piccolo, double for cortado.

[@I_Am_The_Devils_Advocate]

​​@@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters I appreciate your efforts to address their question, and I like your content! I actually had/have the same question, and no, your response didn't resolve it. You said that the Piccolo ~"better showcased the flavours of the coffee" but that doesn't make any sense given that _milk _*_does_*_ have a flavor_ (that can vary) and a piccolo has a higher milk:coffee ratio, meaning more milk flavor than coffee flavor relative to a cortado. Please explain. Separately, (and I'm sorry in advance for being a grammar zealot) "hence why" is redundant; "hence" is just fine on its own. ❤️

[@NoZenith]

Thiiiisssss ​@@I_Am_The_Devils_Advocate

[@aviphysics]

Cortado is my go-to milk drink. I like the stronger flavors and lower calorie load than a latte.

[@ystebadvonschlegel3295]

Exactly this. I'm not there to drink straight espresso daily, but the cortado allows me a pretty strong flavor and less calories. I think it's the best drink out there.

[@abuzaydu]

Any links for those cortado and piccolo glasses/cups?

[@brucesherborne408]

What size take away cups would you use for each of these or would you just not fill up a 6 Oz according to the coffee milk ratio

[@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters]

you'd have to fill a 6oz cup a little low. 6oz is about 180ml.

[@markarmenta1919]

My 2 favorite drinks! 👍🏼

[@ChristopherRagsdale]

I order a cortado, but I now want to talk a local barista into making me a piccolo

[@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters]

Yeah give it a try for sure.

[@bensadler874]

So many baristas have no clue when I ask for a cortardo when not at my local trusted. I believe in Spanish it means to cut. I love my cortado when I just don’t want a whole lot of milk.

[@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters]

You're right at the 'to cut'. It's just rare to find a 120ml glass, I had to go hunting for just this one. It's really just a 2/3 full double latte.

[@Dannbeeezy]

Do you guys ever use a double ristretto in place of a single shot for the piccolo?

[@aaronsmith3484]

Dunno about them but that’s done, more practical if you don’t wanna split your shots I guess

[@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters]

yeah sometimes but only on request. It's not a standard recipe but it tastes great too.

[@jamesec1949]

Jimmy, some of us like a sweetener in our coffee. So as not to ruin your lovely design, would I ask that you please add a packet of a sugar alternative before pulling your shot? Thx, James. USA of course.

[@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters]

yes, put the sugar in the cup, pull the shot so it's hot enough to melt the sugar, stir and pour.

[@jamesec1949]

@@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters Jimmy, I mean at your coffee shop. When I order a latte from you, do I ask that you put a sugar packet in first? I’ve noticed that I’ve not seen one person get sugar when I watch your videos. Or have they already asked?

[@pauls1123]

Thanks… mines a Piccolo then.. ❤❤

[@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters]

Great.

[@andthen0170]

I sometimes order a long macchiato. Double shot with a dash. Is this a thing or made up?

[@forestzhang3191]

Sounds like a Macchiato with extra shot, so it’s not a thing, but definitely not a problem

[@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters]

We make long macchiatos with hot water and a stain of milk. More like a long black with a stain of milk. Others will say yes, a double mac is just a double shot with a stain of milk. Not made up at all.

[@ImLexReaper]

Where do you get that attachment for your anfim and how do you install it?

[@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters]

If you're in Australia you can get it from us artisti.com.au/products/anfim-scale-holder-platform

[@ImLexReaper]

@@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters Im in the UK, can't see anything online, any advice?

[@rondivecchia4561]

I was taught a piccolo latte was half an 8 oz latte. It has the same 1:3 ratio but in a 4 oz cup.

[@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters]

An 8oz cup is about 240ml, therefore half that is 120ml which is perfect for a cortado but not a piccolo. You'd have to go even lower for a piccolo

[@sandibanbautil341]

Doubleshot of espresso shot yield? Singleshot of espresso yield?

[@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters]

Using a 1:2 normal ratio. 22g dose : 44g yield. So the double shot is the full 44g yield and the single shot is just one side / spout of that 44g yield, therefore just 22g in the glass.

[@ystebadvonschlegel3295]

@@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters Is 22G typical commercial dose? I use 20g at home but see most home users doing 18g. I'll definitely jump up to 22G if that's the way forward!

[@NoZenith]

​@ystebadvon i would say make sure you don't overload your basket. Different machines have different types of baskets and you can buy different sized baskets. Baskets are actually volumetric and different beans will weigh different amounts when ground. if you don't have enough headspace between the top of your tamped coffee bed and the shower screen inside your espresso group head, the coffee cannot expand properly as it's wetted and you will get an uneven extraction. I believe james hoffman and lance hedrick both have videos on this if you're curious. You can also look up the breville razor tool, and there are quick little videos on how to use that, and it explains with visual AIDS very quickly. I have a breville bambino plus with 54mm portafilter and the double basket holds exactly 18.5 grams of my current coffee. The single shot basket (both stock that shipped with the Breville machine) holds exactly 10.5g repeatably, even with a couple tics finer grind on my Niche Zero to compensate for the more shallow bed. The Wired Gourmet might be an excellent resource for this kinda info as well if you're really looking to get the groundwork knowledge. schlegel3295

[@robertsabrinashroff6265]

So the picolo is 3:1 drink. Doesn't that make it a small flat white?

[@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters]

No a flat white is the same single shot but usually in a 190ml cup.

[@zeltwood...]

The cafe I use to work at added the cortado to our menu. But they added sizes! People ordering 20 fl oz cortado?!?! It had 4 double shots! I just quit 😂

[@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters]

This makes 0 sense 😅

[@matthewbachofen2532]

I’m confused how 45g of liquid is 60ml. Is your coffee magically lighter than water?

[@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters]

This is why we stopped using ml's to measure coffee. It's because of the crema that it only takes 45g to get to 60ml. The crema takes up room in the cup but doesn't weigh anything. Hope this helps. Jimmy

[@alexlazaridisf.7276]

So the piccolo is about 11 grams of coffee and about 80 grams of milk?

[@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters]

more like a 22g yield in a 90ml glass.

[@CH-yp5by]

45ml is a bloody strong coffee, surely you cannot push the ration to 1:2.5 so that way its only at 33 / 34ml per shot thats strong enough for a medium roast coffee!

[@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters]

We use 22.5g of coffee so the 1:2 ratio makes it 45g. Tastes great with our Champion Blend.

[@itsTorge]

And now.. what is a Magic?!

[@ArtistiCoffeeRoasters]

yep, I think it's time... if we're game.

[@StormchaserJockMcGinty]

Mugacino - not a real word, Soycino - not a real word, please don’t say the word ‘extra’ five times when you want it really hot, and no, I’m not making an almond milk babycino in the middle of my morning rush.

[@ystebadvonschlegel3295]

LOL