Be taught how one can make a macchiato with this straightforward methodology! This daring shot of espresso topped with a spoonful of fluffy foam takes minutes to whip up.
Right here’s a espresso drink that’s one half espresso, one half foam, and equal elements scrumptious: the macchiato! This espresso drink is sort of a lighter model of a latte, nice for once you desire a jolt of caffeine with out all the additional energy.
Now, if you happen to’re like me you may first consider the Starbucks macchiato: a candy drink made with vanilla syrup and a caramel drizzle. However made the basic Italian manner, a true stained espressois all about daring espresso and a whisper of froth. It’s simply two elements, one approach, and carried out in below ten minutes!
What Is a Macchiato?
A Espresso Macchiato or Espresso Macchiato is a shot of espresso topped with frothed milk. The phrase “macchiato” means “stained” in Italian, which means that the darkish espresso is stained by the milk foam on prime. Some sources say the macchiato was invented as a method to drink espresso into the afternoon.
The opposite sort of macchiato is known as a latté. A latte macchiato is steamed milk that’s stained by a little bit of espresso on prime. It tastes like an espresso-forward model of a cafe latte. A latte macchiato has espresso added to exploit, whereas for a latte steamed milk is added to espresso. The macchiato model additionally has a bit extra foam. (How’s that for sophisticated?)
What a few Starbucks macchiato? The macchiato you may order at Starbucks is a latte macchiato with caramel or hazelnut-flavored syrup on prime. You’ve acquired layers of steamed milk, foam, and espresso, after which the candy drizzle on prime. It’s nearly nothing like a caffè macchiato in any respect!


Key Elements You’ll Want
The macchiato is considered one of my private favourite espresso drinks as a result of I like that you just get the bitter taste of espresso with out a great deal of milk. (To be sincere, the richness of complete milk in lattes does a quantity on my digestion, so the macchiato is a superb choice!) Listed here are the elements you’ll want:
- Espresso roast espresso: That is essential to get the fitting darkish, bitter taste. Espresso roast is espresso beans which have a really darkish roast. Ensure that to make use of a discover grind in your espresso once you grind it.
- Complete milk: The perfect milk to make use of for a macchiato is complete milk, as a result of it has the very best milk fats. You may get away with 2% milk right here too: particularly in case you have a handheld milk frother. Essential: be certain that the milk is as contemporary as attainable! Milk that’s getting nearer to its expiration date doesn’t foam as nicely.
The perfect non-dairy milk for a vegan macchiato is oat milk: it froths up one of the best and has nice taste. Go to Find out how to Froth Milk for extra about working with non-dairy milk!
You don’t want a high-end espresso machine to make an ideal macchiato at house. Listed here are your finest choices for espresso:


You don’t want an espresso maker with steamer to make an ideal macchiato! You’ll be able to merely warmth and froth the milk, which makes it almost pretty much as good. There are a couple of completely different instruments you should utilize to froth milk for a latte (learn extra about them in Find out how to Froth Milk). Listed here are a couple of nice instruments for the house barista for frothing milk:
- Espresso machine steam wand: When you have one, that is essentially the most constant methodology. Maintain the wand just under the floor of the milk till it doubles in dimension and turns into very foamy.
- Handheld milk frother. A milk frother works very nicely and will get the milk extraordinarily frothy! That is excellent for a macchiato.
- French press. When you have a French press for making espresso, it’s nice for making foam! It makes a pleasant frothy foam with bubbles a bit bigger than the frother.
- Whisk. A whisk works too! This helpful instrument whips up the milk fairly nicely: it additionally has a bit bigger bubbles and generates rather less foam than the opposite strategies.
Find out how to Make a Macchiato: Step by Step
The a part of a macchiato that requires essentially the most approach is frothing the milk. Right here’s some excellent news: making the froth for a macchiato is just not almost as intense as for a latte. With a macchiato you need dry foamwhich is a frothy mild bubbly foam that’s fairly straightforward to attain. (For a latte you need steamed milk that makes micro-foama wet-paint like texture: it’s not required right here.) Right here’s how one can make a macchiato at house:


Step 1: Make the espresso utilizing your favourite methodology: espresso machine, handbook espresso maker, French press, or different.


Step 2: Warmth the milk. Begin with ½ cup complete milk. Warmth it on the stovetop or steam with an espresso machine wand to 150°F, which is sizzling to the contact however not simmering (use a thermometer or choose by when your hand can’t maintain the pitcher for quite a lot of seconds.).


Step 3: Froth into dry foam.
Use your most popular methodology (frothing wand in your espresso machine or a handheld frothing instrument) to froth the milk till you get mild, fluffy dry foam. You’re not going for silky microfoam right here: search for massive, ethereal bubbles. (Notice: This photograph exhibits the hand held methodology.)


Step 4: Use a spoon to take away the highest of the froth solely (dry foam) and place it on the highest of the espresso. It should float proper on prime: not incorporate into the espresso under like in a latte.
Macchiato Variations to Strive
When you’ve tried the basic, listed here are a couple of enjoyable instructions to take it:
- Iced macchiato: Pull your espresso pictures right into a glass of ice, then add a small quantity of chilly foam on prime.
- Vegan noticed: Swap in oat milk for one of the best dairy-free foam. Yow will discover barista-style oat milk on the retailer, which froths finest.
- Flavored macchiato: Add a small drizzle of vanilla syrup earlier than including the froth.
And that’s it! I hope you take pleasure in your macchiato: let me know within the feedback under (or tag me on Instagram at @acouplecooks).
Dietary Notes
This caffe macchiato recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free, use the oat milk variation within the recipe under.
Find out how to Make a Macchiato
Right here’s how one can make a macchiato…the true manner! This espresso drink incorporates a shot of espresso topped with a layer of frothy foam.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook dinner Time: 0 minutes
- Complete Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Class: Espresso
- Technique: Frothed
- Delicacies: Espresso
- Weight loss program: Vegetarian
- 2 espresso pictures (2 ounces)
- 2 ounces (¼ cup) complete milk foam*
- Make the espresso: Use an espresso machine or handbook espresso maker to make one shot of espresso* and pour it right into a mug (or attempt our Aeropress Espresso).
- Steam the milk (espresso machine) or warmth the milk to scalding: Begin with ½ cup milk (you’ll solely use ¼ cup foam.) Warmth the milk to 150 levels Fahrenheit, which is sizzling to the contact however not simmering. Measure with a meals thermometer, or you may approximate by testing together with your finger.
- Froth the milk: Use the espresso machine or a milk frother, French press or whisk to froth milk into small, even bubbles. You’ll need a number of “dry foam” for a macchiato: the fluffy stuff! The milk frother is nice for such a foam. We extremely suggest studying Find out how to Froth Milk if that is your first time frothing.
- Spoon the froth on prime: Use a spoon to take away the highest of the froth (dry foam) and gently place it on prime of the espresso. It is best to use about ¼ cup foam for one drink.
Notes
*Complete milk works finest; milk that may be a few weeks outdated might not froth. You may also use oat milk for a vegan macchiato. The milk frother works nicely for dairy-free milk. If utilizing the French press, pump vigorously till frothy, about 25 instances. Don’t overwhip, as the froth will deflate!

