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Italian

Caffè macchiato

Vegetarian

An espresso 'stained' with a spoonful of hot milk foam — still strong and short, just softened at the edges.

Caffè macchiato is an Italian hot drink from Italy, ready in about 4 minutes and made with espresso and milk. It serves 1 and is rated intermediate to cook.

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Prep
2 min
Cook
2 min
Total
4 min
Serves
1
Level
Intermediate
Calories
18

Ingredients

1 small cup

Equipment

Method

  1. Step 1

    Pull a double espresso (opens in a new tab) into a small warmed cup (see the espresso recipe).

  2. Step 2

    Steam the milk (opens in a new tab) to about 60–65 °C, letting in plenty of air at the start for a thick, airy foam. Tap and swirl the jug to break big bubbles.

    Food safety: Steam wands and freshly steamed milk are scalding: purge the wand away from your hand and wipe it straight after use.

  3. Step 3

    Spoon 1–2 tablespoons of the foam onto the centre of the espresso (opens in a new tab) so it leaves a white 'stain' on the crema. Serve at once.

      A finished dish being plated
      How it looks · Photo: Willians Huerta on Pexels

    About this dish

    Origin
    Italy · Well documentedAlso popular in Portugal, United KingdomMore food from Italy
    Dish
    Breakfast · Snack · Hot drinks
    Cooking method
    Steamed
    Taste
    bitter, rich, creamy
    Diet
    Vegetarian (lacto-ovo) · No gluten ingredients · No nut ingredients · Low-carb
    All labelsVegetarian (lacto-ovo) · Eggetarian · Lacto-vegetarian · Pescatarian · Flexitarian-friendly · Whole-food focused · No gluten ingredients · Egg-free · No nut ingredients · No added sugar · Alcohol-free · Pork-free · Beef-free · Low-carb · Low-fat · Low-sodium
    With the listed swaps: Vegan, Plant-based, Ovo-vegetarian, Dairy-freeWorked out from the ingredients. How labels work
    Good for
    Everyday
    Cook more with
    Espresso · Milk
    Techniques
    Steaming

    Allergens

    • Contains, can be adapted: Milkfrom milk

    Based on typical versions of these ingredients and not verified allergen-free. Brands differ and cross-contact happens, so always check labels. For severe allergies, follow your clinician’s advice.

    Nutrition

    18 kcal per serving

    Calculated

    1 serving ≈ 61 g · recipe makes 1

    Where the energy comes from

    • Protein 17%
    • Carbohydrate 39%
    • Fat 44%
    Nutrition per serving and per 100 g
    NutrientPer servingPer 100 g*
    Energy18 kcal30 kcal
    Protein0.8 g1.4 g
    Carbohydrate1.8 g3 g
    Net carbohydrate1.8 g3 g
    Sugars1.3 g2.1 g
    Added sugars0 g0 g
    Fibre0 g0 g
    Fat0.9 g1.4 g
    Saturated fat0.5 g0.8 g
    Trans fat——
    Cholesterol3 mg4 mg
    Sodium16 mg26 mg
    Salt equivalent0 g0.1 g
    Vitamins & minerals per serving
    Potassium
    74 mg
    Calcium
    29 mg
    Iron
    0.1 mg
    Magnesium
    31 mg
    Vitamin A (RAE)
    12 µg
    Vitamin C
    0 mg
    Vitamin D
    0.3 µg
    Vitamin B12
    0.1 µg
    Folate (DFE)
    2 µg

    How these numbers were made

    • Calculated from USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy) per-100 g values and the listed quantities.
    • *Per 100 g of combined raw ingredients; the cooked dish may weigh more or less.
    • “—” means the value isn’t known for enough of the ingredients; it is never zero by default.
    • Values are estimates for guidance, not for medical dosing. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. fdc.nal.usda.gov.

    Good to know

    Tips

    • A handheld frother on hot milk works if you have no steam wand.

    Common mistakes

    • Adding so much milk it turns into a small cappuccino.

    Storage

    • Make to order and drink straight away; the milk foam collapses and the coffee loses its aroma within minutes.

    Variations

    • Latte macchiato (Italy): The reverse: a tall glass of steamed milk 'stained' with an espresso poured slowly through the foam, giving layers.

    Original editorial recipe · FriendsPantry editorial · Not yet independently reviewed · Added · Updated

    Recipe DNA

    How this dish is built

    Customise in Sip & Blend

    Grouped by each ingredient’s role in the dish. Each band’s width is its share of the dish by weight. Choose a component to see what it does.

    What the dish is built around

    Main ingredient

    • Milk, cold, for foaming60 ml · 25 g
    Used in step 2

    Less sweet, dairy-free, caffeine-free or for more people — the original stays as it is.

    Customise in Sip & Blend

    Reviews & corrections

    Reviews come from signed-in cooks and appear after a moderator checks them. We never show made-up ratings.

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