Comparison

Cold brew and iced coffee look identical in a glass. But pour a sip of each and the difference is immediate — cold brew is smooth, low-acid, almost chocolatey; iced coffee is brighter, more acidic, and tastes like hot coffee that’s been chilled. They’re made completely differently, and knowing which is which changes how you make (and enjoy) your coffee at home. (For the full definitional context on cold brew alone — the 17th-century Japanese mizudashi origin, Kyoto-style slow drip, the Stumptown 2011 catalyst that brought cold brew mainstream in the U.S., the chemistry of cold-water extraction, and how cold brew differs from nitro, French press, and espresso — see our What Is Cold Brew? guide. For the full iced-coffee family — iced latte, iced americano, iced mocha, iced cappuccino, iced macchiato, iced flat white, iced caramel macchiato, frappuccino, and Greek frappé — see What Is Iced Coffee? The Complete Guide to Every Iced Coffee Drink.) ...

Cortado and macchiato are two of the most commonly confused drinks on any espresso menu. Both are small, both involve espresso and milk — but they’re meaningfully different in size, ratio, and how they taste. Here’s a precise breakdown. The Quick Answer Cortado Espresso Macchiato Latte Macchiato Size 4oz 2-3oz 6-8oz Espresso Double (2oz) Double (2oz) Single or double Milk 2oz steamed milk 0.5oz milk/foam 4-6oz steamed milk Ratio 1:1 ~4:1 espresso-heavy 1:3 milk-heavy Foam Thin microfoam, no dry foam Small dollop of foam Layered foam on top Origin Spain Italy Italy/Austria The key insight: there are actually two drinks called “macchiato” — espresso macchiato and latte macchiato — and they’re very different from each other. (And in American chains, a third — the Starbucks caramel macchiato — has further muddied the term. For the full definitional breakdown of all three, see our what is a macchiato guide.) ...

Two espresso drinks with steamed milk, served in cups of different sizes. At first glance, a flat white and a latte look almost identical. But for coffee drinkers who care about strength and texture, the difference is meaningful. Here’s exactly how they compare. (For the broader definitional context — what a flat white actually is, the disputed Australia vs New Zealand origin, the etymology of the name, and how a flat white differs from a cappuccino, cortado, and macchiato — see our dedicated What Is a Flat White? guide.) ...