What is a macchiato? Hint: it's not a caramel latte
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I first heard about a macchiato back in the 2000s, long before I worked at Starbucks in Chicago. By the time I was donning the green apron (which, by the way, I really loved) the Caramel Macchiato was already taking the second wave coffee scene by storm.
But I knew they were just taking a word and calling it something else.
Because a real macchiato — sometimes called an espresso macchiato — was something else entirely. A strong drink with its roots in Italian espresso culture.
Below I’ll explain the drink and how to make one.
The real deal: what makes a macchiato
The traditional version
The word "macchiato" means "marked" or "stained" in Italian, and that's exactly what this drink is – a shot of espresso marked with a small amount of steamed milk. Picture this: a perfectly pulled shot of espresso with just a dollop of frothed milk right in the center, like an artist's finishing touch. It's the coffee equivalent of a minimalist painting – simple, elegant, and strong.
The dollop of foam or steamed milk on top of the macchiato is meant to cut the bitterness of the espresso, making the drink a bit more sippable and approachable.
The newer version
Starbucks makes a type of latte and calls it a macchiato. Their version is vanilla syrup, espresso, caramel drizzle in the cup, steamed milk, and caramel in a criss-cross pattern across the top of the foam.
I’m not saying it’s not good. It is. I drank many of them in my time at Starbucks. But it's not a macchiato. They took a word and applied it to something else entirely.
How to make a traditional espresso macchiato
Pull a shot of espresso. Pick a medium or darker roast for this. They tend to work better than lighter roasts. Feel free to pull a double shot if that’s your jam — you can split it into two cups since you’ll have enough milk.
Use a killer shot glass like the 3oz Vero glass from notNeutral $15.
Steam 75ml of whole milk and make sure you aerate it so it’s frothy. We don’t want flat white style milk for this.
Take a spoon full of the steamed milk and gently dollop it into the center of the espresso in your shot glass.
Sip slowy and enjoy.
The final word
Now you know the truth about macchiatos. Tell your friends. Get one at your local coffee shop. Just make sure you say you want a “traditional espresso macchiato”. Subscribe to my Youtube channel and until next time … peace. -Rob