What's the Difference Between Macchiato and Latte?

You walk up to the counter in your favorite coffee establishment with the intention of placing your order. You look over the menu to see that there are two familiar names that catch your eye. These are macchiatos and lattes. They sound like appealing drinks that contain espresso and milk. The difference between the two has left many people confused, but this article aims to clarify that issue.

The Core Ingredients: A Shared Foundation

Before moving forward to discuss the difference between them, it is essential to consider that lattes and macchiatos are made with the same components. Both drinks start with a base of rich, concentrated espresso and are finished with milk.

The steaming process is normally carried out to heat the milk to the optimal level that is ideal for drinking and incorporates air. In the process, air is incorporated to form two textures. The first texture is derived from steaming the milk. The result is milk that is hot and liquid with a creamy texture. The other texture is milk foam, a lighter, airier layer that sits on top. The composition of the essential components leads to the making of two entirely different coffee drinks.

The Latte: A Creamy, Coffee-Flavored Classic

The latte is one of the most popular espresso-based coffee drinks in the international market, particularly in North America and Europe. The drink is famous for its smooth and milky texture and has often been referred to as a gateway to espresso.

The Recipe and Ratio

A latte is essentially a milk-based beverage. The preparation entails one or two shots of espresso layered with thick layers of steamed milk and completed with a thin layer of milk foam on the surface. The proportion that marks the most essential difference is that between milk and espresso. In the standard latte, milk dominates the proportion to such an extent that it becomes 1 part consisting of espresso to 4 or more parts corresponding to milk. This leads to the resultant drink being substantially bigger, as it occupies an 8-12 oz cup.

The Build and Appearance

To prepare a latte, the barista extracts a shot of espresso right into the cup. Next, steamed milk is poured over the espresso. The milk is fully incorporated with the espresso to form a uniform mix with a light brown color. The final step to prepare the latte involves topping it with microfoam that can be used to create beautiful latte art. The final drink is uniform in color and texture.

The Taste and Texture

The dominant characteristic of a latte is its creamy, smooth texture. The high volume of milk mellows out the intensity of the espresso, resulting in a subtle, balanced coffee flavor that isn't overpowering. It’s a warm, comforting drink that many people enjoy as part of their morning routine. For those who find straight espresso too bitter or strong, the latte offers a pleasant, coffee-flavored milk experience.

The Macchiato: A Bold Shot with a Hint of Cream

In stark contrast to the latte, the traditional macchiato is an espresso-forward drink designed for those who truly love the taste of coffee. The name itself gives a clue to its identity; macchiato is the Italian word for "stained" or "marked."

The Recipe and Ratio

A traditional Espresso Macchiato is beautifully simple: a shot of espresso "stained" with a small dollop of milk foam. That's it. There is very little, if any, liquid steamed milk added. The ratio here is the complete opposite of a latte, consisting almost entirely of espresso. The milk foam is there simply to cut the initial intensity and bitterness of the espresso, not to dilute it. This results in a very small, powerful drink, typically served in a tiny 2-3 ounce demitasse cup.

The Build and Appearance

To prepare a macchiato, a barista pulls a shot of espresso into a demitasse cup. Then, they use a spoon to add a small amount of milk foam directly on top of the dark crema of the espresso. The appearance is striking: a dark, rich shot of espresso with a distinct white mark of foam in the center.

The Taste and Texture

The flavor profile of a macchiato is bold, intense, and all about the coffee. You get the full, complex flavor of the espresso right away, with the foam providing just a hint of creamy texture and sweetness to soften the edges. It’s a drink for the coffee purist who enjoys the robust flavor of espresso but wants it with a slightly gentler finish. It's a very popular way to drink coffee in Italy and in specialty coffee shops around the world.

The Source of Modern Confusion: The "Other" Macchiatos

Thus, if the difference is so straightforward, then why are people so confused about it? The reason mainly has to do with two modern variations that coffee shops have adopted.

The Latte Macchiato

This is almost an entirely different drink from that of an Espresso Macchiato, with the name giving away its composition perfectly. The drink consists of a cup full of steamed milk that has been “stained” with espresso. To make the drink, one needs to fill a glass with steamed milk and foam first. Next, one has to pour espresso over the foam in the glass. The coffee will sink between the foam and the hot milk due to its density, since the foam is lighter. Even though it has an impressive appearance, its taste is almost similar to that of a latte since it consists of milk.

The Starbucks "Caramel Macchiato"

This is the reason for the macchiato vs. latte mix-up in America. The Starbucks Caramel Macchiato is not a traditional macchiato. In reality, it is a vanilla latte with caramel sauce on top. To make one, mix vanilla syrup with steamed milk and then add espresso on top (like the latte macchiato). The other topping is designed to be placed in a crisscross pattern with the caramel sauce and is incredibly popular. The problem is that its name has caused consumers to believe that macchiatos are large and full of sugar and milk.

A Quick Comparison: Macchiato vs. Latte at a Glance

Feature	Traditional Macchiato	Latte
Primary Flavor	Bold, intense espresso.	Mellow, milky, balanced coffee.
Ratio	Mostly espresso, a spot of foam.	Mostly steamed milk, a shot of espresso.
Standard Size	Very small (2-3 oz).	Large (8-12+ oz).
How It's Made	Espresso first, "stained" with foam.	Espresso first, mixed with steamed milk.
Typical Drinker	An espresso lover wanting a softer edge.	Someone who prefers a creamy, less intense coffee.

Your Ordering Guide: How to Pick Your Perfect Coffee

In the end, the key to defining whether you are ordering a macchiato coffee or a latte coffee lies in one element only: the proportion of milk to espresso. If you want to drink something strong and smaller in volume that highlights the taste of espresso rather than other components, then opt for a Macchiato coffee. If you want something bigger to drink that is more milky and mild in taste, then go for a Latte coffee. Explore our complete collection of OutIn espresso machines & accessories to perfect your favorite coffee anywhere.