Mastering The Most Popular Coffee Drinks – Macchiato

If you were wondering what is macchiato and what’s the history behind it, let me help you out with this article. You don’t really have to be a coffee connoisseur to understand how it’s made and why the macchiato should be on your list of coffee drinks to order.

What Is Macchiato?

A Macchiato is an espresso with dash of steamed milk. When the milk is added to the dark colored espresso, it makes a “stain” or “mark” from which it gets it name.

The milk is used to add a little bit sweetness to the naturally bitter and strong taste of espresso.

Making a good Macchiato

When it comes to making a Macchiato, getting the ratios of milk and espresso is the key.

Too much milk will make it closer to a cappuccino or latte. You need only a dash of milk for a perfect espresso to preserve the strong taste of espresso while adding a little bit of sweetness.

Most coffee shops will use carefully created micro-foam while others will add a thin layer of foam.

If you want to start your mornings with a macchiato, the good news is that the recipe for making it is really simple.

Follow these simple steps to master your own perfect macchiato at home.

Recipe For Macchiato

STEP #1. Make an espresso

To make a good macchiato, you first need to make an espresso. You don’t need to have a fancy coffee machine to make it similar to your favorite coffee shop one. You can also use a moka coffee maker if more convenient for you.

STEP #2. Prepare a double espresso cup (100ml)

You need the double espresso cup because you need more space for the milk froth which is added after. Pour the prepared espresso and continue with STEP #3.

STEP #3. Prepare the cappuccino style milk

Using a milk frother from the espresso machine or hand milk frother, ( you can find one on Amazon) gently add volume to the milk.

STEP #4. Make the macchiato

Gently pour the frothed milk and make sure that your coffee has a thin layer of milk and not a heavy and chunky white layer. If you’re more skilled, finish with tiny latte art.

History of a Macchiato

This drink originates from Italy but is best described by the Portuguese as Café Pingado which translates coffee with a dash of milk.

Over the years, the macchiato that was created in Italy, has been changing , some even say evolving, due to coffee shops diversifying their product range and spicing up their menus by adding a dash of cinnamon here, a scoop of chocolate there, and so on. A latte macchiato, for example, has evolved from the Macchiato. It has larger amount of hot milk then and can also have syrups such as caramel added to them.

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The Popularity of Macchiato

The macchiato is popular everywhere where there are coffee shops, but there are varieties of too, depending of where in the world.

For example, It is common to order a long macchiato in Australia, which is a double shot of espresso and a splash of milk served in a tall glass.

Some coffee shops offer the macchiato with flavored syrups, or in a form of macchiato latte, and I’ve been even offered a “cold” or “iced” macchiato, served with single or double shot of espresso, a dash of milk, over two ice cubes.

I can’t say I didn’t like it.

Is a Macchiato Good Coffee Drink for You?

If you do not like the strength of rich and acidic espresso or the creaminess and sweetness of a cappuccino, this is a perfect drink for you.

Or if you haven’t tried yet, maybe you should give it a go and see for yourself. I think it is always worth trying out new coffee drink especially if you don’t really know the type of coffee drink you want that day and you are looking for something different.

But of course, before you get to that point, I think its helpful to have a basic understanding of what you are getting yourself into when ordering or making a new type of coffee.

I hope now you have enough information about how to make or order a prefect macchiato and stay tuned for the next blog from Mastering The Most Popular Coffee Drinks series which will let you know everything about Cappuccino.

Do you like macchiato? If you haven’t already, are you willing to give it a try?

Share your thoughts in the comments, I would love to hear from you.

Enjoy Your Coffee!

And don’t forget to share this blog with your friends and family, someone might find this helpful.

FAQ About Machiato

What Flavor Is Macchiato?

The traditional macchiato is a layered coffee drink with a strong espresso flavor. The word “macchiato” comes from the Italian Caffé Macchiato, which means “marked” or “stained” coffee. That means this drink is mostly make up of one element, espresso, with just a splash of steamed milk.

How Many Calories In A Macchiato?

Macchiato coffee contains only a splash of milk added to a shot of espresso and is significantly low in calories, fat, and protein. Here is a comparison between latte, cappuccino, and macchiato.

Type of drink	Calories	Protein	Total fat	Carbs
16-ounce (475-ml) latte	206	13 grams	8 grams	20.5 grams
16-ounce (475-ml) cappuccino	130	8 grams	5 grams	13 grams
2-ounce (60-ml) macchiato	13	0.7 grams	0.5 grams	1.6 grams

Is A Starbucks Macchiato A Real Macchiato?

A Starbucks macchiato is actually just a latte with foam on top and flavored with your choice of flavored syrup (a latte macchiato or not-real macchiato ). It’s a sugary, decadent drink that is very confusing.