Iced caramel macchiato: easy recipe you should try in 2022
If you’ve grown up as a coffee enthusiast, you may always look for a new coffee drink that can liven up your life in a unique yet familiar style. There are tons to explore, from iced variants to coffee loaded with sugary components and whipped cream. One of such coffee variants that sky-rocketed to the height of popularity is iced caramel Macchiato.
This article will explain all there is to know about this unique beverage and how to prepare the iced Caramel Macchiato recipe at home. Please stick with us until the end to learn more.
What is Caramel Macchiato?
Caramel Macchiato is a latte drink with a texture like a dessert and is made using milk, vanilla syrup, caramel sauce, and espresso. You can make it hot or cold to suit the weather conditions or your mood.
Starbucks is responsible for many coffee drinks that became an instant hit upon hitting the market. May it is Dalgona coffee or iced pumpkin spice latte, we have seen the rise of delicious coffee concoctions through the Starbucks platform. But paying hefty dollars every time you want a cup of coffee is impractical, and soon your wallet will beg you to prepare coffee at home.
Where did Caramel Macchiato come from?
Caramel Macchiato is a Starbuck invention that hit the stores in 1996, courtesy of Hannah Su and the Starbucks team, who wanted a specialty in their menu for Starbucks’ 25th anniversary. Little did they know they were about to create something marvelous that would become a go-to drink for many people in the US.
Caramel Macchiato wasn’t a permanent offering until a year passed, and Starbucks realized how big of a domain this beverage could carry. Regardless, the limited-time menu turned into a permanent feature, and you can find a perfect cup of Caramel Macchiato at your nearest Starbucks.
What Is The Difference Between Caramel Macchiato And Normal Macchiato?
Macchiato is a general term that refers to espresso with a bit of milk and foam. On the other hand, Caramel Macchiato is a latte drink with vanilla nuances and caramel spread on top. Macchiato often refers to a drink with distinct layers (where espresso is on top).
If you’re serving caramel macchiato, it is better to put it in a clear container to see through the drink. You will enjoy the delicious taste and sublime aesthetics while sipping coffee after a long day.
What does Iced Caramel Macchiato taste like?
Iced Caramel Macchiato is a treat for the hot weather when your throat and mind need a cooling beverage to revitalize your heat-impaired senses. It tastes similar to regular coffee but with tons of sweeter undertones that stick with you until the last sip.
The excellent coffee taste is achieved using two espresso shots, but you can add only one if you desire. In the latter case, the coffee taste may be too minimal or hardly noticeable, especially to regular coffee drinkers.
What are some other variations of Caramel Macchiato?
Ever since caramel macchiato hit the stores, there have been many more variants of this unique beverage, like Caramel Pumpkin Macchiato or the Maple Macchiato. You’ll find so many macchiato drinks that you’ll probably lose count.
To identify your coffee right, remember that Macchiato is any drink with a layered design (something added to the top of the drink, which is espresso). It is safe to say that Starbuck has experimented enough with this technique, and there are now seemingly endless variants of this drink, with new ones coming out now and then.
What coffee to use while preparing Caramel Macchiato?
Your choice of coffee grounds matters a ton when it comes to the quality of the final product. So ensure that you are sourcing them from a reliable vendor. If you desire, you can use Starbucks sold coffee to have peace of mind.
Since Caramel Macchiato is prepared using espresso, you’ll need espresso-grade coffee beans and an espresso machine. If an espresso machine isn’t available, you can also use a Moka pot to prepare a soul-refreshing cup of caramel macchiato.
Ideally, you should use two espresso shots to balance the extra sweetness due to added components. You can also use one shot if you like your coffee as extra flavorful and less bitter.
How many calories are in an iced caramel macchiato?
A question often asked by curious coffee lovers is how many calories does an iced caramel macchiato has? Of course, people with dietary restrictions need to be careful while consuming too many calories, so it makes sense to be aware of the details of this sweet drink.
Ice caramel macchiato contains about 173 calories, and the sweeteners used in the drink are the main culprits. Of course, whole milk also has tons of calories that affect the healthiness of the drink for people looking to lose weight.
You can switch the whole milk with a less calorie-intense variant if needed. Whole milk contains about 110 calories, so whatever type of milk you add, you can instantly calculate the total amount of calories.
How to Make Iced Caramel Macchiato at home?
