Drinks made with espresso originated in Italy and maybe drunk in a café or at home if you have an espresso machine are known as americanos and macchiatos. However, the similarities between the two beverages end there because they are completely different liquids.
Americano is similar to filter coffee but has a more distinct flavor due to espresso. Americanos are stronger than macchiatos, but macchiatos are much smaller and contain steamed milk.
Even though most of us are familiar with Americano, we may not be aware of how it is made or of the health benefits it provides. On the other hand, a macchiato is less well-known, and in this article, we will examine the differences between the two drinks and the benefits of each.
Table of Contents
What Is the History of Americano?
The use of the Americano by the United States military during World War II helped to popularize the beverage.
However, because American soldiers were accustomed to drinking drip coffee at home, they were dissatisfied with the espresso served in Italy at the time.
What Are the Differences Between Americano and Cappuccino?
So they decided to combine Italian espresso with hot water, not realizing they had invented a new drink and revolutionized the coffee industry.
While no one can confirm this story, it is plausible and coincides with the emergence of Americanos.
What Is the History of Macchiato?
“Macchiato” means “stained” or “marked” in Italian. The macchiato is made with espresso and topped with steamed or foamed milk.
Macchiato is a happy medium between espresso and cappuccino, as it is neither too strong nor too weak.
Macchiato, like Americano, is an Italian creation. It originated when baristas demonstrated to waiters the difference between an espresso and an espresso with a splash of milk.
This is how the latter became “marked” with the addition of milk. While the cappuccino was originally a morning coffee, the macchiato is traditionally a late-afternoon beverage.
Which is better, an Americano or a Macchiato?
Because it is made by steeping espresso in hot water for a shorter period than macchiato coffee, americano coffee contains a higher concentration of caffeine than macchiato coffee.
An espresso macchiato is made by combining one or two shots of espresso, half-and-half, and milk in between two cups of iced coffee.
Macchiato coffee contains more espresso and tastes more like espresso so that it can be bitter and less sweet than other milk-based drinks.
What Is a Macchiato Coffee?
The traditional macchiato is made with two espresso shots, half-and-half milk, and some foam or steamed milk on top and is served in a small cup.
The flavor of a macchiato ranges from medium to strong. Macchiatos taste very similar to espresso. The better the flavor, the higher the quality of the beans you use.
Because it is a shot of espresso, macchiato has a finer grind size than many other coffee beverages. In addition, the temperature of the water must be around 180 degrees Fahrenheit (82.2 degrees Celsius).
It contains a higher concentration of caffeine than macchiato coffee because it is made by steeping espresso in hot water for a shorter period than macchiato coffee.
To make an espresso macchiato, divide two cups of iced coffee between two cups of espresso and combine one or two shots of espresso, half-and-half, and milk in the middle.
Is it possible to serve macchiato both hot and cold?
Macchiatos are traditionally served hot. However, Starbucks’ cold caramel macchiatos are a popular summer drink.
However, chains such as Starbucks do not always adhere to traditional methods of preparing coffee drinks, and you can get a cold macchiato.
If you want to make the Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato at home, you’ll be surprised at how simple it is. You will also save money as a result of this. Consider this simple Iced Caramel Macchiato recipe:
INGREDIENTS
2 ESPRESSO SHOTS
ONE-THIRD CUP COLD MILK
ONE TABLESPOON CARAMEL SAUCE
1 TABLESPOON VANILLA SYRUP 1/2 CUP ICE CUBES
METHOD
To make this iced caramel macchiato, layer the ingredients in the Starbucks fashion. To begin, pour some vanilla syrup into the bottom of your cup.
Next, fill the cup halfway with ice. Pour the milk over the ice gradually, adding more ice as needed until your cup is nearly full.
Pour two espresso shots over the ice, then drizzle with caramel sauce. The layers will quickly blend together, so swirl them together and enjoy.
Macchiatos, are they sweet?
Traditional Italian macchiatos aren’t particularly sweet. The sweetness is largely determined by how they are prepared.
