Caramel Macchiato (Starbucks Copycat Recipe)

⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe 

If you’re wondering “what is a macchiato,” don’t worry; you’re not alone. The Italian word macchiato means “marked” or “stained,” and refers to the color left on the milk after pouring the espresso into it. 

While a typical macchiato should be made with steamed milk being poured in the cup before the shots of espresso, many coffeehouses (Starbucks included) don’t train their baristas to make it this way. Instead, they make it in the style of a latte (with espresso being topped with steamed milk) with a drizzle of caramel on the top of the drink. Add a bit of caramel at the bottom of the cup before pouring in the remaining simple ingredients for a ton of flavor!

In any event, since this is a copycat Starbucks caramel macchiato recipe that has syrup in the coffee and milk and is topped with whipped cream and more caramel sauce, I honestly don’t think it matters!

This super delicious and perfectly caffeinated caramel macchiato coffee tastes just like the sweet, creamy deliciousness you’re used to getting from your local coffee chain. The only difference? There are exactly zero artificial ingredients involved, plus you can make it from home while you’re still sleepy-eyed and in pajamas.

As an added bonus, you don’t have to deal with lines, humans, or upcharges for using your preferred type of milk or sweetener - oat milk, a hint of vanilla syrup, caramel-flavored syrup, a caramel drizzle, or even your choice of vegan caramel sauces! I’ll call that a serious win for all of us night-owl introverts! Best of all, you only need 5 ingredients and about 5 minutes to whip up a mug of this tasty firepower.

🍴Ingredients

As promised, you don’t need much to make your own caramel macchiato Starbucks-style espresso-based drinks. Here’s what to grab:

• Espresso - Any finely ground coffee beans can stand in for a shot of espresso, so feel free to get creative. You’re also welcome to use instant espresso pods if you don’t have an espresso maker. 
• Steamed Milk - Feel free to use skim, 1%, 2%, or whole milk, or swap in any plant-based milk that you like. Note that lower fat dairy milks tend to make the strongest foam, and plant-based milks will vary based on the brand. I suggest reaching for “Barista Blend” vegan milks for the best frothing capabilities. 
• Vanilla Syrup - I typically make my own vanilla syrup from scratch using equal parts water and sugar plus a vanilla bean. Feel free to follow in my footsteps (a batch can keep in the fridge for 10 days or more), or use your favorite store-bought natural flavour syrup instead.
• Caramel Sauce - Again, I usually make my own (you only need 3 ingredients!), but you’re welcome to use any grocery store version you prefer.
• Whipped Cream Topping - While this is optional, it does add a lot of richness and will make it closer to a Starbucks or Dunkin caramel macchiato. I love the flavor of lightly sweetened freshly whipped cream, but you’re absolutely welcome to use store-bought squirt cans for convenience. If you do, Isigny Ste Mère brand is my favorite, followed closely by Natural by Nature and Cabot brands.

⏲️ Substitutions & Variations

While I love this hot and cozy caramel-laced coffee drink just the way it is, there is still plenty of room for youu to customize it to your liking. Here are a few variations to consider:

• Make it cold! Iced caramel macchiatos are an excellent choice when hot coffee drinks just won’t cut it. As an added bonus, you don’t have to froth the milk for your homemade Starbucks caramel iced macchiato. If you go this route, I suggest dissolving the caramel syrup in the hot espresso before pouring it into the ice-filled cup with the milk and vanilla.
• Go vegan. Use your favorite plant-based milk and opt for coconut cream & vegan butter for your homemade caramel sauce, or use a store-bought vegan caramel instead.
• Swap out the whipped cream for cold foam. This works especially well on iced macchiatos.
• Use a different flavor. Swap out the vanilla syrup for any flavor under the sun. Similarly, consider swapping out the caramel sauce for butterscotch, chocolate, or any other viscous sweet sauce you prefer.

⚒️ Equipment

Making Starbucks-style coffee drinks doesn’t require thousands of dollars of equipment, despite what you may think. Here’s everything you could possibly need to make your own tasty caramel coffee drinks at home:

• Espresso Maker - Sure, you can drop thousands on a professional grade espresso machine if you want. You can also purchase a perfectly decent countertop model for around $100, or use a space-saving stovetop espresso maker that runs around $30.
• Milk Frother - I love my little $10 hand frother. It fits in a drawer and has all the power I need! In fact, you can even use it to whip up a small amount of homemade chantilly whipped cream if you want. You can also splurge a little here if you like and opt for a countertop model that will froth cold milk or steam and froth it for you. If you don’t want to invest any money, simply microwave your milk in a mason jar, then screw the lid on tight and shake like the dickens.
• Squeeze Bottles - Totally optional, but great for keeping your vanilla and caramel syrups off the countertops or fridge shelves.
• Whipped Cream Dispenser - Also totally optional, but a fun piece of equipment to keep on hand if you love freshly whipped cream but don’t have the patience to make it. In fact, these bad boys are what they use at Starbucks! Simply add some vanilla syrup and heavy whipping cream, then screw on the top. Screw in a charged CO2 cartridge to the top until it cracks and the dispenser feels extra cold. Shake a bit, then dispense at will!

📖 Step by Step Instructions

This easy caramel macchiato recipe is as easy as 1-2-... well, that’s it. Here’s how it’s done:

Step 1: Add steamed milk, espresso, vanilla syrup, and caramel sauce into a large mug. Stir if desired.

Step 2: Top with freshly whipped cream and extra caramel sauce before serving. Enjoy!

👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tips

• Use freshly pulled espresso for the best flavor. I recently learned from a friend who used to be a barista that espresso shots significantly change flavor just 10 seconds after pulling them, which is why professional coffee shops train baristas to dump shots that are left out for longer than that. While I don’t think you need to be quite as extreme (after all, 10 seconds isn’t very long!), make sure you use espresso that was pulled on the same day as you plan on making your iced caffè americano.
• Consider stirring the espresso and caramel sauce together so you don’t get a super-sweet last swig!

💭 Recipe FAQs

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