Caffè macchiato

Caffè macchiato (Italian pronunciation: [kafˈfɛ makˈkjaːto] (listen)), sometimes called espresso macchiato,[1][2] is an espresso coffee drink with a small amount of milk, usually foamed. In Italian, macchiato means "stained" or "spotted" so the literal translation of caffè macchiato is "stained” or “marked coffee.”

Not to be confused with a drink with a similar name, latte macchiato.

Caffè macchiato

Caffè macchiato (Italy)
Type	Hot
Country of origin	Italy
Color	shades of brown, white
Ingredients	espresso, milk

History

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". The idea is reflected in the Portuguese name for the drink: café pingado, meaning coffee with a drop.[3]

Preparation

See also: latte macchiato and caffè latte

The caffè macchiato has the highest ratio of espresso to milk of any drink made with those ingredients. The intent is that the milk moderates, rather than overwhelms, the taste of the coffee while adding a touch of sweetness. The drink is typically prepared by pouring a small amount of steamed milk directly into a single shot of espresso.[4] One recipe calls for 5–10 g (1–2 teaspoons) of milk heated to 60–66 °C (140–150 °F).[5]

Photos

• 
  A caffè macchiato in Ethiopia (Kaldi's, Addis Ababa).
• 
  Caffè macchiato as served at Four Barrel Coffee in San Francisco, California
• 
  Caffè macchiato in Chiang Mai, Thailand, at Impresso Espresso Bar
• 
  Macchiato at Bradleys Coffee, South Wales, UK
• 
  Caffè macchiato (Papua New Guinea)
• 
  Macchiato as served at Venice Grind in Mar Vista, California
• 
  Double shot macchiato with a little foam, in glass, in Natick, Massachusetts

See also

• Latte macchiato
• List of coffee drinks
• Steamer (or "babycino") – steamed milk only

References

1. "Milk Frothing Guide", CoffeeGeek, 13 June 2012
2. "Espresso Macchiato", Starbucks Coffee Company, 13 June 2012
3. "How to order coffee in Portugal".
4. Davids, Kenneth (1997). Espresso: The Ultimate Coffee. Cole Group. ISBN 1564265579.
5. Moldvaer, Anette (2014). Coffee Obsession. Dorling Kindersley Limited. pp. 150–151.

Sources

• Davids, Kenneth (2001). Coffee: A Guide to Buying, Brewing, and Enjoying (5e ed.). New York, NY, USA: St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN 0-312-24665-X.