Caramel Macchiato Recipe

Try this homemade recipe of the most popular Starbucks drink – Caramel Macchiato! Lightly sweetened vanilla milk mixed with smoky (homemade!) espresso and topped with buttery caramel sauce. This Starbucks Caramel Macchiato recipe is not to be missed!

I’ve got great news for you, friends! You can make your favorite Starbucks Caramel Macchiato at home! Yep, you read it right. You don’t need to travel far or spend extra $$ to get a cup of one of those treats. You can prepare it at home without any fancy equipment. (If you already own an espresso machine, good for you! You can use this recipe as well.)

caramel macchiato recipe

Caramel Macchiato

caramel macchiato recipe

Debuted by Starbucks in 1996, the Caramel Macchiato has been a café favorite for over two decades. Learn how to craft this coffee classic at home with this simple recipe. Make it frothy with a mix of smooth vanilla and velvety caramel for the perfect amount of sweetness. Top it off with a drizzle of caramel for a coffee that tastes as delicious as it looks.

Prep: 7min

Total: 7min

Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients:

  • 1 Starbucks® Espresso Roast by Nespresso® capsule​
  • 0.75 cup milk of choice
  • 1 Tbsp homemade Vanilla Syrup (or storebought)
  • homemade Caramel Sauce (or storebought) for garnish

Instruction:

  1. Mix and stir all ingredients in a small saucepan. Heat on medium-low for 1 minute.
  2. Reduce heat to a low and simmer for 10 minutes.
  3. Remove from heat. Once cooled, enjoy in your favorite Starbucks® coffee or recipe.
  4. Pour vanilla syrup into the bottom of your mug.
  5. In a separate container, froth the milk and then pour into mug.
  6. Prepare 1 shot of Starbucks® Espresso Roast by Nespresso® and pour through the foam.
  7. Drizzle caramel sauce on top. Enjoy!

Copycat Starbucks Caramel Macchiato

caramel macchiato recipe

Try this homemade version of the most popular Starbucks drink – Caramel Macchiato! Lightly sweetened vanilla milk mixed with smoky (homemade!) espresso and topped with buttery caramel sauce!

Prep: 5min

Total: 10min

Yield: 1

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 294 kcal, Carbohydrate 50 g, Protein 11 g, Fat 7 g, Saturated Fat 4 g, Cholesterol 27 mg, Sodium 199 mg, Sugar 46 g, Trans Fat 0.3 g, unSaturated Fat 2.3 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

  • 12 oz reduced fat or whole milk
  • 2 tbsp vanilla syrup
  • 2 oz espresso
  • caramel sauce to drizzle

Instruction:

  1. Prepare the espresso using a macchinetta or espresso machine. (You may use a very strong regular coffee, but you’ll need to double the amount: use 4 oz instead of 2).
  2. While the espresso is being made, warm up the milk. Froth the milk using milk frother. If you don’t have milk frother, you can use a regular whisk instead. (Just whisk the milk until foam forms).
  3. Pour the espresso into a measuring cup.
  4. Add vanilla and milk to the cup. Then, pour the espresso on top of the frothy milk creating a “mark” on the foam. (Macchiato means “marked” in Italian).
  5. And the last step is to drizzle the caramel on top. At Starbucks, we make two circles around the edges of the cup and then we make a grate pattern in the middle.

Coffeehouse Style Caramel Macchiato

caramel macchiato recipe

For a fraction of the cost, you can make coffeehouse style Caramel Macchiato at home!

Prep: 10min

Total: 10min

Yield: 1

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 160 kcal, Carbohydrate 32 g, Protein 4 g, Fat 2 g, Saturated Fat 2 g, Cholesterol 10 mg, Sodium 195 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 6 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp caramel sauce (divided)
  • 1 doubleshot espresso ((1/4 cup))
  • 1/2 cup milk (steamed with foam*)

Instruction:

  1. In the bottom of a mug (I recommend at least 8 ounces in capacity), add 1 tablespoon of caramel sauce.
  2. Add the espresso directly on top of the caramel, then pour in the hot milk. Spoon the remaining milk foam on top.
  3. Drizzle the remaining 1 tablespoon of caramel over the milk foam. Enjoy promptly!

HOW TO MAKE A CARAMEL MACCHIATO AT HOME | Starbucks copycat | Danielle Murnaghan

FAQ

What is in a caramel macchiato?

Freshly steamed milk with vanilla-flavored syrup marked with espresso and topped with a caramel drizzle for an oh-so-sweet finish.

How do you drink caramel macchiato?

Iced Caramel Macchiato
  1. Place vanilla syrup in a glass.
  2. Add cold 2% milk.
  3. Fill glass with ice to ½ inch below rim.
  4. Pour in Starbucks® espresso shots. We recommend brewing Starbucks® Espresso Roast with an espresso machine. …
  5. Top with caramel sauce. SERVE AND ENJOY.

What’s the difference between a caramel latte and macchiato?

Both beverages use espresso as their base, both are topped with a deep layer of frothed milk, and both use caramel sauce. The difference comes with the syrup. A caramel macchiato is made by mixing coffee with a little bit of vanilla syrup, while a caramel latte only uses caramel sauce as a sweetener.

How many shots of caramel are in a caramel macchiato?

1 tbsp + 1 tsp Vanilla Syrup (20ml) 1 tbsp Caramel Sauce (15ml) 1.5 to 2 shots of Espresso (55ml to 70ml, depending on strong you want the drink to be) Ice for Iced Caramel Macchiato.

About the author

Helen is an author and editor at helenbackcafe.com, who has a passion for writing about recipes. She loves to experiment with different ingredients and cooking techniques to create delicious and unique dishes.

Among all the foods, pizza holds a special place in her heart, and she loves exploring different variations and toppings to create the perfect slice. Through her writing, Helen hopes to inspire others to get creative in the kitchen and share their love for food with the world.

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