Starbucks macchiato is available both as a hot and cold beverage option on the Starbucks menu. The macchiato itself refers to a traditional Italian coffee drink that consists of espresso and just a dollop of foamed or steamed milk. At Starbucks, the macchiato comes in two main varieties: the Espresso Macchiato which is served hot, and the Iced Caffè Macchiato which is served cold over ice. Understanding the differences between the hot and cold Starbucks macchiato options can help customers select the drink that best matches their preferences.
What is a traditional macchiato?
The traditional macchiato is an Italian espresso drink that highlights the flavor of espresso by adding just a small amount of foamed or steamed milk. In Italian, macchiato means “marked” or “stained” – referring to how the milk in a macchiato just “marks” or “stains” the espresso with a dollop of milk foam. The key characteristics of a traditional macchiato are:
– Made with espresso
– Just a small amount of foamed or steamed milk – about 1-2 ounces
– Strong espresso flavor remains prominent
– Milk foam gives it a “marked” look
– Typically served in a small 3-4 oz cup or glass
– Does not contain any syrups or sweeteners
So in its classic form, a macchiato is a simple but flavorful espresso drink with just a splash of milk to mellow out the espresso. It’s all about highlighting the rich, bold espresso flavor.
Hot Starbucks Espresso Macchiato
The Espresso Macchiato served hot at Starbucks aims to stay true to the simplicity of the traditional macchiato while giving customers some options for customization. The key features of Starbucks’ hot macchiato include:
Made with Espresso
Like a classic macchiato, the foundation of Starbucks’ Espresso Macchiato is freshly brewed espresso. They use their Signature Espresso Roast to make the espresso for the macchiato. The espresso provides that authentic, intense, caffeinated base.
A dollop of Foamed Milk
On top of the espresso, the hot macchiato gets a dollop of steamed milk foam. The milk foam adds a light, silky texture and marked visual contrast to the espresso underneath. However, the milk foam is added lightly – just enough to give it that signature macchiato look.
Customization Options
While staying simple, Starbucks does allow some customization of their hot macchiato:
- Milk Options: Customers can choose between whole milk, nonfat milk, soy milk, or almond milk.
- Number of Shots: Customers can customize the number of espresso shots, either decreasing it to a single shot or increasing it to a triple shot macchiato.
- Syrups: Customers can choose to add vanilla, caramel, hazelnut or other Starbucks syrups to subtly flavor the espresso.
So there are options to make the drink your own, while still keeping the espresso as the highlighted flavor.
Serving Size
The Espresso Macchiato is served hot in a short cup, ranging from 4-6 oz. This matches the small serving sizes of the traditional macchiato and showcases the bold espresso flavor.
Cold Starbucks Iced Caffè Macchiato
While the hot Espresso Macchiato aims to follow a more traditional approach, the Iced Caffè Macchiato takes some liberties to create an invigorating chilled coffee drink. The key qualities of the cold Starbucks macchiato are:
Uses Cold Brewed Coffee
Rather than espresso, the iced macchiato is made with Starbucks’ smooth Cold Brew coffee. The slower steeped coffee yields a sweeter, smoother flavor for the cold drink.
More Milk
The cold macchiato contains more milk than a hot one – about 3-4 ounces of milk poured over the cold brew, instead of just a dollop of foam. The extra milk gives the drink a creamier, richer body.
Vanilla Syrup
The standard Iced Caffè Macchiato comes with vanilla syrup added to the milk before it’s poured over the cold brew coffee. This contributes extra sweetness and aromatics.
Customization Options
Just like the hot version, the cold macchiato can be customized:
- Milk: Nonfat or whole milk options
- Alternative Milks: Soy, almond, coconut or oat milk
- Syrups: Hazelnut, caramel, cinnamon dolce and other flavors
- Shots: Add espresso shots for an extra kick
So the cold macchiato can be tweaked to taste with different milks, flavors and coffee styles.
Serving Size
The Iced Caffè Macchiato comes in Starbucks’ signature cold cup sizes, ranging from 12-24 oz. The larger size accommodates the added milk and ice in this chilled drink.
Comparing Hot vs. Cold Macchiato
To summarize the key differences:
| Hot Espresso Macchiato | Iced Caffè Macchiato |
|---|---|
| Made with espresso | Made with cold brew coffee |
| Just a dollop of steamed milk foam | 3-4 oz of milk added |
| No additional flavors | Vanilla syrup added |
| Served in a 4-6 oz cup | Served in a 12-24 oz cold cup |
So in a sense, the hot version is more traditional to the original Italian macchiato, while the cold version has more milk, flavor and customization options added. Both provide that espresso or coffee forward experience highlighted by milk, but delivered in different ways.
Which Should You Order?
When deciding between hot or cold Starbucks macchiato, consider these factors:
Desired Coffee Taste
If you want a strong, pure espresso flavor, go for the hot Espresso Macchiato. For a sweeter, smoother cold brew taste, try the Iced Caffè version.
Milk Preferences
With just a dollop of foam, the hot macchiato contains much less milk than the cold version. Choose hot if you want to focus on espresso flavor or cold if you like more milk.
Customizations
Both versions allow customization of milk type and flavors, but the cold macchiato tends to be more customizable overall.
Caffeine Needs
The hot macchiato packs more caffeine punch with its espresso shots. The cold version can add shots for an extra kick if needed.
Serving Size
If you want a smaller 3-5 oz caffeinated jolt, go with hot. For a more generous 12-24 oz chilled drink, order an iced macchiato.
Weather
On a cold day, the hot macchiato can provide warmth and comfort. When it’s sweltering out, the iced version cools you down.
So in summary, the hot Espresso Macchiato aligns more closely with the traditional macchiato, while the Iced Caffè Macchiato is a Starbucks-inspired spin on the drink. Consider your own preferences like coffee taste, milk, customization, caffeine needs, size, and weather to decide which best suits your needs. Both provide that signature macchiato experience of coffee marked by foam or milk – just in different hot and cold expressions.
Conclusion
Starbucks offers macchiato lovers both hot and cold options with their Espresso Macchiato and Iced Caffè Macchiato drinks. While the hot version aims to deliver a classic macchiato experience highlighted by bold espresso and a dollop of milk foam, the cold macchiato brings more milk, flavors and customization options into play. Factors like your coffee taste preferences, desire for customization, caffeine needs, size requirements and weather can all help determine if the hot or cold macchiato is the right choice for you. But both provide that signature contrast of dark coffee capped with silky, lighter milk foam or milk that makes the macchiato such a beloved coffeehouse staple. So head to your local Starbucks and order a macchiato in your preferred temperature to enjoy one of coffee’s most delicious duos.