

A latte macchiato is milk stained with espresso. In short, an espresso macchiato is espresso stained with milk. The latte macchiato is usually served in a tall glass. Some layer both steamed and cold milk as a base, while others add extra flavorings. Many coffee houses add their own twist to the latte macchiato.

The end result is a very attractive layered coffee drink.

It’s built with a base of hot milk, half-a-shot or a shot of espresso is then slowly added, and the drink is topped with foam. The second type of macchiato is the latte macchiato, so named because it’s somewhat similar to a caffè latte. A classic macchiato is usually served in an espresso cup it’s the perfect choice if you think espresso is too strong but cappuccino isn’t strong enough. This is the macchiato usually served in Italy. Baristas may show their personal flair by creating latte art if the macchiato has milk foam on top, and those who have trouble handling the powerful coffee taste of espresso may add sweeteners as well. It consists of one or two shots of espresso, topped by a teaspoon or two of steamed milk or foamed milk (or both) as the “stain” in the middle of the cup. The first is the classic or traditional macchiato, also known as the espresso macchiato. A coffee shop or barista may serve just one of them regularly, but will always be happy to prepare the other. But even though it hasn’t been around for all that long, two common versions have emerged. We’ll be looking at that issue and a lot more, as we dig into this sometimes underappreciated Italian coffee.įirst things first: there’s no accepted and “right” way to make a macchiato (full name: caffè macchiato). It’s delicious, too – even though not everyone agrees on the right way to make a macchiato. So is the macchiato, which could be viewed as a midday compromise between those two venerable espresso drinks. Coffee lovers in Italy certainly haven’t been ordering pumpkin spice lattes for centuries.īut the big two, espresso and cappuccino, are as Italian as pizza and fast cars. Sure, some of the more-exotic choices may have been created for marketing purposes. All of the variations you have to choose from at a coffeehouse are simply the most popular variations on the most popular coffee drinks. Here’s the truth: no one takes their coffee or espresso exactly the same way. Those huge menus posted at coffee chains aren’t designed to make you feel dumb, or to make coffee drinking seem more complicated and sophisticated than it really is. And the milk itself is creamy whole milk, rather than one or two percent.A cynic might think that coffee shops have come up with so many variations on their coffee drinks simply to confuse us.Įspresso? Doppio? Red Eye? Black Eye? Americano? Long Black?Ĭappuccino? Latte? Flat White? Café au Lait? Breve? Mocha? Mocacchino?įor people who have difficulty remembering their friends’ names, that’s a bit much.Īdd macchiato to the mix – not to mention long macchiato and cortado? It’s enough to send you running from Starbucks to your local diner just to order a simple, uncomplicated cup of coffee.Ĭalm down. The espresso is poured on top of the steamed milk, making a distinctive marking in the milk foam. Although the espresso to milk ratio is about the same as a classic latte, the order and type of milk are different. What does this mean? A latte macchiato is an espresso-forward latte. Of course, you can order your latte or latte macchiato with a different type of milk (including alternatives like oat or almond milk), but if you don’t specify, that’s what you’ll get. A standard Starbucks latte macchiato is made with whole milk, while a regular latte uses 2% milk. It also means you’ll taste more espresso in the first sip since the milk is at the bottom.Īt Starbucks, another difference is the type of milk. Your drink will still have a marking in the foam, but it will be the espresso marking the milk instead of the other way around. Contrary to the traditional macchiato, to make a latte macchiato, your barista has to add the espresso last, on top of the milk. One big difference between a latte and a latte macchiato is the order.
