Espresso macchiato on a wooden surface
Why Macchiatos Are A Red Flag For Baristas

NEWS

By ALLIE SIVAK
Hands holding an espresso macchiato
The word "macchiato" has become a bit of a red flag for baristas because many people don't know the difference between a true macchiato and something more akin to a sweet latte.
Customer arguing with barista
This leaves it up to baristas to either preemptively clarify what kind of morning java folks are about to get or deal with their confusion afterward.
Iced caramel macchiato in a glass
While Starbucks’ macchiato comes in a 12 to 20-ounce cup with vanilla syrup, milk, and caramel, real macchiatos come in a small glass with two ounces of espresso and a little milk.
Barista at work
Due to Starbucks’ departure from the actual beverage, customers ordering a macchiato has become a bit of a headache for baristas serving up espresso drinks at other coffee shops.
Espresso shot being poured into glass
For a traditional macchiato, order it specifically as an "espresso macchiato" to convey you know the espresso-plus-just-a-spoonful-of-milk-foam style.