Comments on: Gibraltar, San Francisco’s cult coffee, comes to London

By: jeff b

jeff b — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:48:44 +0000

I would make one modest adjustment to the info about coffee in Spain. I have spent a substantial amount of time in Spain, particularly in and around Madrid, and I think this article might be confusing a “cafe cortado” with a “cafe con leche”.

Generally a cortado is an espresso with only a dash of hot milk. You’ve got the right picture if you imagine an espresso cup with a single shot of espresso, then filled close to the top with milk.

A “con leche” on the other hand comes in a larger cup, maybe 2-3x the size of an espresso cup, has the same amount of espresso as a cortado, but is filled close to the top with hot milk.

By: Daniel Young

Daniel Young — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 09:26:27 +0000

In reply to Justin. Justin - As you probably know there is ambiguity regarding the correct ratio of milk-to-espresso in a cortado. Many versions contain less milk than would a 4 1/2 ounce Gibralta.

By: Justin

Justin — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 09:03:37 +0000

While it’s nice to know why it’s called a Gibraltar on the West Coast, considering it’s just a glorification of a preexisting drink (cortado), that sound byte from Ford makes him sound like a cynical jaded asshole.

I thought the coffee industry had a million too many already.

By: Daniel Young

Daniel Young — Sun, 29 May 2011 08:26:09 +0000

In reply to Jay. Jay - Did you read the post? It's all there.

By: Jay

Jay — Thu, 26 May 2011 20:38:06 +0000

I’ve seen so many post’s where everyone try’s to make sense of what a Gibraltar really is.
It’s not a tiny latte, or a dry capp.
It’s a real coffee drink, that’s been around forever.
The name is Cortado.

Gibraltar is a nickname given to the drink by Blue Bottle in San Fran and Intelligentsia in Chicago. The nickname comes from the glass they put it in.

By: Daniel Young

Daniel Young — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 16:46:13 +0000

In reply to Denise | Chez Danisse.

Denise – Me, too. I even like a Gibraltar glass – or a Duralex Provence, its European counterpart – for good cheap red wine.

By: Denise | Chez Danisse

Denise | Chez Danisse — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 16:10:53 +0000

I love the Gibraltar and think the drink still has a soul. Blue Fog does a nice job and I enjoy the charming little glass.

By: sammy boy

sammy boy — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 08:02:40 +0000

The Gibraltor makes perfect sense, because it’s what most barrista’s (certainly the ones without pride / or outside Milan) should be making as a capuccino in the first place.

In the UK, this is what you have to do:

If you’d like a single Espresso, asked for a double.

If you’d like a Cappuccino, ask for a Macchiato.

If you’d like a Latte, ask for a Cappuccino.

If you’d like a glass of milk, ask for a Latte.

By: Manaboutworld

Manaboutworld — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 23:34:05 +0000

I’ve never ordered anything called a Gibraltar but the midway point between machiatto and latte is, for me coffee nirvana. I enjoy good coffee but find espresso and even macchiato too bitter for my taste. Unfortunately, by the time UK baristas have added all their milk to make a British style capp or latte sometimes I think it makes little difference what coffee was used in the first place.

A New York based ex-girlfriend of mine used to order something she called a ‘dry cappuccino’. I think that was something similar to your description of a Gibraltar. I remember we once pondered another drink she’d heard of called ‘wet macchiato’. We presumed that was another name for something similar. As it happens that was also around 2005.

Despite the gradual expansion of Starbucks et al in Spain, one of the great things about ordering coffee in Spanish bars is that they still look at you like you’ve got a screw loose if you order a latte or cappuccino. The most popular drink there at any time other than breakfast? The cortado: a shot of dark roast espresso cut through with a between the same amount and twice as much full fat milk.

Loved Freeman’s comments. Hope he meant then to be taken with a pinch of salt! (not sugar, obviously, that would be sacrilege…)