What is a Macchiato?
Macchiato drinkers swear by them, and this coffees’ appeal is only getting stronger. A rich espresso-forward drink, themacchiatocoffee uses only a touch of milk to provide some creaminess and a little froth to an otherwise undisturbed shot of espresso.
Macchiato means ‘stained’ in Italian and refers to the small dollop of fresh milk that very lightly colours the espresso. The appeal of a macchiato coffee lies in this dash of milk, which offers espresso-lovers a slight creaminess to their coffee flavour. It’s a good one to know as an alternative to a straight espresso, and in this guide we’ll show you the steps and tools needed for a barista-level macchiato recipe.
Macchiato Types: Long Mac vs. Short Mac
To start with, a macchiato isn’t a single type of coffee. When ordering a macchiato in a café, you’ll usually be asked whether you want it ‘short’ or ‘long’. A short macchiato coffee contains a 30ml shot of espresso and a touch of steamed milk and froth. A long macchiato recipe uses a double shot (60ml) of espresso, with a touch more milk and foam. This helps to extend the balance of flavour in a longer pour and with a slightlier latte-like taste.
Macchiato vs. Espresso vs. Piccolo
Short coffees may share some similarities but they’re all distinct in flavour. So, what is a macchiato compared to an espresso or piccolo? An espresso is the purest form of coffee – a single or double shot of concentrated coffee in a short cup. A piccolo latte is essentially a smaller version of thecafé latteand contains a ristretto shot of espresso and steamed milk, combined in the same way. A macchiato coffee sits somewhere in-between an espresso and a piccolo, by adding milk without blending it into the espresso shot. This helps to maintain the pure coffee flavour with slight added sweetness from milk, and is a go-to for those who love espresso but want a less intense flavour profile.
How to Prepare a Macchiato at Home
Most of the focus of the macchiato is on its espresso flavour, and withNespressoyou can tailor that to your preference. Want to embrace the intensity of dark roasted coffee? We suggest opting for an arabica blend likeArpeggio. For a lighter macchiato with less edge and more sweetness, a cereal and caramel-based espresso likeOrafiomight suit.
To make a macchiato coffee at home, you’ll need your espresso choice, steamed milk and a teaspoon to help with your pour. Start by extracting your espresso – for a ‘short mac’ make it a single shot, and choose a double shot if you want a ‘long mac’. Then, steam your milk using either a milk frother like theAeroccino3 Black Milk Frotheror the automatic steam wand attached to our espresso machines like theCreatista Pro. Once your milk is heated and silky, use a teaspoon to dollop some milk and froth over the top of the espresso shot. If you prefer your coffee slightly milkier, just add more to taste.
