What Is a Latte Macchiato? The Layered Glass Explained
Milk first, espresso last: a tall glass of steamed milk marked with a shot, so it sits in layers. Not a latte, and not a macchiato either.
A latte macchiato is a tall glass of steamed milk with a shot of espresso poured in last. Macchiato means marked or stained in Italian, and here it is the milk that is marked by the coffee, not the other way round. Poured gently, the espresso settles in a band between the milk and the foam, which is why the drink is served in glass.
Three drinks with nearly the same name
- Latte. Espresso first, steamed milk poured into it, a thin layer of foam. The coffee and milk mix into one colour. See what a latte is.
- Latte macchiato. Milk first, espresso last. Layered, milder, usually a single shot in 250 to 300ml.
- Macchiato. An espresso marked with a spoonful of foam. Almost all coffee, in an espresso cup. See what a macchiato is.
The first two use similar amounts of the same ingredients. The difference is the order, and the order changes both how the drink looks and how it tastes as you drink it.
Why it sits in layers
Hot espresso is slightly lighter than hot milk and heavier than the foam on top, so when it is poured slowly it comes to rest between them. From the side you see white milk at the bottom, a brown band of coffee, and white foam at the top. The first sip through the foam is gentle, the middle is coffee, and the bottom is mostly milk. Stirring mixes it into something close to a latte.
Making one at home
- Steam the milk first. Whole milk layers best, because its fat and protein give a firm foam. Aim for more foam than a latte, but still smooth rather than stiff. What good steamed milk is covers the texture.
- Pour the milk into a tall glass and let it sit for thirty seconds so the foam separates on top.
- Pull the espresso and pour it slowly through the foam, ideally down the side of the glass or over the back of a spoon. A fast pour punches through and mixes the layers.
- Serve it at once. The layers blur within a few minutes.
The button on a bean-to-cup machine
Many people meet the word on a machine before they meet it in a cafe. Automatic machines with a milk system often have a latte macchiato button, because the drink suits the way they work: froth the milk into the glass first, then dispense the coffee on top. How well they do it depends on the milk system, and bean-to-cup milk systems compares the carafes, frothing heads and steam wands. What a bean-to-cup machine is covers the rest of the machine.
Which coffee suits it
With one shot in a tall glass of milk, the coffee has to be strong enough to be tasted. A medium-dark roast with chocolate or nutty notes holds up best and reads clearly in the middle layer. A delicate light roast tends to disappear, and if that is what you have, pull it as a double or a ristretto so the band of coffee carries more flavour.
Caffeine and strength
A latte macchiato is normally made with one shot, so it carries roughly 60 to 80mg of caffeine, about half a double-shot latte. It tastes milder for the same reason: more milk for each gram of coffee. If you want it stronger, ask for a second shot, which most cafes will pour in the same way. The figures for other drinks are in how much caffeine is in coffee.
Ordering one
In Italy and much of Europe the name is well understood. In the United States, ask for a latte macchiato by its full name, because a macchiato on its own may bring either an espresso marked with foam or a sweetened layered drink, depending on the cafe. If a cafe does not list it, describe the build: steamed milk in a tall glass with a shot poured on top, not stirred.
Common questions
What is the difference between a latte and a latte macchiato?
The order. A latte starts with espresso and has milk poured into it, so the two mix. A latte macchiato starts with milk and has the espresso poured in last, so it settles in a band between the milk and the foam. The ingredients are close; the drink in the glass is not.
Is a latte macchiato stronger than a latte?
Usually weaker. It is often made with a single shot in a tall glass of milk, where many cafes put two shots in a latte, so it tastes milder and carries less caffeine.
Why does a latte macchiato have layers?
Hot espresso is slightly lighter than hot milk and heavier than milk foam, so when it is poured gently it settles between them. Stirring or pouring too fast mixes the layers, which does not change the taste much but loses the look.
Is a Starbucks caramel macchiato a latte macchiato?
It is built the same way: vanilla syrup and steamed milk first, espresso poured over the top, then caramel. So it is a sweetened latte macchiato rather than an Italian espresso macchiato.
