Both are small, and they are built on opposite principles.
Cappuccino
Traditionally equal thirds — espresso, steamed milk, foam — in a 150 to 180 ml cup.
The foam layer is substantial and deliberate, a centimetre or more, and it is part of the drink rather than a garnish.
Milk to coffee is roughly 1:4 or 1:5.
Cortado
Espresso cut with an equal volume of warm milk, in a small glass around 110 ml.
Minimal foam — a thin skin at most. The milk is there to soften the espresso, not to create a texture.
Milk to coffee is 1:1.
What that means in the cup
A cappuccino is a milk drink with coffee in it — soft, light, with the foam changing the mouthfeel considerably.
A cortado is espresso, slightly tempered. The coffee dominates completely, and a bad shot has nowhere to hide.
The others in the family
Flat white — double ristretto with around 130 ml of milk and a thin microfoam. Between the two.
Latte — much more milk, 1:5 or wider, thin foam.
Piccolo — ristretto with about twice its volume in milk, in a small glass.
Which to order
Cortado if you want to taste the coffee. Cappuccino if you want a milk drink. Flat white if you want both.
Last reviewed 8 August 2026