Carmael Macchiato

Why is Caramel Macchiato called a "macchiato" rather than a latte? Here is what the word actually means and how it is different.

In Italian, macchiato means "stained" or "spotted."

The origin of the name "macchiato" stems from baristas needing to show the serving waiters the difference between an espresso and an espresso with a tiny bit of milk in it; the latter was "marked".

It’s basically an espresso with a small amount of foamed milk on top — the name macchiato means “marked.” So really, you could look at it as a cross between an espresso and a cappuccino. Since Italians only drink cappuccino in the morning, a macchiato gives the afternoon drinker the option of having a little milk in their espresso for some extra flavor. It’s also a good option for those who can’t tolerate a strong espresso but find a cappuccino too weak and milky.

Caffè macchiato sometimes called espresso macchiato, is an espresso coffee drink with a small amount of milk, usually foamed. Latte macchiato is a cup of hot milk with a shot of espresso without any syrup added. When you add caramel syrup to it, it then becomes a caramel macchiato.