How to Make a Macchiato (Traditional Recipe)

So you want to know how to make a macchiato — the real one. Not the one that you can get from a popular coffee shop. This drink is well-known in its own right, and it doesn’t come with a side of a sugar crash.

Keep reading to find out how you can make a traditional Italian macchiato in the comfort of your own home. You might be surprised to discover you prefer it to the syrup-filled versions you’ve had before.

What is a Macchiato?

Before we make a macchiato, we had better define a macchiato. There is plenty of confusion on this topic — and for a good reason. 

A proper Italian macchiato, also known as an espresso macchiato, is simply a double shot of espresso with a small amount of milk foam. It gets its name from the Italian word for “stained” because you stain the espresso with a milk dollop. This is the version we’ll be making in this article.

The macchiato gained popularity in Italy because Italians typically don’t enjoy cappuccinos after breakfast time. They are considered to be too rich in dairy for later in the day. So the macchiato is an afternoon drink (1).

A latte macchiato is also a traditional Italian drink, but it’s the reverse of the traditional macchiato. In this case, you stain the steamed milk with espresso. A glass is partially filled with steamed milk, and you pour a double shot of espresso into the center. This produces a characteristic gradient in the glass and a distinct dot (or “stain”) of espresso in the center.

Related: Different Coffee Drink Types (with FREE DOWNLOADABLE infographic)

Then there’s the Starbucks versions, the Caramel Macchiato or the Cloud Macchiato, which have nothing to do with tradition (2). Their only similarity with their Italian counterparts is the presence of espresso and milk. These caramel syrup-filled milky concoctions are undoubtedly tasty treats, but they’re a far cry from Italian espresso drinks.

A few important notes, before we dig into the details:

• 1% or 2% milk is standard, but because a macchiato requires a dollop of foam on top, nearly any milk or plant-based milk substitute will work.
• Make sure you have a grinder that can handle a fine espresso grind. If you don’t have access to one, buy espresso beans at a local coffee shop and have them do an espresso grind for you.
• For your espresso, you can use any of the following: a home espresso machine, a manual lever espresso maker, or a portable espresso maker.
• If your machine doesn’t have a milk frothing system, you will need a separate milk frother.
• Espresso cups, also known as a demitasse, these measure between 2.5 and 3 ounces.

How to Make a Macchiato

Now, let’s get started with the traditional macchiato recipe.

1. Make espresso.

Finely grind your coffee beans, if they’re not already ground, and use an espresso machine to make a double espresso, which should measure about 2 oz. 

Next, pull a double shot of espresso. You can do it without a proper machine, BUT any real espresso is pulled with a machine that has 9 bars of pressure. But because this coffee drink is so espresso-focussed, a strong coffee like you might get if you brew with a Moka pot or Aeropress is not a great alternative. The body of the beverage won’t be as rich and creamy as it should be.

A Nespresso machine will make something similar to espresso to work for this, though Italian purists might not be impressed.

2. Froth the milk.

Use either a milk frother or your espresso machine’s steam wand to foam a small amount of milk. Here’s a guide on how to froth milk.

You only need an ounce of milk or less for this drink, but most frothing systems will require more than that to operate correctly. Don’t be tempted to add too much milk, or you can ruin the drink’s balance.es

You want to make an airy foam, as you would for a cappuccino, rather than a creamy microfoam you might use for a latte (3).

Related: Frothed Milk vs Steamed Milk

3. Stain the espresso and drink up.

Add a dollop of foamed milk on top of your espresso shot and enjoy. Some people will also add a bit of sugar to their espresso first, but this isn’t traditional.

Final Thoughts

When it comes right down to it, an espresso macchiato is one of the simplest drinks to make. It’s just espresso with a bit of froth on top. You don’t have to measure your milk or worry about mastering that perfect microfoam.

So as long as you have access to an espresso machine, why not give it a try at home? For the whole Italian experience, brew one (or two) as an afternoon pick-me-up!