Traditional macchiatos do not contain syrup, so they will be much less sweet unless they are sweetened in some other way.
Sweeteners and syrups are frequently added to macchiatos by coffee shop chains such as Starbucks. These chains know what their customers want, so demand drives these out-of-the-box drinks.
If you stick to the traditional method of making macchiato, the only two ingredients are espresso and milk, which do not produce a very sweet drink.
Can I Shake My Macchiato?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions about macchiatos, but whether or not a macchiato should be stirred is a matter of personal preference. However, it is customary not to stir this beverage.
Macchiatos are about the experience of first tasting the foam, then the milk, and finally the espresso. Drinks like lattes are blended anyway, so stirring them isn’t necessary.
However, you should try macchiatos in various flavors rather than just one. Macchiatos are classified into two types: espresso macchiatos and latte macchiatos.
The original beverage is espresso macchiato, which should not be stirred. Let’s go over the two macchiatos in greater detail:
Macchiato Espresso
To summarize, an espresso macchiato is a shot of espresso that has been marked or stained by frothed milk, which is poured on top of the shot and then topped with foam.
Typically, there isn’t a lot of milk. Most recipes call for a 2:1 espresso-to-milk ratio, but you can use more or less milk depending on how you like it.
Macchiato Latte
A latte macchiato is made oppositely as an espresso macchiato. Steamed milk is added first, followed by a single shot of espresso. Because the coffee shot is added at the end, this drink looks very different from an espresso macchiato.
Are Macchiatos Good for You?
Without a doubt, any freshly brewed coffee is beneficial to your health. Similarly, the traditional Italian macchiato is nutritious.
Some may consider the addition of milk to make it less healthy than espresso, but whole milk is a healthy fat, though not much of it is present in this drink.
Starbucks and other coffee chains’ macchiatos are likely to be less healthy than a traditional macchiato with the addition of sweeteners and syrups.
If you can’t resist a caramel hit, a sweet macchiato is one of the least decadent options on Starbucks’ drinks menu.
Starbucks’ version of the macchiato has fewer calories and less fat than the company’s other drinks. You may not want to add any more sugar, however.
What Is the Reason for the High Cost of Macchiato?
Yes, if you order a double-tall caramel macchiato, it will be pricey. Tall coffee drinks in the United States come with one shot, and adding another shot costs an additional 80 cents.
Then there’s the milk, the cost of espresso, the caramel sauce, and the vanilla syrup, which all add up to a higher price.
Consider the following Starbucks macchiato prices by size. They do come at a price:
PRICE FOR DRINK SIZE
- Tall Caramel Macchiato – $3.75
- $4.45 Caramel Macchiato Grande
- $4.75 Caramel Macchiato-Venti
When Is a Macchiato Appropriate?
A macchiato is best consumed in the middle of the day; while it is not as intense as espresso due to the addition of milk, cappuccino is a morning favorite.
Because not everyone can handle the intensity of espresso, the milk and espresso combination is a great way to start the day.
The macchiato was created to include espresso drinking in the afternoon, and it provides coffee lovers with a safe balance between espressos and cappuccinos.
The cappuccino’s dynamic and milkiness make it ideal for a morning pick-me-up, whereas the slightly tempered macchiato is best suited as a mid-day refresher.
Can I have a Macchiato late at night?
According to conventional wisdom, drinking coffee at night is not a good idea because it can interfere with your sleep quality.
However, a Stanford University study suggests that there is still hope for night owls.
According to their findings, drinking caffeine in the evening has negative effects only for those who wake up early. Those who stay up late and sleep in, on the other hand, are unaffected.
Last Thoughts
As this article has demonstrated, there are some significant differences between Americano coffee and Macchiato coffee. Americanos are more potent, whereas macchiatos are more subdued due to the milk content.
In the morning, an Americano is preferable to a macchiato because it is a stronger beverage that will provide you with a much-needed boost of energy and vitality throughout the day.
A macchiato, on the other hand, is always a good choice for getting you out of a rut in the afternoon if that’s what you’re after.