In Italian, ‘macchiato’ translates as ‘marked’ or ‘stained’, meaning a stained or marked coffee.
There are two main types of macchiato coffee; the espresso macchiato and the latte macchiato.
What is an espresso macchiato? The original, made with a shot of espresso, diluted slightly by 1-2 teaspoons of steamed milk, which is the ‘stain’. The espresso macchiato has the highest ratio of espresso to milk, and the addition of milk is meant to be complementary, so the espresso can still be very much tasted.
What is a latte macchiato? A a sweeter, layered espresso beverage. It is made by adding a shot or half a shot of espresso to steamed milk, topped with a milk foam layer. Unlike an espresso macchiato, which is served in a short glass, a latte macchiato is served in a tall glass.