What is Macchiato? Caffe macchiato is drink with small amount of milk usually foamed, the origin of the name “macchiato” stems from baristas needing to show the serving waiter the difference between the espresso and espresso with bit milk in it. The idea is reflected in the Portuguese name for the drink “café pingado” which means the coffee with little drop. The name of the Macchiato comes from the Italian language which means stain or spotted, as the quantity of the milk is just enough to lighten the color of the coffee on the black surface. Now, we understand what is Macchiato in this blog post we will go through with some other interesting facts about the Macchiato.
History of Macchiato
As mentioned earlier that the name of the macchiato is derived from the Italian word which means stain or marked, to change the color by adding the splash of milk to an espresso. Unlike the other coffee drinks which are suitable for the morning only originally being the macchiato is known as perfect afternoon coffee. We can distinguish the macchiato as the middle ground between the espresso and cappuccino.
What Does Macchiato Taste Like?
The small amount of milk that is used in the macchiato gives this coffee drink a slight sweetness. However, the combination of sweetness and creaminess of the milk isn’t enough to dilute the strength of the espresso, so some may argue that a macchiato can taste slightly bitter as compared to the other coffee. The ratio of the Macchiato is 90% of espresso and 10% milk the milk is added one area of the cup which provide little dot of caramel colored, the milk actually brings some sweetness to the bitter taste of the espresso.
How Macchiato is Made and What Are Different Types of Macchiatos
The caffe macchiato has the highest ratio of espresso to milk 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. Macchiato is typically prepared by pouring small amount of steamed milk directly into the single shot of espresso
Kinds of Macchiato
There are two kinds of the Macchiato which are most popular one is Espresso Macchiato and the other is Latte Macchiato to understand the difference between the two kinds of Macchiato let’s take a look on the them one by one.
Espresso Macchiato
The espresso macchiato, simply called a caffé macchiato in Italy, is the original form of this drink. In this recipe the milk stains the espresso. It contains approximately 9/10 espresso and 1/10 milk– either steamed foamed. It can feature latte art or a simple dot indicating the mark of milk to the espresso drink. The point of this drink is to have an espresso slightly moderated or subdued by a splash of milk. Compared to other espresso-based drinks, the macchiato tips the espresso to milk scale the furthest towards espresso.This drink is prepared by first pulling a shot of espresso, as normal. Then about 1-2 teaspoons of steamed milk and a bit of foam are poured on top. This Espresso macchiato is typically served in a demitasse cup, although sometimes it is served in an espresso glass.
Latte Macchiato
The latte macchiato is a sweeter layered espresso beverage. The latte macchiato is different from the latte in that is has more milk and less espresso and differs from the espresso macchiato in that it puts an emphasis on the milk than the espresso. It is made by adding a shot or half a shot of espresso to steamed milk which is topped with a milk foam layer. The pouring method is the key of making the latte macchiato as pouring method creates the signature layered look of the latte macchiato. If poured correctly, there should be a clear gradient from the thicker steamed milk at the bottom of the cup, to the espresso, and finally to the layer of foam on top. Unlike an espresso macchiato, which is served in a short glass, a latte macchiato is served in a tall glass.
How To Make Macchiato at Home
The first skill you need to make the perfect macchiato at home is that you must have the perfect skill of making espresso, you need an espresso machine at home to make the perfect espresso or Moka pot, although any kind of espresso shot can made for macchiato but according to experts it works best with 2 to 1 ratio. Grind the coffee beans, once the coffee beans are grinded add Moka pot with water on the stove. Once the expresso is ready now comes the second step by adding volume of the milk gently using the frother and pour the milk into the espresso. Add just a dash about a half of an ounce of steamed milk to your shot of espresso to stain it with just a bit of milk.
Important Tip
Whether you are using whole, soy, oat, or almond milk steaming for a drink as small as a macchiato goes very quickly. Once done, depending on your preferred method, either scoop that milk foam onto your shotor pour it into the center of your coffee and pull it across to try to get a heart . Many people choose to drink a macchiato from a demitasse or espresso cup, but serving coffee in glasses has become more prevalent in recent years. In this case, a small glass should be used . Enjoy!
How to Order Macchiato
When you are ordering macchiato the first thing is that you must know the variety of the macchiato. It is also important to know note that where actually you are ordering if you are ordering in the special coffee shop and order for the macchiato you will likely to get the espresso macchiato but if you are ordering at some coffee chain there are chances that you will get the latte macchiato. However, the best way to make sure you communicate with the person serving you which one you want is to use the word when placing your order. Sometime the macchiato is not appeared in the Manu so you should know the person serving you what you are asking for. If you’re a coffee fan and know what you want, make sure you maximize your chances of satisfaction by placing the proper order.
Difference between Macchiato, Cappuccino and Latte
The main difference is that there’s more foam on a cappuccino whereas in a macchiato just has a spot of foam on top, the cappuccino is traditionally about 4 to 5 ounces Lattes are also made with espresso and foam but again, the difference is in the ratio of the ingredients.Cappuccinos are equal parts espresso steamed milk and milk foam whereas lattes are primarily steamed milk with a shot of espresso added and a macchiato is mostly espresso with a small amount of steamed milk foam . Macchiato is not stirred but it is layered with the milk foam resting on top of the espresso. A macchiato made with foam scooped on top of it will result in the milk foam and espresso flavors hitting your palate more separately.
Final Thoughts
If anyone knows, it’s Andreas Willhoff, co-author of Craft Coffee, director of education at Halfwit Coffee Roasters, and the director of operations at The Wormhole, a craft coffee shop located in Chicago. Here, he explains everything you need to know about the macchiato, including tips on ordering it at a cafe and instructions for making one at home.According to Willhoff, a traditional macchiato only has two ingredients. “A macchiato is a shot of espresso with a small amount of foam on top,” he says. Willhoff explains that the word “macchiato” translates to “stained” or “marked” in Italian. “The drink is simply ‘marked’ by the foam,’” he explains. While in Italy macchiatos are often made with one shot of espresso and topped with a small amount of foam, Willhoff says that here in the United States, most coffee shops will make it with two shots of espresso instead of one.If you’re not familiar with the magical macchiato yet, hopefully, this guide has given you an insight into how the macchiato came about, how to make it at home, and what you need to order to make sure your taste buds are wholly satisfied.
