How to Make a Macchiato

A macchiato: the espresso-lover’s milk drink. A traditional macchiato allows you to enjoy espresso at its full strength along with the extra texture and sweetness of foamed milk. Here’s what you need to know to achieve this classic drink at home:

What You'll Need

• 1 Tbsp (14 grams) finely ground espresso beans
• 2-4 oz of milk for steaming
• Espresso machine
• Milk steaming wand or other milk frothing device
• Coffee grinder
• Kitchen scale (optional)
• Ember Mug²

Directions

1. Pull 2 espresso shots (2 oz) directly into your Ember Mug². (Find more tips for brewing espresso at home here.)
2. Steam milk until it has a thick, airy layer of foam. (No steaming wand? Follow our tips for frothing milk without a steaming wand.)
3. Top espresso shot with 2-3 Tbsp of milk foam.
4. Serve at 135°F

Want to take your coffee knowledge a bit deeper?

Flavored macchiatos are popular at coffee chains, but these drinks are usually far from a traditional macchiato and more closely resemble an extra-foamy flavored latte.

The traditional macchiato, on the other hand, is defined by its simplicity: espresso topped with a dollop of milk foam.

How to Make a Caramel Macchiato

If you’re trying to recreate your favorite coffee shop’s caramel macchiato, you’ve probably noticed that a traditional macchiato is significantly smaller and has far less milk. You’ll have better luck following our classic latte recipe. Enhance the recipe with a few teaspoons of your favorite caramel sauce, and you’ll have a café-quality caramel latte for a fraction of the cost.

Whether you’re after the sweetness of a caramel “macchiato” latte or the powerful espresso flavor of a traditional macchiato, we recommend keeping your drink at a perfect 135°F in your Ember Mug². To learn more about the differences between common coffee drinks, see our guide to The 7 Most Popular Espresso Drinks.