Quick answer: A macchiato is a shot of espresso “marked” with a small spoonful of milk foam, served in a small cup. “Macchiato” is Italian for marked or stained. A latte macchiato flips this: a tall glass of steamed milk marked with espresso poured on top. Starbucks’ Caramel Macchiato is a sweet version of the latte macchiato with vanilla syrup and caramel drizzle.
Ask for a macchiato in two different cafés and you can get two very different drinks. This guide sorts out the three versions you’ll meet, how they compare with a latte, cortado and cappuccino, and how to make each one at home.
In this guide 7 sections
What does macchiato mean?
In Italian, macchiato means “marked” or “stained.” The name tells you how the drink is built: one ingredient is marked with a little of the other. In an espresso macchiato (also called a caffè macchiato), the espresso is marked with milk foam. In a latte macchiato (“stained milk”), the milk is marked with espresso.
What are the types of macchiato?
Espresso macchiato (caffè macchiato)
This is the traditional macchiato and what a specialty café will usually hand you if you simply order “a macchiato.” It is a single or double espresso topped with a dollop of foamed milk and served in a small espresso cup. The espresso dominates; the foam just softens the first sip. Order it if you like espresso but want it slightly less intense. If you’re shopping for a machine, our guide to the best espresso machines for home compares the current picks.
Latte macchiato
A latte macchiato is built the opposite way: steamed and foamed milk goes into a tall glass first, and the espresso is poured in last. The espresso settles between the milk and the foam, so the glass shows distinct layers with a brown “mark” on top. It is milky and mild, closer to a latte than to an espresso macchiato. Unlike a caffè latte, where milk is poured into the espresso and mixed, a latte macchiato is meant to be layered.
Caramel macchiato (Starbucks)
The Starbucks Caramel Macchiato is made with vanilla syrup, steamed milk, espresso and a caramel drizzle. In the café version the espresso goes on top of the milk, so it is really a sweetened latte macchiato. It comes hot or iced. If you want the small traditional drink at a chain, ask specifically for an “espresso macchiato” so you don’t get the caramel version.
Macchiato vs latte vs cortado vs cappuccino
All four drinks are espresso plus milk. What changes is how much milk there is, how much foam, and the order they go into the cup. Ratios vary from café to café, so treat this as a guide rather than a rulebook (Food Republic has a good comparison of the cortado and macchiato).
| Drink | What’s in it | How it’s built | Taste |
|---|---|---|---|
| Espresso macchiato | Espresso + a spoonful of milk foam | Espresso first, foam on top | Strong, espresso-forward |
| Cortado | Espresso + roughly equal amount of warm milk, little foam | Milk added to espresso | Smooth but still coffee-forward |
| Cappuccino | Espresso + steamed milk + a thick layer of foam | Milk and foam added to espresso | Balanced, airy |
| Latte | Espresso + lots of steamed milk + thin foam | Milk poured into espresso, mixed | Mild and creamy |
| Latte macchiato | Steamed milk + foam, marked with espresso | Milk first, espresso poured in last | Milky, layered |
| Caramel macchiato | Vanilla syrup + steamed milk + espresso + caramel | Milk first, espresso and caramel on top | Sweet |
What is the difference between a macchiato and a latte?
An espresso macchiato is mostly espresso with a touch of foam; a latte is mostly steamed milk with espresso mixed through it. If you order a latte macchiato instead, the ingredients are similar to a latte, but the espresso goes in last and the drink stays layered rather than blended.
What is the difference between a macchiato and a cappuccino?
A cappuccino has far more milk and foam than an espresso macchiato. It is often served in a 6-ounce cup with a thick cap of foam, while an espresso macchiato fits in an espresso cup. Against a latte macchiato, a cappuccino has a stronger coffee flavor and is mixed rather than layered.
How to make an espresso macchiato at home
You’ll need:
- 0.5–0.8 oz (about 14–22 g) of coffee beans for a double shot
- A splash of cold milk
- An espresso machine with a steam wand, or a stovetop espresso maker and a milk frother. A Nespresso Original machine also works; our guide to the best Nespresso pods names the ones that suit milk drinks.
Steps:
- Grind the beans fine, about the texture of table salt. Pre-ground espresso coffee works if you don’t have a grinder.
- Fill and tamp the portafilter. Tap it to level the grounds, then tamp them firmly and evenly.
- Pull the shot into a small cup. Extraction takes around 30 seconds. With a stovetop espresso maker, fill the base to the fill line, add the coffee to the basket and heat over medium until the coffee bubbles into the top chamber.
- Foam the milk. Hold the steam wand just under the surface of the milk in a metal jug until it grows in volume and the jug feels hot, about 140°F (60°C). No machine? See how to froth milk at home without equipment.
- Mark the espresso. Spoon a dollop of foam onto the shot and serve right away. Add sugar if you like it sweeter.
How to make a latte macchiato or iced macchiato
For a latte macchiato, steam and foam about a glass of milk, pour it into a tall glass, let it settle for a few seconds, then slowly pour a shot of espresso through the foam. It will form a layer between the milk and the foam.
For an iced macchiato, fill a glass with ice and cold milk, add vanilla or caramel syrup if you want it sweet, and pour the espresso over the top so it floats in a layer. Drizzle caramel on top for a homemade version of the Starbucks drink. If you don’t have an espresso maker, a small amount of very strong coffee made with a dark roast will do, though the layers will be less defined.
How strong is a macchiato?
An espresso macchiato is as strong as the espresso in it. A single 1-ounce shot of espresso has about 64 mg of caffeine, according to the Mayo Clinic, so a single macchiato has less caffeine than a typical mug of brewed coffee but tastes much more intense. A double-shot macchiato roughly doubles that. For more numbers, see our guide to caffeine in coffee.
Frequently asked questions
Should you stir a macchiato?
Traditionally, no. An espresso macchiato is meant to be tasted in layers: the foam first, then the espresso underneath. A latte macchiato is also served layered, though many people give it a stir before drinking so the coffee isn’t all at the top. It comes down to personal taste.
Is a macchiato served hot or cold?
A traditional espresso macchiato is always hot. Iced macchiatos, like the iced Caramel Macchiato at Starbucks, are a modern café version built on cold milk and ice with espresso poured on top.
Is a macchiato sweet?
A traditional macchiato contains only espresso and milk, so it isn’t sweet unless you add sugar. The sweetness people associate with macchiatos comes from chain versions like the Caramel Macchiato, which add vanilla syrup and caramel sauce.
How do you pronounce macchiato?
It is pronounced “mock-ee-AH-toe.” The “cch” in Italian is a hard “k” sound.
Want to compare more espresso drinks? Our guide to the different types of coffee covers everything from the Americano to the flat white.
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