Caffè macchiato

Caffè macchiato

Caffè macchiato (Italy)
Type	Hot
Color	shades of brown, white

Caffè macchiato (Italian pronunciation: [kafˈfɛ mmakˈkjaːto]), sometimes called espresso macchiato, is an espresso coffee drink with a small amount of milk, usually foamed. In Italian, means "stained" or "spotted" so the literal translation of is "stained coffee", or coffee with a spot of milk.

The origin of the name "macchiato" stems from baristas needing to show the serving waiters the difference between an espresso and an espresso with a tiny bit of milk in it; the latter was "marked". The idea is reflected in the Portuguese name for the drink: café pingado, meaning coffee with a drop.

The caffè macchiato has the highest ratio of espresso to milk of any drink made with those ingredients. The intent is that the milk moderates, rather than overwhelms, the taste of the coffee while adding a touch of sweetness. The drink is typically prepared by pouring a small amount of steamed milk directly into a single shot of espresso. One recipe calls for 5–10 g (1–2 teaspoons) of milk heated to 60–66 °C (140–150 °F).

In some countries like Mexico the macchiato is called a cortado. This can lead to confusion since a cortado is actually a different beverage and has much more milk than a macchiato.

Ethiopia is well known for its caffè macchiato. (Kaldi's, Addis Ababa)

Macchiato as served at Four Barrel Coffee in San Francisco, California

Caffè macchiato in Chiang Mai, Thailand, at Impresso Espresso Bar

Macchiato (Papua New Guinea)

Macchiato as served at Venice Grind in Mar Vista, California

Double shot macchiato with a little foam, in glass, in Natick Massachusetts