Ask the Counter
Cortadito, cafecito, colada: Cuban coffee, explained.
· 4 min read · Miami Beach
Order coffee in Miami and you will hear words you will not find on a Seattle menu. Cafecito. Colada. Cortadito. They all start in the same place: strong espresso sweetened as it brews, the Cuban way. Here is what each one means, so you can order like you have lived on Collins your whole life.
Cafecito
A cafecito is the foundation: a small, intense shot of Cuban-style espresso whipped with sugar until a golden layer of foam, the espumita, sits on top. It is sweet, strong, and finished in two sips. Most of Miami runs on it.
Colada
A colada is cafecito in sharing format: a larger styrofoam cup with a stack of tiny plastic thimbles. One person buys it, everyone at work drinks it. If someone walks in with a colada and does not offer you a thimble, that tells you everything about them.
Cortadito
The cortadito is Cuban espresso "cut" with a splash of steamed milk, usually close to half and half, and sweetened. It is smaller and sweeter than a latte and smoother than a straight cafecito. If you are new to Cuban coffee, start here.
Cortadito vs cortado
They are cousins, not twins. The Spanish cortado is espresso cut with a little milk and no sugar by default. The Cuban cortadito is built on sweetened espresso. Same idea, very different mood.
Where to drink it in Mid-Beach
Our espresso bar at 5101 Collins Ave pulls cortaditos all day for $3.00, alongside espresso, americanos, cappuccinos, lattes, and an affogato for the afternoon crowd. Walk in from the beach, or order on WhatsApp and we deliver across Mid-Beach.
Quick answers
- Is a cortadito the same as a cortado?
- No. A Spanish cortado is espresso with a little milk and no sugar by default. A Cuban cortadito starts from sweetened espresso, then adds steamed milk.
- How much does a cortadito cost at Green Market?
- A cortadito is $3.00 at our espresso bar at 5101 Collins Ave, Miami Beach. Espresso starts at $2.50.
- What is the difference between cafecito and colada?
- Same coffee, different format. A cafecito is a single small cup. A colada is a larger cup served with tiny thimbles, meant for sharing.