Many people are on the lookout for authentic Starbucks recipes that can allow them to prepare any iconic beverage at home, so they don’t have to pay hefty dollars for it. To help the curious souls out there here is how to make a Starbucks iced caramel macchiato:
The ingredients you’ll need:
· ¾ cup of whole milk
· Two shots of high-quality espresso
· Vanilla syrup
· Caramel sauce
· Ice
The process:
It’s effortless to prepare yourself a cup of Iced Caramel Macchiato at home. You only have to follow the given steps:
· Take a glass and add one tablespoon of vanilla syrup to it
· Pour the milk into the glass and stir
· Then, add ice cubes to the mix (use five to six pieces)
· Prepare your espresso shots and slowly pour them over your drink
· Finally, put some caramel sauce on top, and voila!
A Few Important Notes:
· If you’re committed enough, you can prepare vanilla syrup and caramel sauce at your home using cheap ingredients readily available from the market.
· Ensure that you don’t spread hot espresso shots over the milk and let it cool down first.
· You can adjust the amount of caramel sauce and vanilla syrup you use to match the desired taste. If your coffee seems too bitter, opt for only adding one espresso shot.
What is the difference between Caramel Macchiato and Caramel Latte?
On your recent trip to Starbucks, you might have seen caramel macchiato and caramel latte on the menu. If you’re wondering about the difference between the two, we have a quick tip.
If you reverse the process of preparing caramel macchiato, you make a caramel latte. The ingredients are the same, and you don’t need any extra tools for the latte.
The Magic of Wooden Spatula:
Often when you order a cup of coffee in a café, the barista serves it with tons of foam on top which seems impossible to make at home. The secret here is using a wooden spatula to separate the milk and the foam.
So once you’ve steamed the milk, it’ll create a frothy layer that, if poured directly into the cup, can cause it to lose texture. An ideal way of separating the foam from the milk is by placing a wooden spatula on top of the container. This way, the milk will skim through into the container while the foam will stay on top of the spatula. Place this foam on top of your coffee drink and enjoy the café experience at home.
Golden Principles to Preparing Caramel Macchiato Treats:
Regardless of what you make, there are some coffee preparation rules that you must follow to achieve the proper taste and aroma. Here we shed light on some of them:
1. Steaming Milk:
Steaming milk is an integral part of the coffee preparation process, and it is responsible for giving your drink a foamy layer and velvety texture. This texture often dictates the quality of coffee, so you need to learn how to steam milk properly.
The best way to steam milk is using the steam wand that most espresso machines come with as part of the package. You can place the wand inside a pitcher of cold milk and wait until bubbles form.
Once the bubble sounds become quieter, you should move the steam wand further down the surface of the milk. Since most steam wands come with an automatic shut-off feature, they will cut the power once the milk is at the ideal temperature.
Remember that it takes practice to become good at steaming milk, and if you’re new, the only way to keep getting better is to do it again and again. The learning curve is a bit steep but well worth the quality it can bring to your daily cup of coffee.
2. Choice of Espresso:
The quality of your espresso shots depends on your espresso machine and the coffee beans you choose on your trip to the grocery store.
Naturally, coffee bean quality varies across the globe, where many people take shortcuts in the production process hence compromising the quality of the final product. So it is best to source your coffee grounds from a reputable vendor with a trusted coffee growth process.
Ideally, you should choose Arabica beans as they’re sweet and savory, perfectly blending with the nuances of a caramel macchiato.
However tempting it may be to use pre-ground beans, don’t. It is best to grind your beans right before brewing them as they start to lose their flavor and aroma as soon as broken down.
And lastly, your choice of water matter significantly when it comes to the final quality of the espresso shots. If possible, use filtered water that is free of any flavors or additives, so you’re not compromising on the taste of the coffee.
3. Sweet additives:
How do you identify the perfect ratio of sweet additives you need in your coffee cup? The answer to this question lies with you. Most people use one tablespoon of syrup for one cup of caramel macchiato, which seems to do the job just fine. But you can alter this quantity depending on your personal preference for medical reasons.
For example, if you have diabetes, you can limit the number of sweet additives and enjoy a cup of caramel macchiato that fits your liking.
Conclusion:
So there you have it, our complete review of the iced caramel macchiato recipe and how you can easily prepare this unique beverage at home. Read through the given details thoroughly to save yourself a trip to Starbucks and prepare a luxury coffee drink at home that gets you tons of compliments from your friends and family.
The summers are approaching, and iced caramel macchiato can be your refreshing daily driver to fight off the notorious heat. We hope this article aids you in making a perfect iced caramel macchiato at home for a timeless experience. Cheers!
