Coffee Recipes

Espresso Macchiato Coffee Recipe

Name: Espresso Macchiato
Total time: 2 min
Ingredients: 1 shot espresso; 1-2 tbsp foamed milk

Posted by

mugmee

September 8, 2025

On September 8, 2025

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Espresso Macchiato

Region: Italy 🇮🇹

Brewing Time: 25-30 seconds

Total Time: <2 minutes

Indulgence: ☕️ (Strong)

The Story:

The original "macchiato" (meaning "stained" or "spotted" in Italian) is a simple and classic drink. It is primarily a shot of espresso that is merely "stained" or "marked" with a small dollop of frothy milk to mellow the intensity slightly. It is the polar opposite of the large, sweet, layered Caramel Macchiato found in modern chains.

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Total Time 2

Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients

1 shot espresso
1-2 tbsp foamed milk

Equipment

Espresso machine (with steam wand)

Method

Pull a single shot of espresso into a small demitasse cup.
Steam a very small amount of milk, creating a dense foam.
Spoon just a dollop of milk foam onto the center of the espresso, "staining" it.
Pro Tip: The goal is to preserve the integrity of the espresso shot while taking just the slightest edge off. Use the frothiest part of the milk for the "stain."