How much caffeine is in a macchiato? Small/medium macchiatos typically have around 80mg of caffeine, while large ones pack in about 120mg. What does a macchiato taste like? It tastes a whole lot like espresso, meaning the higher quality of beans used, the better flavor profile. But when you order a macchiato at a traditional coffee shop like The Roasterie, expect to get what Leonardo Da Vinci may have ordered at his local shop back in the day: a delicious, rich espresso paired with just a spot of milk.
From a tall, milk-forward drink (that’s basically a latte) to something packed with tons of caramel, today’s macchiato doesn’t usually resemble the delizioso spotted espresso of Rome. Outside of Italy, macchiatos can be a lot of things. This drink is traditionally served in a smaller espresso cup, usually 2-3 oz. In Italian, macchiato means “spotted.” This refers to the typical spot on the top of the drink, caused by a barista pouring espresso directly into a small amount of steamed milk, leaving a spot of espresso on top of the milk. What's a macchiato? A macchiato is a much stronger coffee drink than a latte, offering more bold flavors and caffeine. Sure, sounds simple enough right? Let’s go into more detail. A latte is espresso, steamed milk, and foamed milk. latte, here’s the main difference: a macchiato is simply just espresso and steamed milk. The main difference between each drink is the ratio of milk to espresso.
For the most part, milk-based coffee drinks share many similarities. With words like a flat white, macchiato, and latte, it’s easy to get confused and overwhelmed, ultimately defaulting to your traditional order. You’re sitting at the counter at your favorite coffee shop, looking at all of your options for what coffee drink to order.