My Cuban neighbor knocked on my door last spring with the most incredible smell wafting from her kitchen. She was making her grandmother's Cortadito Recipe, and one sip completely changed how I think about morning coffee! The way Cuban coffee blends with warm evaporated milk creates this creamy, sweet perfection that beats any café drink.
My husband actually gave up his usual black coffee after trying this Cuban-style coffee. Now our weekends start with the ritual of making cortaditos together while the kids fight over who gets to stir the sugar paste!
Why You'll Love This Cortadito Recipe
Making cortadito recipe at home feels like bringing a piece of Cuba into my kitchen! My neighbor's grandmother used to make this exact same Cuban coffee every morning, and now I understand why her whole family gathered around the kitchen before work. The smell alone gets everyone out of bed faster than any alarm clock.
What surprised me most was how the evaporated milk transforms ordinary coffee into something magical. My husband tried recreating this at his office with regular milk and complained it tasted "flat" compared to mine. The richness from evaporated milk creates this velvety texture that coats your tongue perfectly.
My sister visited from Miami last month and couldn't believe I'd mastered her favorite coffee shop order at home. The secret is in creating that perfect sugar paste with the first splash of coffee brewing. Unlike café con leche which uses regular milk, cortadito has this rich, almost dessert-like quality that satisfies your sweet tooth and caffeine craving simultaneously. Even my mom, who's been drinking the same instant coffee for twenty years, admitted this tastes like something from an expensive Cuban café!
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What You'll Need
These simple ingredients create the most aromatic Cuban coffee experience that fills your entire kitchen with warmth! I love how most of these items are probably sitting in your pantry right now, just waiting to become something magical.
Main Ingredients
- Water - (I recommend always using filtered water when making coffee drinks)
- Cuban coffee - (You can use other types of coffee, but you'll get the best and most authentic results with Cuban coffee)
- Granulated sugar - (Coconut sugar works fine as a substitute)
- Evaporated milk - (If you want a healthier option, use regular milk or oat milk. But the rich flavor of evaporated milk really makes this drink better)
Optional Extras
Sometimes I add a pinch of cinnamon for extra warmth, or use brown sugar when my daughter wants it sweeter. A tiny dash of vanilla extract makes it taste almost like a dessert, though my husband prefers the traditional version.
Simple and clear directions are in the cortadito recipe card.
How to Make Cortadito Recipe
Making this authentic Cuban cafecito feels like a morning meditation in my kitchen! The whole process fills the house with such incredible aromas that my family starts gathering around before I'm even finished.
Brew the Coffee
Start by bringing your filtered water to a rolling boil in a kettle. Add the Cuban coffee grounds to your French press, then pour half the hot water over the grounds and let them bloom for one minute. This step releases all those rich coffee oils that make this espresso drink recipe so special. Add the remaining water, stir gently, and let it steep for exactly four minutes before pressing down slowly.
Create the Sugar Paste
While your cubano coffee brews, warm the evaporated milk in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Place granulated sugar in your serving mugs, then pour just a splash of the hot Spanish coffee over the sugar. Stir vigorously until it forms a thick, caramel-colored paste. This technique is what separates authentic cortadito from regular coffee drinks ideas!
What's the difference between cortadito and café con leche? Cortadito uses evaporated milk and creates that signature sugar paste, while café con leche recipe typically uses regular milk and is served in larger portions. The cortadito is stronger and richer, perfect for smaller servings.
Combine and Serve
Pour the remaining Cuban coffee recipe into each mug, stirring to blend with the sugar paste. Slowly add the warmed evaporated milk, creating beautiful layers that swirl together. The final result should have a gorgeous caramel color with a slight foam on top from this traditional Cuban food preparation.
Present and Enjoy
Serve immediately in demitasse cups or small glass mugs while steaming hot. The perfect Cortadito Recipe should taste rich, sweet, and creamy with that distinctive Cuban espresso flavor shining through. My family always takes a moment to appreciate the aroma before that first heavenly sip of this beloved Cuban café tradition!
The moment you taste this Cuban-style coffee, you'll understand why it's become our daily tradition. Each cup delivers comfort, energy, and pure satisfaction!
Helpful Tips
- After making hundreds of cortaditos for family and friends, I've discovered the secret that separates good from absolutely incredible! The key is getting that sugar paste consistency just right. My Cuban neighbor taught me to use only the hottest, strongest coffee for the initial sugar mixture. If your paste looks too thin, add a pinch more sugar. Too thick? Just another splash of coffee.
- Here's what changed everything for me: always warm your evaporated milk separately instead of adding it cold. Cold milk kills the beautiful foam and drops the temperature too quickly. My sister learned this the hard way when she served lukewarm cortaditos to her book club!
- Temperature timing is crucial too. I serve mine immediately while everything is piping hot. Cuban coffee loses its magic when it sits around cooling. My husband now knows to drop everything when he hears me stirring that sugar paste because fresh cortadito waits for no one! Trust me, these small details transform a good cup into the authentic Cuban café experience your taste buds are craving.
Ingredient Substitutions & Variations
When my Cuban coffee runs out, I've discovered that dark roast espresso works beautifully for this cortadito recipe! My brother uses regular whole milk instead of evaporated milk when he's watching calories, though I always tell him the richness just isn't the same. For a dairy-free version, oat milk creates surprisingly creamy results.
My daughter loves when I make sweet variations using brown sugar or even a touch of condensed milk for extra richness. Sometimes I'll add a pinch of cinnamon to create this warming Spanish coffee twist that my mom absolutely adores. The traditional Cuban cafecito is perfect as-is, but these simple swaps let everyone enjoy this Cuban food classic their own way.
