A Perfect Cortado

There are sometimes perfect analogies for the best of life or design work, and we humbly believe that the cortado achieves that perfection. Originating from Spain, the word cortado means “cut” or “chopped up”, so it makes sense that a cortado is espresso that’s “cut” with steamed milk. Add a little foam on top (hey, doesn’t that just make it a milky macchiato?), and we wholeheartedly believe that the package is complete.

So let’s circle back to life and design. Like a cortado, a good life and good design seems to be best when it has a richness and depth. It’s that lovely interaction between the foam, steamed milk and espresso. Not cloying. Complex.

A good life and good design both benefit from the right blend of simplicity and complexity. That yin-yang balance makes life and design interesting and challenging.

There’s also the craftsmanship angle. A cortado requires a well-pulled espresso, good quality milk (or non-milk substitute…but choose wisely) with just the right amount of steaming, and ideally with a creative coffee art design on top. And best served with a little cookie, even?

In life and design, the ability to reveal truths and all of their subtleties through a lens of experience allows us to refine, build, and grow.

As with cortados, to quote from the bard, William Shatner, “The good life is one that’s artistically made.”