Order a macchiato and you could get a small espresso or a tall glass of milk. Macchiato coffee means different things on different menus, and you can make every version at home.
The small one, the espresso macchiato, is one of the types of coffee built on espresso.
What is a macchiato?
A macchiato is a shot of espresso topped with a small spoonful of milk foam, served in a very small cup. It's strong, and the foam softens it slightly. Macchiato is Italian for "marked" or "stained", because the espresso is marked with a little milk. The tall, milky "latte macchiato" is a different drink.
Because it's nearly all espresso, it's the strongest-tasting of the milk drinks.
Espresso macchiato, latte macchiato and caramel macchiato
In Italy, a macchiato means the espresso macchiato. Elsewhere, menus also use the name for milkier drinks:
| Drink | What it is | Taste |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso macchiato | espresso with a spoonful of milk foam | strong, slightly softened |
| Latte macchiato | a tall glass of steamed milk with espresso poured in, so it sits in layers and leaves a mark on the foam | mild and milky |
| Caramel macchiato | milk flavoured with vanilla, espresso poured in, caramel on top | sweet |
How to make a macchiato at home
This macchiato recipe makes the small Italian espresso macchiato.
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Make a shot of espresso, about 35 ml, in a small cup (50–80 ml).
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Steam or froth 50–100 ml of milk until it has a layer of foam.
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Spoon 2–3 tsp of the foam onto the espresso. You can drink the rest of the milk separately.
Without a machine, use strong moka pot coffee, or 2 tsp of instant coffee dissolved in 30 ml (2 tbsp) of hot water, as your shot. Froth a little hot milk in a closed jar or with a handheld frother, then spoon on the foam. Our espresso guide explains how a real shot is made.
How to make a latte macchiato
- Froth about 200 ml of hot milk.
- Pour it into a tall glass and let the foam settle on top for a few seconds.
- Pour a shot of espresso slowly through the foam. It forms a layer between the milk and the foam and leaves a brown mark on top.
Serve it unstirred, so you can see the layers.
Can a macchiato be iced?
Yes. An iced latte macchiato is cold milk over ice with espresso poured on top, so it settles in layers.
Macchiato vs latte vs cappuccino
- Macchiato: almost all espresso, with a spoonful of foam.
- Cappuccino: equal parts espresso, steamed milk and milk foam.
- Latte: espresso with about three times as much steamed milk and a thin foam.
The milkiest of the three has its own latte guide, and cappuccino vs latte sets the other two side by side.
Macchiato FAQs
What is a caramel macchiato?
It's a sweet café drink. The milk is flavoured with vanilla, espresso is poured in, and caramel goes on top. It's closer to a latte than to an espresso macchiato.
How do you pronounce macchiato?
Mah-kee-AH-toh.
What's the difference between a macchiato and a cortado?
A macchiato has only a spoonful of foam. A cortado has equal parts espresso and steamed milk with little foam, so it's milder.
Which one to order
Order an espresso macchiato when you want a strong coffee with a soft edge, and a latte macchiato when you want something mild and milky.