Macchiato vs Latte: What Is the Difference?
Macchiato vs Latte: What Is the Difference?
What is the difference between a macchiato and a latte?
Volume of milk. A latte is roughly three parts steamed milk to one part espresso. A macchiato is around nine parts espresso to one part foam. They sit at opposite ends of the same scale.
Macchiato means marked. The foam is a mark on the surface of the shot, which is the whole idea.
For this, Spectre is the dark espresso roast we developed against a shot rather than a filter.
A latte is designed to be a drink you sit with. A macchiato is designed to be finished in three sips.
| Macchiato | Latte | Caramel macchiato (chain) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Espresso | 1 to 2 shots | 1 to 2 shots | 1 to 2 shots |
| Milk | A spoon of foam | 8 to 14 oz steamed | 8 to 14 oz steamed |
| Added syrup | None | None | Vanilla and caramel |
| Size | 2 to 3 oz | 12 to 16 oz | 12 to 16 oz |
| Tastes like | Espresso | Sweet milk and coffee | Dessert |
Once you know the difference, the only question left is which bag.
The names matter less than what you actually like. Both are worth drinking. Neither is worth overpaying for.
What decides whether either is any good is the coffee you started with.
See what people order most →Why does the chain caramel macchiato taste nothing like this?
Because it is a flavoured latte wearing the name. It is espresso, a full serving of steamed milk, vanilla syrup and caramel sauce, which puts it in a different category entirely.
Nothing wrong with the drink. It is just the opposite of what the word means.
Order a macchiato at an independent shop and you will get two ounces in a small cup. That surprise catches almost everyone.
Most bad versions of either are just bad coffee underneath.
Milk hides a lot but it does not fix a roast that was scorched. If yours tastes flat at home, the recipe is not the problem.
A roast with real body cuts through. A thin one disappears.
Roasts with body →Which one should you order?
Order a latte if you want something mild you can drink slowly. Order a macchiato if you want espresso and only want the sharpest edge softened.
A macchiato is the better test of a roaster. There is nowhere for a bad bean to hide.
A latte is more forgiving and more filling, which is why it is the default order almost everywhere.
Do they have different caffeine?
No, assuming the same number of shots. Caffeine comes from the espresso and milk does not add or remove any. A one shot latte and a one shot macchiato both land near 63mg.
The macchiato tastes far stronger because it is concentrated into two ounces instead of fourteen.
Strength of flavour and strength of caffeine are different measurements and get confused constantly.
Pick one bag, learn it, and stop guessing.
You do not need a shelf of options. You need one roast you know how to use and a reason to never be out of it.
- Pick the roast that suits how you actually brew.
- Set it to resupply on a schedule that matches what you drink.
- Stop thinking about it. You do not hit zero again.
What roast suits each drink?
Both want a medium-dark or dark espresso roast. The macchiato needs a bean good enough to drink nearly straight, and the latte needs one with enough body to survive being buried in milk.
A light roast in a latte disappears. In a macchiato it usually reads as sour.
If you only keep one bag for espresso drinks, a dark espresso roast covers both without compromise.
Great coffee for people who have somewhere to be.
However you take it, the day goes better when the coffee was worth making.
Subscriptions take 30% off the first order automatically. No code, nothing to remember. One time orders take 15% with WELCOME15.
Shop the lineup →Questions people actually ask
Is a macchiato stronger than a latte?
In flavour, yes, considerably. In caffeine, no. Both contain the same espresso, but a macchiato concentrates it into two or three ounces instead of spreading it across fourteen.
What is a latte macchiato?
The reverse build. Steamed milk poured first, then espresso added through it, so the shot marks the milk. It is closer to a latte than a traditional macchiato despite the name.
Is a caramel macchiato a real macchiato?
Not in the traditional sense. It is a flavoured latte with vanilla syrup and caramel. The name was borrowed and it now means something different at chains than at independent shops.
How do I order a real macchiato?
Ask for a traditional or espresso macchiato. That phrasing removes the ambiguity anywhere, and you will get a small cup of espresso with a spoon of foam.
Can you make a macchiato at home?
Yes, if you can pull espresso or brew something close with a moka pot. Steam a small amount of milk, spoon the foam over the shot, and you have made one.
