How to Make a Macchiato

Here’s how to make a macchiato…the real way! This coffee drink features a shot of espresso topped with a layer of frothy foam.

Here’s a coffee drink that’s one part espresso, one part foam, and equal parts delicious: the Macchiato! This espresso drink is like a lighter version of a latte, ideal for when you want a jolt of caffeine without all the extra calories. There’s a certain coffee shop that’s tarnished the macchiato’s name by causing some confusion about what it really is. Here we’ll clear up those murky waters and show you how to make a macchiato…the classic way.

What is a macchiato?

A caffè macchiato or espresso macchiato is a shot of espresso topped with frothed milk. The word “macchiato” means “stained” in Italian, meaning that the dark espresso is stained by the milk foam on top. Some sources say the macchiato was invented as a way to drink espresso into the afternoon.

The other type of macchiato is called a latte macchiato. A latte macchiato is essentially steamed milk that’s stained by a bit of espresso on top. It tastes like an espresso-forward version of a cafe latte. The difference between a latte macchiato and a latte? A latte macchiato has espresso added to milk, whereas for a latte steamed milk is added to espresso. The macchiato version also has a little more foam. (How’s that for complicated?)

Why is the Starbucks macchiato different?

Wait: so a macchiato isn’t caramel flavored? That’s what I asked Alex when we started making all types of espresso drinks. If you’re a Starbucks person, you’ll know what I’m talking about.

What is a Starbucks macchiato? The macchiato you can order at Starbucks is a latte macchiato with caramel or hazelnut-flavored syrup on top. You’ve got layers of steamed milk, foam, and espresso, and then the sweet drizzle on top. It’s almost nothing like a caffè macchiato at all!

Now, let’s talk espresso

Now that we know what a classic macchiato is, let’s get to making it! It’s one of our favorite espresso drinks because we love that you get the bitter flavor of coffee without loads of milk. (Honestly, the richness of whole milk in lattes sometimes does a number on my stomach, so the macchiato is a great option.) You’ll need to make espresso for a macchiato: simply strong coffee will not do! This means you’ll need the following:

• Espresso roast coffee: This is important to get the right dark, bitter flavor. Espresso roast is coffee beans that have a very dark roast. Make sure to use a find grind on your espresso when you grind it.
• Espresso machine, manual espresso maker, or Aeropress: There are several ways of how to make espresso. We use an espresso machine, which sits on a countertop. Or you can use a small manual espresso maker: it’s cheaper and portable! For the cheapest option, you can use an Aeropress, though the flavor is not nearly as good. Go to our Aeropress Espresso recipe.

Milk to use for a macchiato

The best milk to use for a macchiato is whole milk. Why? Whole milk froths the best because it has the highest milk fat. You can get away with 2% milk here too: especially if you have a handheld milk frother (keep reading for that). Here’s the important part: make sure the milk is as fresh as possible! Milk that’s getting closer to its expiration date does not foam as well.

Can you make a vegan macchiato? Yes! The best non-dairy milk for a vegan macchiato is oat milk: it froths up the best and has great flavor. Go to How to Froth Milk for more about working with non-dairy milk!

How to froth milk for a macchiato: with an espresso machine

The part of how to make a macchiato that requires the most technique is frothing the milk. But here’s some good news: making the froth for a macchiato is not nearly as intense as for a latte. With a macchiato you want “dry foam” — that’s the frothy light bubbly foam that’s pretty easy to achieve. (For a cafe latte you want steamed milk that makes micro-foam, a wet-paint like texture. Don’t worry about it: we don’t need to do it here!)

If you have a countertop espresso machine, you can use the steaming wand to froth the milk for a macchiato. Here’s the espresso machine we use: it’s middle of the road price-wise and works great. You can do it by simply frothing milk with a whisk: see below! Here’s how to use an espresso machine to froth milk for a macchiato:

• Hold the steaming wand just below the surface of the milk until it doubles in size and is very foamy.
• Lower the steaming wand slightly until the milk reaches 150 degrees Fahrenheit: use a thermometer or judge by when your hand can’t hold the pitcher for more than a few seconds.

Tools for frothing milk for a macchiato

You don’t need an espresso maker with steamer to make a great macchiato! You can simply heat and froth the milk, which makes it nearly as good. There are a few different tools you can use to froth milk for a latte (read more about them in How to Froth Milk). Here are a few great tools for the home barista for frothing milk:

• Handheld milk frother. A milk frother works very well and gets the milk extremely frothy! This is perfect for a macchiato.
• French press. If you have a French press for making coffee, it’s great for making foam! It makes a nice frothy foam with bubbles a little larger than the frother.
• Whisk. A whisk works too! This handy tool whips up the milk pretty well: it also has a bit larger bubbles and generates a little less foam than the other methods.

How to make a macchiato

We made it to the good part! Once you’ve got your espresso roast coffee, milk and special tools, you’re ready to go. Again, we recommend reading How to Froth Milk if you’re a beginner in the frothing territory. Here’s how to make a latte at home:

• Make the espresso using your favorite method: espresso machine, manual espresso maker or Aeropress.
• Heat the milk on the stovetop before frothing (or steam the milk with the espresso machine). 150 degrees Fahrenheit is perfect: that’s where the milk is hot to the touch but not yet simmering.
• Froth using your desired method. Use a milk frother, French press or whisk to froth the milk. You’re looking for “dry foam” which is light and fluffy.
• Use a spoon to remove the top of the foam only (dry foam) and place it on the top of the espresso. It will float right on top: not incorporate into the espresso below like in a latte.

And that’s it! We hope you enjoy your macchiato: let us know in the comments below (or tag us on Instagram at @acouplecooks).

This caffe macchiato recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free, use the oat milk variation in the recipe below.

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More coffee drinks & tea lattes

This is another post in our Barista Series: how to make all your favorite coffee house drinks at home! Here are a few espresso drinks and tea lattes to master:

• Americano This popular coffee drink smooths the bitterness of espresso with hot water.
• Mocha Rich and chocolaty, with just the right topping of fluffy milk foam.
• Cappuccino Creamy with just the right touch of foamed milk and bitter espresso.
• Cafe au Lait or Cafe con Leche Enjoy these French and Spanish spins on coffee and milk.
• Cortado or Gibraltar Perfectly balanced with milk and espresso!
• Iced Latte or Iced Espresso Chilled variations on your favorite drinks.
• Coffee Soda Grab a bubbly and bitter coffee soda!
• London Fog A cozy tea latte made with Earl Gray tea and lavender.
• Chai Latte, Vanilla Chai Latte, Iced Chai Latte or Vegan Chai Latte Variations on a theme! A Starbucks special you can easily make at home…and it tastes even better.
• Matcha Latte or Iced Matcha Latte Whip up these brilliant green drinks.
• Cold Brew Coffee Dark and chilled to perfection!