Storage and Reuse Instructions
Honestly, cortadito is best enjoyed immediately while it's steaming hot and that beautiful foam is still intact! But when I make extra Cuban coffee for my large family gatherings, I've learned a few tricks. The brewed coffee can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two days, though you'll need to reheat it gently on the stove.
My sister tried microwaving leftover cortadito once and called me complaining it tasted "flat and bitter." The evaporated milk separates when reheated too quickly, ruining that silky texture we love. If you must reheat this cortadito recipe, do it slowly in a saucepan while stirring constantly.
The sugar paste technique doesn't work with cold coffee, so I always make fresh paste when reheating. My mom discovered that leftover Cuban coffee makes excellent iced coffee drinks when mixed with cold evaporated milk and simple syrup. Not traditional, but surprisingly refreshing during summer months! For the authentic Cuban cafecito experience though, nothing beats making it fresh every single time.
What to Serve With Cortadito Recipe
Every weekend morning, I serve this cortadito recipe with whatever pastries are sitting on my counter! Last Saturday it was leftover birthday cake, and my husband declared it the best breakfast combination ever.
My daughter loves dunking her biscuits directly into her cortadito, which drives my mom crazy but honestly tastes amazing. Sometimes I'll make Cuban toast on the side, but even simple buttery crackers create this perfect Cuban café vibe. The key is choosing something that won't compete with the cortadito's creamy sweetness but instead enhances that authentic morning ritual we've all grown to love.
FAQ
What is cortadito made of?
Cortadito is made with strong Cuban coffee, granulated sugar, and evaporated milk. The key is creating a thick sugar paste by mixing the first splash of hot coffee with sugar, then adding the remaining coffee and warmed evaporated milk. My neighbor taught me that authentic cortadito always uses evaporated milk rather than regular milk for that signature creamy texture.
How to make a good cortadito?
The secret to perfect cortadito is all in the sugar paste! Use the hottest, strongest coffee to dissolve your sugar completely, creating a caramel-colored paste. Always warm your evaporated milk separately and serve immediately while everything is steaming hot. My Cuban cafecito always turns out best when I don't rush any of these steps.
What is coffee with evaporated milk called?
Coffee with evaporated milk can be called cortadito when made Cuban-style with the sugar paste, or simply café con leche evaporada in some Latin American countries. The evaporated milk creates that distinctive rich, creamy texture that regular milk just can't match in coffee drinks. More about this can be found in this article on Food52.
What is a colada vs cortadito?
A colada is pure, strong Cuban espresso served black and meant for sharing among multiple people in small cups. Cortadito, on the other hand, is an individual serving that includes evaporated milk and sugar paste, making it creamier and sweeter. My husband prefers colada while I love the smoothness of cortadito!
What is a cortadito from Starbucks?
Starbucks doesn't actually serve a traditional cortadito, but they do offer a cortado, which is similar. However, their version uses regular steamed milk instead of evaporated milk and lacks the signature sugar paste that makes authentic Cuban coffee so special. You can read more about it on Starbucks' official announcement. My family tried theirs once and agreed homemade tastes infinitely better!
More Recipes You'll Love
When this cortadito disappears too quickly from our morning routine, I always have other cozy drink recipes ready to keep the kitchen magic going!
Kentucky Mule Cocktail - My husband's favorite bourbon drink that's refreshing yet warming perfectly.
Red Wine Slushie - Summer poolside treat that my daughter requests for every family gathering.
Transfusion Recipe - Discovered this at my brother's golf tournament and make it constantly now.
Gummy Bear Shot - These adorable shots make everyone giggle before they even taste them.
Black Manhattan Cocktail - Perfect for when you want something sophisticated but still approachable.
Want more morning magic? This cortadito recipe is warming, authentic, and always a hit with coffee lovers.
Tried this recipe? Tag me on Pinterest @AlianaRecipes - I'd love to see your Cuban coffee creations! Share this recipe with friends who need more authentic coffee Drinks in their morning routine.
Related
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Cortadito Recipe:
Easy Cortadito Recipe
Equipment
- 1 French press To brew strong Cuban coffee
- 1 Saucepan To warm the evaporated milk
- 2 Glass mugs To serve the cortadito
- 1 Spoon To stir sugar into paste
Ingredients
- ½ cup filtered water - Use freshly boiled for blooming the coffee
- 1 ½ tablespoons Cuban coffee grounds - Strong, finely ground
- 1 ½ tablespoons granulated sugar - Can substitute with coconut or brown sugar
- ¼ cup evaporated milk - Warmed separately before use
- optional pinch cinnamon - For added warmth (optional)
- optional dash vanilla extract - Adds dessert-like aroma (optional)
Instructions
- Boil filtered water. Add Cuban coffee to French press. Pour half the water and let bloom for 1 minute. Add the rest, stir, and steep for 4 minutes. Press slowly.
- Add sugar to serving mug. Pour a small splash of hot coffee and stir vigorously until it forms a thick caramel-colored paste.
- Pour the remaining coffee into the mug and mix with the sugar paste. Slowly add warm evaporated milk and allow natural swirl to form.
- Serve hot in glass mugs or demitasse cups. Best enjoyed fresh while foam is intact and aroma is rich.
- Leftover Cuban coffee can be stored for 2 days in the fridge. Reheat slowly in a saucepan and remake sugar paste fresh.
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