If you’re ordering an espresso at a local or boutique coffee shop and the word “macchiato” escapes your lips don’t be surprised if you get some sideways looks when you ask. This has become a bit of a red flag for baristas because while the rest of the coffee world knows a traditional macchiato as an espresso with a dollop of frothy milk people who know the name from ordering say a Caramel Macchiato at Starbucks expect something akin to a sweetened latte.
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Unfortunately many coffee lovers don’t know the difference leaving it up to baristas to either clarify in advance what kind of morning coffee people are getting or deal with their confusion and/or anger afterward. After all if you’re expecting something like Starbucks’ version which comes in a 12- to 20-ounce cup with a generous amount of vanilla syrup steamed milk and caramel drizzled on top you’re going to be quite surprised when your barista hands you a small glass with a few ounces of what is essentially espresso and a small amount of milk. The term macchiato means “stain” in English as in how the milk topping marks or distinguishes the coffee from a straight-up shot (or double shot) of espresso.
Starbucks has caused a bit of a headache for baristas serving espresso drinks in other coffee shops because its sweetened milky macchiato is such a departure from the true espresso drink. Traditional macchiatos are espresso-forward with just a hint of milkiness and are best suited to those who enjoy the rich bitterness and nuanced flavor profiles of a good espresso roast. In Italy macchiatos are primarily enjoyed in the afternoon as local custom dictates that drinks like cappuccinos contain too much milk to be digested later in the day.
If you’re expecting something sweet and full-bodied like a Caramel Macchiato or Starbucks’ other takes on the drink like the seasonal Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato with apple brown sugar syrup and spiced apple drops you’re going to be surprised when you get a macchiato from just about anywhere else. It’s going to be considerably less sweet and more espresso-like than you’d like.
