Tried a cortado on a whim and now my usual latte feels like a lie

There's this new shop on 5th Street that opened last month, and the barista talked me into a cortado. I figured it's just a smaller drink, no big deal. But that bold coffee taste with just a splash of milk kinda wrecked my usual order. Now I'm sitting here sipping my watery latte feeling like the biggest sucker. Anyone else get ruined by one accidental perfect drink?

2 comments

2 Comments

hugo_robinson251mo ago

Latte drinkers are just paying for warm milk with coffee guilt attached.

the_thea1mo ago

Hold on though, a good latte is way more than that. The whole point is the espresso base and the texture of the steamed milk, like that thin layer of microfoam on top that feels totally different from just microwaving some milk. If you're paying for warm milk with coffee guilt, you're probably going to a place that doesn't know how to pull a proper shot or steam milk right, which is honestly pretty common (sadly). A properly made latte is a totally different drink from a cup of hot milk with a splash of coffee, it's a specific skill thing.