So, what is a macchiato? Coffee lovers never run out of options when opting for a delicious drink. The mix of milk, foam, and a single or double shot of espresso can give several variations of this popular drink. Nowadays, coffee shops offer a variety of coffee drinks, and while some are familiar to usual customers, you may not know others.
Names like espresso macchiato or latte macchiato are popular in coffee shops, and it is great to have a choice in your morning cup of energy. However, when you don’t know what different coffee names mean, you can effectively ruin your morning shot of espresso by experimenting. Thus, reading about the various coffee drinks is always better before trying them.
So, if the Instagram reels have inspired you to try caffè macchiato, but you are unaware of it, then it is time to read more about this marvel that makes the perfect use of coffee beans.
What Is a Macchiato?
A macchiato, pronounced as Mah-key-ah-toe, is an espresso with a splash of milk. You can also call it espresso macchiato or caffè macchiato. The name has an Italian origin, meaning marked or spotted. It denotes the stain of milk when you add it to an espresso shot. The amount of milk depends on how light you want your coffee. The milk removes the blackish color of the espresso.
Macchiato is primarily an espresso drink, but they differ from usual espresso drinks by a great deal. First, it adds a touch of creaminess to the rich flavor of espresso. The traditional versions of this drink include espresso macchiato and caffè macchiato, while latte macchiato is a new name in the coffee world. The traditional macchiato has a shot of frothed milk foam where the milk stains espresso shots.
On the other hand, a latte macchiato differs in the sense that the espresso shots mark the milk. Coffee shops use steamed milk and foam for preparing a macchiato, and the milk foam tops the drink.
Now that you know ‘what is a macchiato?’, let’s find out how this drink came into existence and why this is a hot topic of discussion in the coffee culture.
History of Macchiato Coffee
The popularity of the macchiato does not limit itself to Italy. Instead, this beverage is quite popular in several parts of Europe. Many coffee houses started to serve this drink to demonstrate the difference between a classic espresso and a coffee that consists of milk. There has been a steady evolution of the traditional macchiato, and now every coffee shop tries to differentiate between the various types of beverages they serve.
The diversification of macchiato produces several other types of coffee drinks, such as the famous American macchiato. This drink uses three instead of a single shot of espresso and has a few drops of foamed milk on top. It is also an iced espresso macchiato.
Another variation of this drink is the latte macchiato which has hot or steamed milk. The quantity of hot milk here is more than usual measures. You can add flavored syrup to your latte macchiatos, like caramel sauce, or other additives like vanilla syrup or whipped cream to spice up your coffee drink.
How to Make a Macchiato Coffee?
The best way to enjoy a wholesome cup of macchiato is to get your quantities correct. Espresso macchiatos require pure espresso topped with a small dash of milk. If you add too much milk, your espresso may turn into a cappuccino. The aim of making a macchiato coffee is to preserve the espresso flavor, even with the addition of warm milk.
It requires one shot of espresso and a small amount of milk and foam to make this coffee. A single shot of dark espresso can create a fantastic cup for coffee lovers. Espresso-based drinks always make darker coffee, and then adding steamed milk helps retain the flavor of a traditional Italian macchiato without making it taste bitter.
How to Make a Macchiato at Home?
Before making a macchiato to get your daily dose of caffeine in the morning, you must perfect your espresso skills. Once you master how to make a proper espresso cup, adding steamed milk will not be a big deal.
An espresso machine is an essential item you need to make a macchiato at your home. You can use any espresso shot to make a macchiato. For the milk foam, you can take any milk like soy, almond, or oat. Even whole milk can add the dash of foam you need for your coffee.
Most coffee shops use an espresso machine. You can, however, take advantage of a Moka pot, which can produce rich and smooth coffee.
When the milk is steaming, you must pick up a little bit of foam from the top and pour it right into the center of your cup of coffee. It would be best if you put it in a way that the foam is in the middle with the espresso shot surrounding it.
Whether you use steamed or foamed milk entirely depends on you. One can also add cold milk or cocoa powder to their Caffe macchiato to give it a different flavor. First, however, it would help if you knew that macchiato is a strong coffee drink that requires less milk.
What Is the Difference Between Latte and A Macchiato?
Any drink can be a latte, as long as it has milk. For example, most coffee shops refer to a single shot of espresso marked with a good amount of steamed milk as a latte.
The difference lies in their milk content. While both these drinks are a product of espresso and milk, a latte is creamier due to its higher milk infusion. It may also contain sugar to amplify taste, although it is optional.
Most coffee houses serve a caffè latte macchiato instead of a traditional macchiato, and they use the same tall glass to make both drinks.
Is A Macchiato Stronger Than A Cappuccino?
Another classic espresso drink is the cappuccino – which uses espresso, steamed milk, and foam. The foam is nothing but an aerated form of steamed milk.
All three items have an equal ratio in this caffeine-based drink. The higher percentage of milk gives cappuccino a soft and creamy taste. Since this drink is two parts milk out of three, it has a velvety texture and smooth taste.
Macchiatos contain a much stronger flavor than coffee as it has a higher caffeine content than a certified Italian cappuccino. As a result, it does not include the soft, froth feel of a cappuccino.
However, macchiatos give a more robust caffeine flavor and are a better option for people looking for an energy boost. They are also easier to prepare.
What Is A Caramel Macchiato?
A caramel macchiato is a flavored twist to your traditional macchiato. Here, you can add a sweetening substance like caramel instead of just the caffeine flavor to enrich your drink.
Caramel macchiatos use caramel sauce to obtain a sweet taste to the strong flavor of the espresso drinks. In addition, one can add additives like vanilla syrup to the espresso shots to enhance the taste.
The best way to enjoy a caramel macchiato is by drizzling a dash of the caramel syrup over the top of the finished drink.
What Is An Iced Macchiato?
Though traditional macchiatos use hot milk, it is not uncommon for coffee shop chains to experiment and play around with the flavor of their drinks. For example, to make a delicious iced macchiato, you can pour cold milk over ice cubes and top it with two espresso shots. The extra shot enhances taste and flavor.
You can also add vanilla syrup to make a vanilla macchiato or other flavor additive to bring a change to your drink.
Final Words
There are multiple ways to enjoy a cup of macchiato, and every coffee lover has their preferred version. If you love your coffee robust and flavorful, macchiatos are the best option you have. You can experiment with its flavors or can stick to the usual single espresso cup with a little steamed milk on top to create a lighter taste.
Now that you know how to enjoy a shot of espresso, you should serve yourself with some fantastic coffee to give your day a jumpstart.