The world of coffee is so vast and exciting that a simple Google search for anything coffee-related can send you down a coffee-related rabbit hole with several Pandora boxes. If you are a coffee enthusiast, you know that a macchiato is not the same as a latte macchiato, and a macchiato is not a latte. That is obvious, right? Yeah, I didn’t think so!

You probably found this article by searching, what is a macchiato? What is the macchiato flavor? Or, maybe, How to pronounce macchiato! 

Regardless of how you found this article, you will learn a lot about the macchiato. I hope you have a hot brew of macchiato steaming by your side; it will be worth it. I promise!

What Is Macchiato?

Okay, let’s start with the basics. After all, how do you ask for something you can’t pronounce?

Here is a quick lesson on how to pronounce macchiato.

“Macchiato” is an Italian term that translates to “marked” or “stained,” which means a macchiato is a marked or stained coffee. Therefore, to pronounce macchiato, you have to dig into the Italian part of you and say it like an Italian but with an English accent.

According to Google, it is pronounced maa-kee-aa-tow. You now know how to pronounce macchiato with an Italian flair. 

See? I told you this would be fun!

A macchiato is also known as an espresso macchiato or caffé macchiato. A macchiato is essentially an espresso with a dash of foamed or steamed milk that allows the taste of the espresso to remain prominent. The stained part referenced in its name is the milk stain.

For anyone unfamiliar with what an espresso is, espresso is a concentrated form of coffee served in small, strong servings. Espresso is typically the base for many coffee drinks. Espressos are made from the same coffee bean as regular coffee but are thicker, stronger, and higher in caffeine.

The next time someone tells you they prefer macchiato over espresso, tell them it’s just espresso with a dash of milk!

The macchiato is for people who find cappuccinos too weak but espressos too strong. Macchiato is like a middle child between cappuccino and espresso.

What Are the Different Macchiato Flavors?

Are you wondering what a traditional macchiato tastes like?

Since only a small amount of milk is used to make a macchiato, it will likely have a slight sweetness. However, the milk cannot dilute the base espresso in a macchiato. Therefore, many still argue that a macchiato tastes slightly bitter.

As I like to put it, a macchiato is a cappuccino with the right amount of bitterness! However, you shouldn’t trust my taste buds. I once called tuna fish uncooked sardine.

Macchiato Types

Macchiato coffee is divided into the latte macchiato and the espresso macchiato. And yes, I know I just said that a macchiato is essentially an espresso with a dash of milk, but chill. It gets better.

What is an Espresso Macchiato?

So, while a regular macchiato is made from an espresso shot and diluted slightly with one or two teaspoons of steamed milk, an espresso macchiato has a higher ratio of espresso to milk.

The milk in an espresso macchiato is simply complementary, ensuring that the espresso can still be very much tasted. This coffee is for people who consider themselves strong and hardworking with no history of heart palpitations.

What Is a Latte Macchiato?

The latte macchiato is a gentler and friendlier version of the macchiato coffee as it is a sweeter, layered espresso beverage. A latte macchiato coffee beverage is served in a tall glass, unlike the espresso macchiato, which is served in a short glass.

You can make a latte macchiato by adding an espresso shot or half a shot of espresso to steamed milk, then topping the mixture with a milk foam layer.

When learning how to prepare an espresso macchiato, the two things to remember when distinguishing between espresso macchiato and latte macchiato are the amount of milk used and the order in which the espresso drink and milk are poured.

You are welcome to try out the Cuppabean latte macchiato recipe. You might prefer this coffee drink over your usual staple!

Or you can simply mix everything the way you want and create something new. Please let us know when you do; we just might be interested!

What Is Caramel Macchiato?

Do you know that a caramel Macchiato has more vanilla flavor than caramel?

As the name suggests, a caramel macchiato is a caramel-flavored macchiato. It is usually made from a combination of milk and vanilla syrup, topped with espresso and caramel sauce.

A caramel macchiato typically only contains little caramel compared to vanilla syrup. However, since the caramel is usually the most visible part of the coffee because it remains on top, it is called caramel macchiato. Talk about doing the least work but getting all the credit!

People who love very sweet coffee would typically enjoy caramel macchiato, which is usually very sweet and can be served hot or cold.

What is a Starbucks caramel macchiato, you might ask?

The Starbucks caramel macchiato pairs an espresso shot with freshly steamed milk and vanilla-flavored syrup, topped with a tiny drizzle of caramel syrup.

Macchiato vs. Cortado – What Is the Difference?

The main difference between a macchiato and a cortado coffee drink is the amount of steamed milk used. A cortado coffee uses equal amounts of espresso coffee and steamed milk. In contrast, a macchiato contains a larger portion of espresso coffee, a dash of steamed milk, and sometimes foamed milk if it’s a latte macchiato.

What Are the Differences Between a Macchiato and Latte?

The differences you find between a macchiato and a latte are subtle but noticeable, and it lies in the amount of milk used and the order in which the coffee and the milk are poured.

Typically, a macchiato contains less milk than a latte coffee.

The difference between an espresso macchiato and a latte is that an espresso macchiato has no foamed or frothed milk. A latte macchiato differs from a latte in the order in which the milk and coffee are poured. For a latte, the espresso is added first, followed by steamed milk, and then the layer of foamed milk.

With this new understanding of what a macchiato coffee drink is and the various kinds that can be found in cafés worldwide or your favorite coffee shop, we can now explore this newly discovered coffee abyss in its entire glory.

Are you ready to try a well-brewed and mixed Cuppabean macchiato?