What is a macchiato?

A macchiato is a style of coffee, usually served in the style of an espresso with a small amount of steamed milk added to the top. "Macchiato" is an Italian word, meaning "stained" or "marked" from the effect of adding the pale milk to the dark coffee.

Like espressos, macchiatos are served in small cups and tend to be enjoyed in the afternoon by Italian coffee lovers; espressos and cappuccinos being seen as drinks for the morning. There is a milkier version, known as the 'latte macchiato', which is effectively a macchiato with the ingredients reversed, a cup of hot milk with a small amount of espresso added.