If we’re talking strength, as in boldness, it depends on what you’ve ordered. For now, all you need to know is that strength is an unregulated scam, and brands rate their bean strength by flavor, not caffeine.

If you’d like to learn the ins and outs of it, check out my guide to the strongest coffees in the world. Latte macchiatos aren’t as bold as espresso macchiatos, but they’re much softer and creamier, and therefore easier on the palate.Ĭoffee strength is a language on its own. Then, the barista finishes off by adding a dollop of foam on top. Milk is denser than coffee, so, if poured carefully, the espresso will float., creating a gradient effect. Latte macchiatos are brewed differently.įirst, a barista will pour warm milk into a glass, then slowly pour a shot of espresso onto it. Traditional macchiatos are made by pouring a small amount of milk over a shot (or two) of espresso, then adding a dollop of foam to finish off. Latte macchiatos are the inverse and opposite of espresso macchiatos - they’re mostly milk, with a dash of espresso. The confusion arises because standard macchiatos (also known as espresso macchiatos) are brewed to this ratio, but the variations aren’t. And, flat whites contain less milk foam, therefore, contain a higher concentration of coffee.Īs for the macchiato ratio, they’re 90 percent espresso and 10 percent milk, making them the boldest of all the creamy coffees. Cappuccinos are half and half, lattes are mostly milk with a touch of espresso for the kick. It all comes down to the coffee-milk ratio. You may be asking, how is it any different from other creamy espresso drinks? Cappuccinos are espresso with milk, as are flat whites, and lattes. So, when you order a caffe macchiato, you’re explicitly asking for espresso with a dash of milk. In fact, in Italy, regular coffee is espresso. Italians don’t distinguish between regular coffee and espresso. Technically speaking, a macchiato is exactly as its name implies - coffee with a hint of milk added. I’ll break it down for you, but you might want to grab a fresh cup of joe - there’s a lot of ground to cover here.

There is no straightforward answer to “ what is a macchiato drink” because there are different types of macchiatos.