Caramel Macchiato
A sweet layered drink of vanilla syrup, steamed milk, espresso and caramel drizzle. Despite the name it is built like a latte macchiato, not an Italian macchiato.
Espresso and milkServed hotFrom United States
- Volume
- 360ml12.2 US fl oz
- Espresso
- 2shots
- Caffeine
- 127mgderived, USDA FDC
- Coffee to milk
- 1:4.5
The build
Watch it made, step by step- Syrup20 ml6%
- Milk240 ml67%
- Foam30 ml8%
- Espresso60 ml17%
- Caramel drizzle10 ml3%
- Volume
- 360ml
- Caffeine
- 127mg
- Espresso
- 2shots
Scales every component together, so the ratio holds; caffeine scales with the coffee.
A vanilla latte macchiato finished with caramel sauce; the espresso is added last, 'marking' the milk.
Caffeine
Derivedin a 360 ml caramel macchiato
USDA FoodData Central SR Legacy caffeine per 100 g scaled to the coffee volume in components, assuming 1 g per ml. FDC 171891 (Beverages, coffee, brewed, espresso, restaurant-prepared) 212.0 mg/100 g x 60 ml.
USDA FoodData Central record 171891 · read 2026-10-26
A derived figure: the reference food's caffeine per 100 g scaled to the coffee in this build. Real cups vary with the coffee, the dose and the shot.
Variants by country
1| Name | Country | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| iced caramel macchiato | United States | Same build over ice. |
History
Popular accountIntroduced by a US coffee chain in the mid-1990s; the Wikidata item exists but carries no origin data. We have not found a primary source for this account.
A chain-café creation unrelated to the Italian caffè macchiato.
Parts of this story are repeated widely but were not confirmed against a source this atlas accepts. They are kept as the story people tell, not as fact.
Related drinks
The American-sized cappuccino: a double shot under a large volume of steamed milk and foam in a 12 oz cup. The distinction from a latte is mostly the thicker foam layer.
Espresso and milk Caffè Mocha 260 ml · 64 mgA latte with chocolate added, usually as syrup mixed with the espresso before the milk goes in. Toppings of whipped cream or cocoa are common.
Espresso and milk Latte Macchiato 250 ml · 64 mgSteamed milk in a tall glass with espresso poured through the foam, producing three layers. It is the inverse of the caffè macchiato: milk marked with coffee.
Espresso and milk Puerto Rican Café con Leche 250 ml · 127 mgPuerto Rico's milk coffee: strong local coffee with steamed milk and sugar. Milkier than a Spanish café con leche and usually sweetened by default.
Espresso and milk Cuban Café con Leche 241 ml · 127 mgThe Cuban breakfast drink of hot milk with sweetened espresso, usually eaten with buttered toast for dipping. Milkier than its Spanish parent.
Espresso and milk Caffè Latte 240 ml · 64 mgEspresso with a large volume of steamed milk and a little foam, usually in a tall glass or wide bowl cup. It is the mildest and milkiest of the core espresso drinks.