Updated: September 2026.
A macchiato (or espresso macchiato) is an espresso "stained" with a small amount of milk foam, usually one or two spoonfuls. It's served in a small cup of about 2-3 oz (60-90 ml) and keeps almost all the intensity of the espresso, with a creamy touch that softens its bitterness. Its name comes from the Italian macchiato, meaning "stained" or "marked".
It's the shortest and most intense milk drink on a coffee shop menu, ideal if you want to taste the coffee without giving up the smoothness of milk entirely. Here we explain what it is, how it differs from other drinks, which types exist and how to make one at home.
What Does Macchiato Mean and Where Does It Come From?
Macchiato means "stained" in Italian: the espresso is "stained" by a small amount of milk. The drink emerged in Italy in the 20th century, as espresso machines spread, as a way to order an espresso with just a little milk. It is credited to Italian baristas, who served it this way to tell at a glance a plain espresso from one with milk.
Over time the latte macchiato appeared, which flips the idea: milk "stained" with espresso. And in 1996 Starbucks popularized the caramel macchiato, a sweet, much larger version that has little to do with the original.
How Does a Macchiato Differ from a Cortado, Cappuccino and Latte?
| Drink | Espresso | Milk | Size | Flavor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macchiato | Single or double | 1-2 spoonfuls of foam | 2-3 oz (60-90 ml) | Very intense, barely softened |
| Cortado | Single | A similar amount of hot milk, almost no foam | 2-4 oz (60-120 ml) | Intense and balanced |
| Cappuccino | Single | About 2 oz (60 ml) of milk and dense foam | 5-6 oz (150-180 ml) | Balanced and foamy |
| Flat white | Double | 4-4.5 oz (120-130 ml) with fine microfoam | 5-6 oz (150-180 ml) | Strong and silky |
| Latte | Single or double | 7-8 oz (200-240 ml) and a thin layer of foam | 8-10 oz (240-300 ml) | Mild and milky |
If you like the intensity of a macchiato but want a bit more milk, try the flat white or the cappuccino. To see every preparation side by side, check our comparison table of coffee brewing methods.
Types of Macchiato
Espresso macchiato
The classic macchiato: an espresso with one or two spoonfuls of milk foam on top. It's served in an espresso cup and drunk in a few sips. It's what you get in Italy when you simply ask for "un macchiato".
Latte macchiato
The reverse version: a tall glass of hot, frothed milk to which an espresso is added slowly, so the coffee sits as a "stain" between the milk and the foam and forms layers. It's mild, milky and much larger, similar to a latte but with more foam and the coffee less blended in.
Caramel macchiato
The coffee-chain version popularized by Starbucks: steamed milk with vanilla syrup, an espresso poured on top and a crosshatch of caramel sauce. It's sweet, large and closer to a flavored latte than to a traditional macchiato.
How Do You Make a Macchiato? Step-by-Step Recipe
Ingredients (1 macchiato):
- 1 single espresso (about 1 oz / 30 ml), made with 7-9 g of specialty coffee, or a double with 18 g if you want it stronger.
- About 1.7 oz (50 ml) of cold whole milk (you'll only use one or two spoonfuls of foam).
Equipment: an espresso machine with a steam wand, a coffee grinder and a small milk pitcher.
- Preheat the cup with hot water: because it's so small, it cools down quickly.
- Grind the coffee just before brewing, fine, almost like powder.
- Pull the espresso straight into the cup: about 25-30 seconds of extraction, with a thick, golden crema. We explain it in our guide to making the perfect espresso at home.
- Froth the milk to 140-150 °F (60-65 °C), with a creamy, firm foam.
- Let the milk rest a few seconds and, with a spoon, place one or two spoonfuls of foam in the center of the espresso.
- Serve it right away, before the foam settles.
If you don't have a machine, you can brew a concentrated coffee with an AeroPress or a moka pot and froth the milk with a handheld frother. It won't be a coffee-bar macchiato, but it comes very close.
Which Coffee Should You Use for a Macchiato?
Because a macchiato has so little milk, the coffee is the absolute star: any flaw shows. Choose an espresso with body and natural sweetness that stays balanced when it meets the foam.
- Tradition Coffee (washed): notes of chocolate, caramel and tangerine; the classic profile for a balanced macchiato.
- Honey Coffee: notes of honey, spices and peach; its natural sweetness pairs very well with milk.
- Natural Coffee: red berries, wild strawberry and chocolate, for a brighter, fruitier macchiato.
Find them all in our collection of whole bean specialty coffee, freshly roasted in Itagüí.
Tips for a Perfect Macchiato
- The ratio is everything: add too much milk and it's no longer a macchiato but a cortado.
- Use cold whole milk: its fat makes a more stable, creamier foam.
- Don't overheat the milk: above 160 °F (70 °C) it loses sweetness and the foam turns lumpy.
- If you like it sweet, sweeten the espresso before adding the foam, so you don't break it when stirring.
If you enjoy short milk drinks, also try the café bombón, made with condensed milk, or the mocha, made with chocolate. And for more ideas, see our 25 coffee recipes.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Macchiato
What is a macchiato?
It's an espresso with a small amount of milk foam, usually one or two spoonfuls, served in a small cup. It keeps almost all the intensity of the espresso, with a creamy touch.
What does macchiato mean?
"Stained" in Italian: the espresso is stained by a little milk. In a latte macchiato it's the other way around: the milk is stained by the espresso.
What is the difference between a macchiato and a cortado?
A macchiato has only one or two spoonfuls of milk foam; a cortado has roughly as much hot milk as coffee, with almost no foam. That's why a macchiato is more intense and a cortado is smoother and more balanced.
What is the difference between a macchiato and a latte macchiato?
A macchiato is an espresso with a little foam, in a small cup. A latte macchiato is a tall glass of frothed milk with an espresso added on top: much larger, milder and milkier.
How much caffeine is in a macchiato?
The same as its espresso: about 60-75 mg for a single and about 120-150 mg for a double. The milk doesn't change the caffeine, it only softens the flavor.
Written by the Green Hills Coffee team, specialty coffee growers and roasters in Itagüí, Antioquia.
