What is the difference between a latte and a latte macchiato?

“Latte” means “milk” in Italian, and “macchiato” means “spotted”. Latte macchiato seems to be “stained” by coffee - in a glass with an abundance of whipped milk you can see a layer of brown invigorating drink. What is the difference between a latte and a macchiato? In the classic coffee-milk drink, coffee is mixed with milk, but in the macchiato version, the ingredients are kept separate. To prevent them from mixing, follow clear cooking instructions. First, the glass is filled with foamy milk, then espresso is poured in in a thin stream. As it passes through the foam cap, it leaves a small brown trail. This is another sure sign of a macchiato.

How to distinguish a latte from a macchiato?

Both drinks are a hit in street coffee shops. They are usually served in opaque glasses with a lid, so distinguishing a latte from a latte macchiato is not so easy. There may not be a dark spot on the surface if the foam or cream was spooned out or the barista decorated the foam cap with spices and sweets.

To distinguish cocktails, you need to insert the straw exactly under the foam cap and try:

• If there is pure espresso under the milk foam, it is a latte macchiato.
• If there is a milk-coffee mixture under the foam, it is a latte.

Difference in photo:

The main differences between the drinks in the table:

Caffe latte – what is it?

Many people know latte as an American coffee drink, which is usually drunk in large portions. People will certainly order it in films while rushing to work. In part, it can replace breakfast and cheer you up a little. The drink became popular at the end of the 20th century.

It was not the Americans who invented the latte, but the Italians. As early as 1867, the writer W. D. Howells mentioned him in his biographical essay "A Travel in Italy." He writes that Italian women give their children a milkshake with a small piece of coffee. This way, they can feel like an adult without getting overstimulated by caffeine.

To prepare the drink, first brew espresso and then whisk the milk until foam forms 12-20 mm high. It is poured into a glass of coffee. The milk and coffee parts are mixed. The result is highly diluted coffee in milk with delicious milk foam.

What you need to know about latte macchiato?

It is believed that the latte macchiato first appeared in 1989 on the menu of the Starbucks coffee chain. He continued the series of American-European layered cocktails, which originated with Irish coffee. It didn't gain much popularity at the time, and Starbucks stopped selling it. The real “boom” for latte macchiato happened in 2016. The company revived the recipe and presented it favorably to customers.

To get the “spotted milk” effect (literal translation of latte macchiato) you need to:

1. Whisk the milk thoroughly in a pinscher.
2. Pour into a serving glass.
3. Brew delicious espresso.
4. Slowly pour the espresso into the glass. The stream should pass through the center of the milk cap.
5. The espresso will spill out in a “spot” under the milk foam, leaving frothed milk underneath.

This effect is achieved due to different densities and temperatures of the products. Often the cocktail is prepared with syrups - chocolate, caramel, nut and others.

Question answer

What's better for kids, latte or latte macchiato?

Any coffee drinks are not recommended for children under 8 years of age. After 8-10 years, a child can try a classic latte, in which espresso is thoroughly mixed with frothed milk. In addition, it usually contains less caffeine than macchiato. You can't drink it constantly. It must be remembered that even a small dose of caffeine can cause hyperexcitability, hyperactivity and sleep problems in children.

What invigorates better?

“Invigorating” properties primarily depend on the quality and type of coffee beans and the characteristics of the coffee machine. The more caffeine you can extract into the mug, the more pronounced the effect will be. You also need to consider what portion of espresso is added - double or regular. Traditionally, latte is considered one of the lightest coffee drinks. Macchiato is often prepared with a double shot of espresso, which can be drunk separately from the milk. Therefore, it invigorates more.

The milkiest of all coffee drinks is, of course, latte. They consist almost entirely of milk and a snow-white foamy head that tastes like ice cream. A shot of espresso is buried in milky abundance, and does not disable normal operating pressure. Meanwhile, some people prefer latte, while others prefer latte macchiato.The difference between them is huge for gourmets: the classic caffe latte is delicate, versatile, macchiato is original, for lovers of “coffee separately, milk separately.” You can mix products or savor them one at a time, moving the straw between layers. By the way, “latte” is always about milk, and not always about coffee. There are matcha lattes, curries, and smoothies that don’t contain a single gram of espresso. Therefore, it is always correct to clarify “I would like a latte, please.”