You make a regular espresso and then add just a bit of milk foam or steamed milk on the top. Remember how I told you that there’s a “stain” in the middle of a macchiato (from which it got its name)? Well, in this case, it’s the milk that makes the stain. It’s the perfect middle ground between an espresso and a cappuccino. You’ll get this beverage if you simply order a macchiato in Italy. The first version of a macchiato was the espresso macchiato. Both have a signature “stain” or a dot at the top as a result of pouring espresso over milk, or vice versa. There are two versions – cafe macchiato (or espresso macchiato) and latte macchiato.

In Italian, “macchiato” means stained or marked, which explains the distinct look of a traditional macchiato. But the term macchiato is so misused, most folks don’t know what a traditional Italian macchiato is and how it got its name. A real macchiato is also espresso-based, but a lot stronger, simple, and doesn’t contain any syrup.Īs a coffee lover, you might be able to recognize a nice espresso, a cappuccino, or a cafe latte. I don’t know why it’s named like that, but the real, traditional cafe macchiato is nothing like the sugary, watery bomb you’re used to drinking in western coffee shops. Keep reading to learn the differences between these two types of drink, what ingredients are used, and how you can make both at home. For instance, an iced espresso with milk and vanilla syrup is called latte macchiato in Starbucks, but that drink has nothing to do with the real macchiato. Many people think it’s the same thing because coffee shops use the term macchiato for drinks that aren’t real, traditional macchiatos. A Frappuccino is a Starbucks trademark that consists of many ingredients, including coffee, milk, flavored syrup, and sugar. So, what are the differences between a macchiato and a Frappuccino?Ī macchiato is a type of coffee that’s very simple to make, adding a small amount of steamed milk or milk foam to espresso. Although there are glaring differences between them, a lot of people think they are the same thing. Also, the Frappuccino has been one of the most popular coffee-based beverages in the world since its introduction. Every coffee lover tried a macchiato – or at least some version of it.

Traditional macchiato