An espresso is the base of most coffee beverages whether it’s a cappuccino, latte, americano and so on. The forementioned are some of the most popular worldwide. By itself, espresso is very popular especially in southern Europe, but its popularity is growing in the US.
But for taste or preference, some people just don’t like espresso. “It’s too strong”, “it’s bitter” are some of the remarks I’ve heard. And you know what, they may be right. Preparing an espresso takes effort, patience, and knowhow. The workflow is much more complex compared to a regular cup of coffee for example.
Some of these complexities include the quality of coffee beans. Dailing-in is also a factor and not getting it right can result in an under or ever extracted shot. This results in either a bitter, sour, weak, or too strong a taste. Then there’s water temperature, time and correct pressure while pulling a shot.
Even in popular cafes, one can’t reliably buy a perfectly pulled espresso. But even when it’s perfectly pulled, the taste doesn’t please everyone. Many of us have become accustomed to regular coffee and a concentrated form of it is overwhelming.
But there are options for coffee lovers to enjoy a drink similar to espresso but milder. Like most people, I love drip coffee and americanos. But there are days in which I just want coffee without much water or milk.
If you love coffee and the kick it gives you, imagine back-to-back double espressos. Yup, two Doppios and I’m good to go without feeling full. So, what is something similar to an espresso but more palatable for people who dislike espresso?
A cortado!
This drink consists of 50% espresso and 50% steamed milk. The percentage can vary to personal preference. You can add more or less milk. To remove acidity, Italians add a drop or two of milk to their espresso. But with a 50/50 mix, we’re talking a total of 2 to 2.5 ounces of total liquid.
A cortado is also a good idea for espresso shots that are bitter or sour. The added milk will mask the taste. This is what I do when dialing in with a new type of coffee beans. I don’t like wasting my beans, especially specialty varieties.
If you haven’t tried a cortado yet, order one the next time you’re at a café and see how it tastes. It’s a way to get into the world of espresso.