ESPRESSO + MILK FAMILY
Espresso Macchiato
An espresso macchiato is a shot of espresso marked with just a small dollop of steamed milk foam. Macchiato means stained in Italian, and that little mark of milk is the whole idea: it softens the espresso only slightly.
In the cup
What's in an Espresso Macchiato
The espresso macchiato is one of the smallest, strongest drinks on any menu. It is essentially a shot of espresso with a single spoonful of milk foam dropped on top, just enough to take the hardest edge off the coffee without turning it into a milk drink. In the cup it looks like an espresso wearing a small white cap, and it tastes overwhelmingly of coffee.
The point of the dollop is contrast, not dilution. That touch of foam rounds the first sip and adds a hint of sweetness, but the espresso remains the star from start to finish. It is the drink to order when you want espresso with the faintest softening, and nothing more.
It is worth not confusing the traditional espresso macchiato with the large, sweet caramel macchiato found on many chain menus. Despite the shared name, that drink is built the opposite way: a tall glass of milk and syrup with the espresso added last. The classic macchiato is tiny, strong, and unsweetened.
- START HEREEspresso Macchiato
- Latte
- Espresso
How it's built
- 1 oz espresso
- + 0.25 oz steamed milk
- + thin foam
- Espresso Macchiato2-3 oz
Ordering an Espresso Macchiato
At the counter
Order an espresso macchiato and you get one of the smallest drinks on the menu: a hot shot marked with a single dollop of foam, in a tiny cup you finish in a sip or two. It is unsweetened and tastes almost entirely of coffee.
Worth knowing: some menus use the same word for a large, sweet, syrup-and-milk drink built the opposite way. If you want the classic, ask for an espresso macchiato by name.
- Cup size
- 2-3 oz
- Served
- Hot
Make it at home
Making an Espresso Macchiato at home
- Pull a single shot of espresso into a small cup.
- Warm a little milk and work up a spoonful of foam - a small jar shaken hard does the job.
- Drop just that spoonful of foam onto the shot to mark it, and nothing more.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is an Espresso Macchiato?
An espresso macchiato is a shot of espresso topped with a small dollop of steamed milk foam. It is one of the smallest and strongest milk-touched drinks, tasting almost entirely of espresso with just a hint of softening from the foam.
What's in an Espresso Macchiato / what's the ratio?
An Espresso Macchiato is 1 oz espresso, 0.25 oz steamed milk, thin foam in a 2-3 oz cup - mostly espresso with only a small dollop of milk foam.
Is an Espresso Macchiato strong?
On our concentration scale, an Espresso Macchiato rates 4/5. Strength here means how concentrated the coffee tastes - not how much caffeine is in the cup.
How is an Espresso Macchiato different from a Latte?
A latte is the opposite drink in scale. It surrounds the same espresso with a large volume of steamed milk in a tall cup, so it tastes mild and creamy. An espresso macchiato keeps everything tiny and adds only a dollop of foam, so it stays intense and coffee-forward.
Is an Espresso Macchiato hot or iced?
Traditionally hot. An Espresso Macchiato is served warm, not over ice.
How much caffeine is in an Espresso Macchiato?
Around 63 mg is typical for an Espresso Macchiato, scaled from USDA's measured figure for espresso rather than measured in the cup. It is approximate - the real amount shifts with the beans, the roast, and the pour.