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Macchiato confusion: Espresso macchiato vs. macchiato explained

Espresso macchiato vs. macchiato

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Macchiato
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In Italian, the word “macchiato” translates to “stained” or “marked” which is exactly what I picture when I think of this drink. An espresso macchiato is a classic coffee order in Italy, served in a small two-to-three ounce cup containing a shot of espresso that is “marked” with a very small amount of steamed milk.

Unlike ultra-creamy espresso drinks like a latte, an espresso macchiato is an espresso-forward drink that is meant as an order for those of us who want more coffee flavor than we want cream. While I’m a huge fan of the espresso macchiato, I have found that ordering this drink can be especially challenging. If you order macchiato at a national coffee chain like Dunkin’, you’ll be served a drink that does not even remotely resemble the Italian espresso macchiato you envisioned. Let’s break down where this ‘macchiato confusion’ stems from and how to differentiate between an espresso macchiato vs. a macchiato.

Espresso macchiato vs. macchiato

macchiato
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A macchiato and an espresso macchiato are not the same — and it starts with how they’re prepared. “An espresso macchiato is made by extracting the espresso shot first and adding a small spoonful of foam on top,” says John Beaver, founder of Alternative Brewing, Australia’s largest online coffee equipment retailer. “A latte macchiato flips this around, where you basically pour steamed milk in the glass first and then add espresso through the foam. The order is important because it completely changes how strong the coffee tastes and its visual appearance,” he shares.

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Many national coffee chains simply call it a “macchiato” on the menu, which can leave many confused when they order. According to Beaver, “Many customers feel ripped off paying $4 or $5 for a tiny cup even if the espresso inside tastes better. As such, businesses figured this out and started calling their big milky drinks macchiatos. This marketing move disconnected what Americans call a macchiato from what it actually means in Italy and in other places in the world.”

If you think about it from a monetary aspect, it’s pretty understandable why chains aren’t serving the “espresso macchiato” and serve more of a latte-style macchiato. “Selling a 16-ounce cup filled with milk and syrup for $6 makes chains way more profit than selling 2 ounces of espresso for $3. When I ran the numbers, milk drinks made about 85% profit, while espresso drinks only made around 60%. Businesses, of course, will sell more of what brings the most money,” says Beaver. Additionally, adding lots of milk and a sweet syrup can mask the taste of harsh or low quality coffee — making it easier for customers to get “tricked” into thinking their coffee actually tastes good. True

Ordering a macchiato

Freshly brewed espresso
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If you’re a true espresso lover, you may find a macchiato ordered from chain coffee companies to be way too milky. Personally, I avoid ordering macchiatos at these types of places unless I know they specifically can prepare an espresso macchiato. ” Espresso macchiatos have a strong coffee taste with just the right amount of foam to balance it out,” says Beaver. “Latte macchiatos go the other way, as the milk takes over and makes everything smooth and sweet, which tones down the strong taste of the coffee.” If you are ordering a macchiato at a local café, ask your barista to clarify what type of macchiato you will get before ordering.

Emily Caldwell
Emily Caldwell
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Emily is a Features Writer at The Manual, where she specializes in food, beverage, and travel content. She focuses on weaving… Read Full Bio
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