What is a Caffè Macchiato?
A Caffè macchiato, also called a Macchiato or Espresso macchiato, is an espresso coffee drink topped with a small amount of steamed or foamed milk, depending on the barista’s preference.
What is a Macchiato? The Short Version
- An espresso marked by milk foam
- Slightly less ‘strong tasting’ than espresso
- A short shot of coffee
- Originated in Italy
- Same amount of caffeine as most espresso based coffees
And for those of you who have time to read the longer version, here we go…
The Macchiato gets its name from the Italian language and means “marked, stained or spotted”. It has a higher espresso to milk ratio than any other coffee drink. It’s a good choice for someone who wants an Espresso but wants a bit of milk to tone it down, without adding sugar. It’s one step away from a plain old black shot of coffee and the least milky you will find. It’s actually our drink of choice!
There’s no universally agreed standard of what a Caffè macchiato is, so you’re likely to get something different depending on where you order it.
Who Invented the Caffè Macchiato?
Nobody know exactly who first created the Caffè macchiato, but it’s generally accepted that it was created in Italy in the 80’s as a way to distinguish between a regular espresso and an espresso with milk. Gli italiani sono così pignoli!
Macchiato v Espresso Macchiato
As before, this is subject to interpretation, but most will agree that the Macchiato is served in a tall glass so that the layers are clearly visible. It would more typically use milk foam instead of regular milk.
The Espresso Macchiato is normally served in a small espresso cup with just a small amount of steamed milk or milk foam poured on top. If you see a Macchiato with a nifty bit of latte art on top, chances are it’s an Espresso Macchiato. The picture above is an Espresso Macchiato.
Macchiato v Latte
The main difference? A Macchiato is basically espresso topped with steamed milk OR foamed milk. A latte is typically a larger, longer, weaker drink made of espresso, steamed milk and foamed milk.
Macchiato vs Cortado
In summary, a Macchiato is basically espresso topped with steamed milk OR foamed milk. A cortado is a double espresso shot poured with equal amounts of steamed milk.
Order a Macchiato in Paris and you are going to get something quite different from what you get served in Italy, its country of origin. Try ordering it in Spain and you will incur some strange looks. In our experience, unless you are in Italy, or in a coffee house that really knows its stuff, your macchiato will not always deliver exactly what you were hoping for. Instead you could find yourself staring at a flat white or an Americano with too much milk.
How Much Caffeine in Macchiato?
Usually you will find around 80mg of caffeine in a Caffe Macchiato – 120mg in a larger one. This is roughly the same as your standard latte but remember, most milk based coffees include a shot of espresso topped up with water or milk so you’re likely to find the same amount of caffeine in any espresso based drinks.
When it comes to flavour, like an espresso, the better quality of beans used, the better the flavour profile.
Useful Resources:
Macchiato Coffee – Its Origin and Different Varieties
Discover more about the different types of coffee
The Bottom Line
Easy to confuse, and very open to interpretation. Look for an espresso with steamed milk or foam on TOP, and you’ve very likely got yourself a Macchiato. Anything else, in our opinion, just doesn’t cut it.
About CoffeeCode
This article was written by the founders of CoffeeCode, the UK’s fastest growing and most exciting coffee blog. CoffeeCode has a focus on great coffee, inspirational design and sustainability.
Credits:
We always do our best to attribute photos, videos and quotes and information to their original sources. Please contact us if an attribution or content is missing or incorrect.
