Get step-by-step instructions and tips to make the very popular Starbucks Caramel Macchiato drink at home in just 5 minutes.
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Starbucks Caramel Macchiato
Starbucks Caramel Macchiato is a hot, caffeinated drink made with espresso, milk, vanilla syrup, and caramel drizzle.
The name of the drink is a little confusing since there isn’t any caramel in the coffee. It’s flavored with vanilla syrup and the caramel is only drizzled on top of the drink.
Macchiato means “stained” or “marked” and the Caramel Macchiato is made by adding espresso into frothed milk, leaving a dot or a mark of espresso on top.
For a drink to be called a Caramel Macchiato, the vanilla syrup and frothed milk needs to go into the cup first, then the espresso, followed by the caramel drizzle. It’s the espresso crema mark on top of the milk that makes a drink a Caramel Macchiato and not a latte.
This drink is essentially a vanilla latte with caramel drizzle but made “upside down” by adding the milk in first into the cup instead of the espresso.
For the Caramel Macchiato to be made properly, it needs espresso, not brewed coffee.
RELATED: Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato Copycat
Recipe Highlights
- Starbucks Caramel Macchiato is made using just 4 ingredients.
- The vanilla syrup can be homemade or purchased at a Starbucks location.
- This drink can be made quick and easy using a Nespresso.
- Frothed milk is simple to make at home with a French press or a milk frother.
RELATED: 19 Starbucks Caramel Drinks (Including Secret Menu)
Ingredient Notes
- Espresso: Use Starbucks Espresso Roast or for Nespresso to make the drink taste closest to Starbucks.
- Vanilla syrup: Use homemade vanilla syrup or buy it directly at Starbucks locations.
- Milk: Starbucks makes theirs with 2% milk but you can use any milk you like.
- Caramel sauce: It’s a little tricky to make caramel sauce at home, so store-bought was used. It’s only used to drizzle on top of the drink.
For full ingredients and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Froth milk. Frothed milk can be made using an electric milk frother.
Another method is to simmer milk on the stovetop, pour it into a French press, then pump the plunger a few times to create froth.
Step 2: Put vanilla syrup and frothed milk into a cup.
Step 3: Add espresso shots. Use 2 Nespresso espresso pods or 1 double espresso capsule.
Step 4: Drizzle caramel sauce on top.
Nespresso Notes
The easiest way to make espresso at home is with a Nespresso machine.
1 shot of espresso = 1 Nespresso espresso capsule
To make a Caramel Macchiato, use 1 or 2 Nespresso espresso capsules or 1 double espresso capsule.
Don’t use the coffee capsules for the Vertuo machines which make a full cup of coffee and not espresso.
Nespresso sells Starbucks capsules in espresso and blonde espresso capsules for both the Vertuo and Original machines.
Starbucks uses regular espresso to make a Caramel Macchiato but try making it at home with their blonde espresso, which is more popular.
Expert Tips
- Milk will increase in volume when steamed or frothed, so to get 1 ½ cups of frothed milk for this recipe, use 1 cup of cold milk (dairy or non-dairy).
- If you don’t have an espresso machine or a Nespresso, you can use instant coffee. Combine 1 tablespoon of instant coffee and 1/4 cup hot water to replace the 2 shots of espresso in the recipe.
- Make the homemade vanilla syrup ahead of time. It’ll keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Questions You May Have
A Caramel Macchiato is a vanilla flavored latte but the order in which the ingredients go into the drink is what makes it different. Frothed milk goes in first, then the espresso. In a latte, the espresso goes in first, then the frothed milk.
All the ingredients would be the same, but the Caramel Macchiato is made by assembling the drink with vanilla syrup, frothed milk, the espresso, then the caramel drizzle. The vanilla latte would have the frothed milk last, then the caramel drizzle.
Starbucks makes theirs with 1 shot for a short (8 ounces) and tall drink (12 ounces) and 2 shots for a grande (16 ounces) and venti (20 ounces). You can use 1 or 2 shots of espresso, depending on how strong you want the drink.
Nope. The drink is intended to be layered and not mixed together. Drink it as it, without stirring. You’ll taste the caramel drizzle with the milk first, then get more of the espresso as you keep sipping.
There are 2 macchiato drinks on the Starbucks menu and they’re completely different. The Espresso Macchiato is a small drink with espresso and a tiny bit of milk, and the Caramel Macchiato is an upside down latte with caramel drizzle.
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Starbucks Caramel Macchiato Copycat
INGREDIENTS
- 1 ½ cups 2% milk
- 2 tablespoons vanilla syrup
- 2 capsules Nespresso Starbucks espresso (or 2 espresso shots)
- 2 teaspoons caramel sauce
INSTRUCTIONS
- Froth milk.Frothed milk can be made using an electric milk frother. Another method is to simmer milk on the stovetop, pour it into a French press, then pump the plunger a few times to create froth.
- Put vanilla syrup and frothed milk into a cup. Add espresso shots.Use 2 Nespresso espresso pods or 1 double espresso capsule.
- Drizzle caramel sauce on top.
EQUIPMENT
NOTES
- 1 shot of espresso = 1 Nespresso espresso capsule
- To make a 16 ounce (grande) Starbucks drink, you’ll need 2 Nespresso espresso or ristretto capsules. You can also use 1 double espresso capsule.
- Try it with Nespresso Starbucks Blonde Espresso capsules for a smoother taste.
- Starbucks makes theirs with 2% milk but you can use any milk you like.
- Milk will increase in volume when steamed or frothed, so to get 1 ½ cups of frothed milk for this recipe, use 1 cup of cold milk (dairy or non-dairy).
- If you don’t have an espresso machine or a Nespresso, you can use instant coffee. Combine 1 tablespoon of instant coffee and 1/4 cup hot water to replace the 2 shots of espresso in the recipe.
- Make a batch of homemade vanilla syrup ahead of time. It’ll keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
This turned out amazing!!! Thank you for the recipe!!