![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sbxctado1.jpeg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Hello, Cortado!<\/p>\n
Starbucks is starting the year with a bang – well, a real caffeine bang – with the introduction of the Cortado. It has three ristretto shots of the Starbucks Blonde Espresso and steamed milk.<\/p>\n
To start, let’s have a primer on what a ristretto shot is. Yes, a ristretto shot is an espresso shot, but the way it’s made is slightly different. There is less water “pulled” with the shot from the espresso machine, so while it uses the same amount of ground coffee as a regular shot, there’s less liquid that actually comes from the machine. So to put it simply, it’s more concentrated. There’s a lot of caffeine in a little liquid!<\/p>\n
OK, on to the review! Holy cannoli, this might be my new favorite drink. First of all, it comes in a short cup (8 ounces), and it is ADORABLE. I think this is the first time I’ve ever ordered a short drink at Starbucks (and I’ve been a proud gold card member since 2013). It somehow made the drink FEEL less intense despite the three shots inside!<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sbxctado2.jpeg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n
The Blonde Espresso here really has a nice, light flavor. Combined with the steamed milk, I really liken this to a latte. Same concept – espresso and milk – just with the method described above. So if you’re a latte lover, consider trying this as an alternative when you need more of a buzz. It was buttery and biscuit-y in flavor and very smooth to drink. If you’re customizing, you can certainly choose a milk alternative here (whole milk is the standard recipe).<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sbxctado3.jpeg?resize=600%2C800&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n
I certainly didn’t notice a taste difference with the ristretto shot, so don’t be wary of that. But the 230 milligrams of caffeine did power me through the afternoon! You could start your day with the Cortado or have it as a pick-me-up. I highly recommend and am looking forward to more of these in my future. A great way to start the new year!<\/p>\n
Purchased Price:<\/strong> $4.45 Hello, Cortado! Starbucks is starting the year with a bang – well, a real caffeine bang – with the introduction of the Cortado. It has three ristretto shots of the Starbucks Blonde Espresso and steamed milk. To start, let’s have a primer on what a ristretto shot is. Yes, a ristretto shot is an espresso […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1440],"tags":[1540,1477,1542],"class_list":["post-67122","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews","tag-coffee","tag-fast-food","tag-starbucks"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":71886,"url":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2025\/09\/01\/starbucks-pecan-oatmilk-cortado-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":67122,"position":0},"title":"REVIEW: Starbucks Pecan Oatmilk Cortado","author":"Heather","date":"September 1, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Ask any of my colleagues, they can vouch for me: While the official first day of fall is the day Starbucks releases its PSL and other fall menu items, I definitely bragged about a new beverage around the water cooler. After introducing the Cortado at the start of the year,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Reviews"","block_context":{"text":"Reviews","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/category\/reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/sbxpecanomctado1-600x600.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/sbxpecanomctado1-600x600.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/sbxpecanomctado1-600x600.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":41687,"url":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2020\/01\/10\/starbucks-almondmilk-honey-flat-white-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":67122,"position":1},"title":"REVIEW: Starbucks Almondmilk Honey Flat White","author":"Heather","date":"January 10, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"What is the Starbucks Almondmilk Honey Flat White? Starbucks is promoting its dairy-free options in 2020 with several new beverages, including the Almondmilk Honey Flat White. A spin on the classic Flat White, this one has almondmilk and honey for a touch of sweetness. How is it? As someone who\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Reviews"","block_context":{"text":"Reviews","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/category\/reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Starbucks-Almondmilk-Honey-Flat-White-2.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Starbucks-Almondmilk-Honey-Flat-White-2.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Starbucks-Almondmilk-Honey-Flat-White-2.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Starbucks-Almondmilk-Honey-Flat-White-2.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Starbucks-Almondmilk-Honey-Flat-White-2.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":52746,"url":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2022\/09\/02\/starbucks-apple-crisp-oatmilk-macchiato-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":67122,"position":2},"title":"REVIEW: Starbucks Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato","author":"Heather","date":"September 2, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Update 8\/25\/23: We also tried the Starbucks Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso! 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Another dairy-free, caffeine-packing drink has hit the Starbucks menu. The new Iced Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso (try saying that one five times fast!) combines espresso shots with toasted vanilla syrup and oatmilk. How is it? At first sip, you'll\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Reviews"","block_context":{"text":"Reviews","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/category\/reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sbitvose2.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sbitvose2.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sbitvose2.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sbitvose2.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sbitvose2.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":57715,"url":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2023\/08\/25\/starbucks-iced-apple-crisp-oatmilk-shaken-espresso-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":67122,"position":4},"title":"REVIEW: Starbucks Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso","author":"Heather","date":"August 25, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Despite the heat here in the Midwest, Starbucks has its jeans and hoodie on and is ready for fall. 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Does\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Reviews"","block_context":{"text":"Reviews","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/category\/reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Starbucks Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso Cup","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/stbiacosesp1-600x800.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/stbiacosesp1-600x800.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/stbiacosesp1-600x800.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":46106,"url":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2021\/03\/05\/starbucks-iced-chocolate-almondmilk-shaken-espresso-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":67122,"position":5},"title":"REVIEW: Starbucks Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso","author":"Heather","date":"March 5, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"What is the Starbucks Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso? Starbucks recently released new shaken espresso beverages, and the Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso is one of the two. (Here's the review of the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso.) This one pairs Starbucks Blonde espresso with almondmilk and chocolate malt\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Reviews"","block_context":{"text":"Reviews","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/category\/reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Starbucks-Iced-Chocolate-Almondmilk-Shaken-Espresso-Top.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Starbucks-Iced-Chocolate-Almondmilk-Shaken-Espresso-Top.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Starbucks-Iced-Chocolate-Almondmilk-Shaken-Espresso-Top.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Starbucks-Iced-Chocolate-Almondmilk-Shaken-Espresso-Top.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Starbucks-Iced-Chocolate-Almondmilk-Shaken-Espresso-Top.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67122","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/44"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67122"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67122\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67122"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67122"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67122"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nSize:<\/strong> Short
\nPurchased at:<\/strong> Starbucks
\nRating:<\/strong> 10 out of 10
\nNutrition Facts:<\/strong> 90 calories, 4.5 grams of total fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 15 milligrams of cholesterol, 60 milligrams of sodium, 8 grams of total carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 6 grams of total sugars, 5 grams of protein, and 230 milligrams of caffeine.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"