No, a cortado usually contains 60–130 mg of caffeine, matching one or two espresso shots.
A cortado pairs espresso with warm milk in a near 1:1 ratio. The cup is small, the flavor stays bold, and the caffeine rides with whatever espresso shots you pull. That means the question isn’t about milk; it’s about how many shots go in the glass and how strong those shots are. So, does a cortado have a lot of caffeine?
Cortado Caffeine Basics
Most cafés pour a cortado into a 4–6 ounce glass. Many bar menus default to a double shot, while others pour a single. Milk doesn’t change caffeine; it softens texture and heat. The math is simple: caffeine per shot multiplied by the number of shots.
Across cafés, a single espresso shot often lands near 60–75 milligrams. One shot cortado? You’re in the same range. Double shot cortado? Roughly double that. Size changes the milk volume, not the caffeine.
Where Cortado Sits Next To Other Espresso Drinks
Use this quick table to place a cortado beside familiar café staples. Values show typical shop builds, with caffeine estimated per shot.
| Drink | Typical Shots | Approx Caffeine (mg) |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso | 1 | 60–75 |
| Cortado | 1–2 | 60–150 |
| Macchiato | 1 | 60–75 |
| Cappuccino | 1–2 | 60–150 |
| Flat White | 2 | 120–150 |
| Latte | 1–2 | 60–150 |
| Americano | 1–2 | 60–150 |
| Gibraltar | 2 | 120–150 |
Because cafés set their own standards, your cortado can swing from a single to a double. If you want a lighter ride, ask for one shot; if you want more pep, ask for two.
Shot math gets clear once you know how much caffeine in espresso. With that baseline, the rest is easy to read on any menu.
You can also anchor the numbers to an official database. The USDA espresso data lists restaurant espresso at about 63 milligrams per fluid ounce, which lines up with many café shots.
Does A Cortado Have A Lot Of Caffeine? Details By Size
Short answer: not a lot. A cortado’s punch comes from espresso, and the serving stays small. Compared with big mugs of brewed coffee, the total caffeine sits in the low to mid camp unless a café builds it with extra shots.
Here’s how the numbers play out using that 63 mg per shot reference:
Single Shot Cortado (About 4–5 Ounces)
Build: one shot of espresso topped with warm milk to a small glass. Caffeine: about 60–70 mg, depending on the beans and extraction. Taste: rich and direct, with milk taming the edges. Best pick when you want espresso flavor without a long drink.
Double Shot Cortado (Often 5–6 Ounces)
Build: two shots with the same compact glass. Caffeine: about 120–140 mg. Taste: fuller body and a stronger finish, balanced by equal parts milk. This is the house default in many specialty cafés and in “Gibraltar” style pours.
Milk Choice, Sweeteners, And Temperature
Dairy or oat milk? Whole or skim? None of those change caffeine. Sugar, syrups, and a cooler steaming temp shift flavor and mouthfeel, not caffeine. If you want less stimulation, change the shot count, not the milk.
How Cortado Stacks Up To Drip Coffee And Cold Brew
Drip coffee usually brings a larger dose in total because the serving is bigger. An eight ounce mug often lands near 80–100 mg. Twelve ounces pushes the total higher. Cold brew can climb even more, based on concentrate strength and size.
The next table compares typical servings so you can scan totals at a glance.
| Beverage | Common Serving | Approx Caffeine (mg) |
|---|---|---|
| Cortado (1 shot) | 4–5 oz | 60–70 |
| Cortado (2 shots) | 5–6 oz | 120–140 |
| Drip Coffee | 8 oz | 80–100 |
| Drip Coffee | 12 oz | 120–150 |
| Americano (2 shots) | 8–12 oz | 120–150 |
| Cold Brew | 12–16 oz | 150–240 |
If you’re deciding between a cortado and a drip, start with size. A cortado keeps the sip short and controlled. Drip or cold brew stretch the serving, so totals climb even when ounce for ounce they’re milder than espresso.
How To Order The Caffeine Level You Want
Tell the barista what you’re aiming for, and use the shot count as your steering wheel. Ask for a single if you like a briefer lift, or a double if you want a stronger kick in the same small glass. If a shop lists a default, they’ll happily tweak it on request.
Simple Ways To Dial It In
- Choose your shot count: one for lighter, two for stronger.
- Skip extra shots late in the day: sleep thanks you.
- Pick smaller cups: don’t turn a cortado into a latte by accident.
- Ask for decaf or half-caf: the format stays the same; the buzz changes.
Who Should Be More Careful With Cortados
Most adults can enjoy a cortado without trouble, but some people should keep a closer eye on intake. Pregnancy calls for a lower daily cap. Those with doctor-directed limits or heightened sensitivity may feel jitters at smaller doses.
Public guidance pegs an upper daily limit near 400 mg for healthy adults. That’s about six single shots or two to three strong café drinks. Single intakes around 200 mg are usually viewed as fine for most adults, with a lower cap during pregnancy. The FDA caffeine guidance explains these ranges in plain language.
Cortado Versus Gibraltar, Piccolo, And Flat White
These names can blur. A “Gibraltar” is a double shot with equal milk in a short glass. A “piccolo” leans closer to a mini latte with a finer foam cap. A flat white is milkier and larger, often built with two shots and a thin microfoam. In caffeine terms, shot count rules the day across all three.
Cafés may tune ratios and glassware, so ask how they build each drink. If you enjoy the cortado mouthfeel but want just a touch less punch, you can request a single shot Gibraltar or a piccolo on a single shot.
Beans, Roast, And Extraction: Do They Change Cortado Caffeine?
Arabica and robusta carry different caffeine levels, and blends vary. Dark roasts look stronger, yet lighter roasts can retain a tad more caffeine per gram. Grind and yield steer extraction. These factors nudge the final number, but not as much as swapping one shot for two.
Per ounce, espresso is dense. Per cup, brewed coffee wins on total only because cups run larger. If you enjoy digging into this angle, the idea shows up when you ask whether is espresso stronger than coffee; it depends on how you define stronger.
Decaf Cortado And Half-Caf Options
Decaf still holds a small amount of caffeine, yet the total is far lower. A decaf cortado keeps the format you like with a gentler lift. Half-caf splits one regular shot with one decaf. If you love the ritual but want fewer milligrams, both paths work well.
At home, you can pour a decaf single and add milk to match your glass. The feel stays the same. The taste leans softer, which many people prefer late in the day.
Home Barista Tips For Consistent Results
Weigh your dose: a scale beats guessing. Keep the dose steady so your shots behave the same from day to day.
Watch yield time: aim for a repeatable window for your machine and basket. Consistency helps the caffeine estimate match your target.
Mind the glass: a true cortado rides in a small, heat-safe glass. Resist upsizing unless you’re adding more espresso.
Steam lightly: you want warm, silky milk, not a big foam cap. That texture is what sets a cortado apart from cappuccino or latte.
Smart Ways To Fit Cortados Into Your Day
Pre-workout: a double can stand in for an energy drink without the volume.
After lunch: a single keeps you alert with a compact serving.
Evening dessert: pick decaf or half-caf to enjoy the flavor without a long buzz.
Quick Clarifications On Cortados
Is A Cortado Stronger Than A Cappuccino?
Shot for shot, strength is the same. Both are espresso-based. Cortado uses less milk, so flavor feels bolder even when caffeine matches.
Why Does My Cortado Sometimes Taste Stronger?
Roast, grind size, yield, and bean type shift flavor and extraction. Those factors can nudge caffeine a little, but the big swing comes from whether you get one shot or two.
Does Cup Size Change Caffeine?
Not by itself. A bigger cortado glass only adds milk unless you add more espresso. Caffeine tracks the shot count.
Cortado Size, Glass, And Menu Names
Most shops pour a cortado into a 4–6 ounce glass, often a heatproof tumbler. Some menus label the same build as a “Gibraltar” when it lands in a specific Libbey glass. Others pour a “piccolo” when they nudge the milk texture toward latte style. Names shift, yet the principle holds: one or two shots, short glass, equal milk. If your café uses a different glass or name, ask which build they pour by default.
Want the taste at home without a professional setup? You can brew a moka pot, pull a small dose through an espresso-style brewer, or use a capsule machine on its lowest water setting. Warm the milk on the stove or with a wand, then pour equal amounts. You’ll get the same compact format and a clear sense of how one shot compares with two for your day. Ask for it by the shot count.
Bottom Line On Cortado Caffeine
If the question is, “Does a cortado have a lot of caffeine?” the everyday answer is no. Most pours sit between one and two shots, so totals span 60–140 mg in a small, satisfying glass. Want less? Ask for one shot. Want more? Ask for two. Simple, predictable, and easy to fit into a balanced day. If you’re dialing down intake this month, our quick primer on caffeine withdrawal symptoms can help you plan a gentler step-down.