- What is a macchiato?
- What is a caramel macchiato?
- Where was the caramel macchiato invented?
- How much caffeine is in a caramel macchiato?
- How many calories are in a Starbucks caramel macchiato?
- Are there any allergens in Starbucks’ caramel macchiato?
- Is Starbucks’ caramel macchiato vegan?
- How To Get An Iced Caramel Macchiato Cheaper At Starbucks
- Ordering A Cheaper Iced Caramel Macchiato On The App
- How To Get A Hot Caramel Macchiato Cheaper At Starbucks
- Ordering A Cheaper Hot Caramel Macchiato On The App
- What Are Some Variations of A Macchiato?
- What Other Coffee Shops Offer Caramel Macchiatos?
- Conclusion
There is just something about someone else making your coffee for you that makes it taste better for some reason! Is it the cup? Maybe it is the ice? Is it the machines that they have behind the counter?
Either way, getting a cup of coffee at a coffee shop has become a hobby for me and truly makes my work days just a tad better!
One of my favorite drinks to get is a caramel macchiato. It’s very classic and you can always find some variation of a caramel macchiato at any coffee shop you go to.
Starbucks’ caramel macchiato seems to be particularly iconic. Just a quick Google or Pinterest search of Starbucks and a caramel macchiato is bound to come up within the first few images.
Some people argue that the vanilla latte is the most popular drink at Starbucks, but I would definitely say caramel macchiatos are up there in terms of popularity.
The only issue that I have with Starbucks is that they have gotten so incredibly pricey! A cup of coffee should not cost an arm and a leg.
Luckily, I’ve found a way to make it just a little bit cheaper! If you’re interested in learning how, keep reading!
What is a macchiato?
Macchiato is an Italian word and translates to “stained”. The drink is called a macchiato because the milk is “stained” with espresso. The two most popular types of macchiatos are espresso macchiatos and latte macchiatos.
An espresso macchiato is a shot of espresso, about three ounces, with a touch of milk or foam at the top. On the other hand, a latte macchiato will have more milk, usually at the bottom of the cup. Thus, the latte macchiato will have a bold first sip because of the espresso, but a creamier end note because of the additional milk.
What is a caramel macchiato?
A caramel macchiato is a version of a latte macchiato. At Starbucks, a caramel macchiato is really just a vanilla latte with caramel sauce drizzled on top.
The only difference is that the milk and espresso are separated, with the milk being at the bottom and the espresso at the top of the drink.
If you order a hot caramel macchiato, you probably won’t see the distinct layers. However, if you order it cold, you’ll definitely be able to see where the milk ends and where the espresso begins in their transparent cups.
Where was the caramel macchiato invented?
The origins for Starbucks’ caramel macchiato go back to the fall of 1996. At the time, Starbucks had about 1,000 stores. An employee named Hannah Su wanted to create a drink to celebrate Starbucks 25th anniversary.
Her and her team at Starbucks headquarters spent one year developing the drink before it debuted for a limited time. But, since it was so popular amongst consumers, Starbucks decided to keep it as a permanent menu option!
Thank you Hannah and company for working so hard on this perfect drink!
If you’re interested in learning more, check out this article written by Starbucks Stories (not affiliated)!
How much caffeine is in a caramel macchiato?
A shot of espresso typically has about 75mg of caffeine. Therefore, the amount of caffeine in a Starbucks caramel macchiato would depend on the size that you order.
A short (8oz) and a tall (12oz) Starbucks caramel macchiato will be made with one shot of espresso and will provide 75mg of caffeine.
A grande (16oz) and a venti (20oz) Starbucks caramel macchiato will be made with two shots of espresso and will provide 150mg of caffeine.
How many calories are in a Starbucks caramel macchiato?
The answer to this question will depend on the size of your beverage. This is because even though the amount of coffee stays the same, the amount of milk and syrup will change.
The most popular size is a grande, which is a medium, or 16oz. There are 250 calories in a grande caramel macchiato if you order it as it comes (2% milk, without anything extra added).
Starbucks has a really user-friendly website and app for mobile devices where you can find more nutrition information on their drinks, such as the fat content, sodium content, and sugar content.
Are there any allergens in Starbucks’ caramel macchiato?
There are a few allergens to note within the caramel macchiato. The caramel sauce contains milk and corn syrup, which could present problems to you if you have a milk allergy or corn allergy. The caramel sauce also has soy lecithin, which can sometimes trigger reactions if you have a soy allergy.
Outside of the caramel sauce, the drink is typically made with 2% milk. If you have a milk allergy, you will be able to change this to a non dairy milk. However, you would probably have to omit the caramel sauce.
Is Starbucks’ caramel macchiato vegan?
Because there is butter, heavy cream, and nonfat dry milk in the caramel sauce, the caramel macchiato at Starbucks is NOT vegan.
How To Get An Iced Caramel Macchiato Cheaper At Starbucks
As I mentioned earlier, the caramel macchiato at Starbucks is really just a deconstructed vanilla latte with caramel sauce on top. So, the way to get this drink cheaper is by ordering it in its deconstructed format.
The next time you want to order a grande iced caramel macchiato, try saying this: Can I please get an iced doppio in a grande cup with three pumps of vanilla syrup, 2% milk, and caramel drizzle on top?
An iced doppio is just fancy coffee talk for two shots of espresso over ice.
The only difference between this and ordering an iced caramel macchiato right off the menu is that your drink will not have distinct layers worthy of a picture. So you will have to choose between having a cheaper drink and having an Instagrammable drink.
Ordering A Cheaper Iced Caramel Macchiato On The App
Start your order by clicking “iced espresso”. From there, you can customize your drink however you’d like.
If you want your drink to be exactly like a grande iced caramel macchiato, you can follow the screenshot below. I built it so that you can see what it would look like on the app.
How To Get A Hot Caramel Macchiato Cheaper At Starbucks
This is going to be similar to the iced caramel macchiato where you are deconstructing the drink.
This is what you’re going to say at the register or drive through: Can I please get a doppio in a grande cup with three pumps of vanilla syrup, 2% milk, milk foam on top and caramel drizzle on top?
Ordering A Cheaper Hot Caramel Macchiato On The App
You can follow this screenshot below to order a hot caramel macchiato on the app.
An important thing to note is that as of right now, the app does not give you the option to add milk foam at the top. Omitting this definitely won’t kill the drink completely, but personally I always like to order when I get there rather than have it made and sitting at the counter.
What Are Some Variations of A Macchiato?
Starbucks has had a lot of variations to the caramel macchiato that have appeared on the menu for limited times, such as the Blonde Caramel Cloud Macchiato and the Blonde Honeycomb Macchiato. The Chestnut Macchiato is another favorite that is part of their secret menu.
Starbucks is getting very experimental with the alternative milks recently. One variation of the caramel macchiato with an alternative milk is their Iced Cinnamon Almondmilk Macchiato.
The Iced Cinnamon Almondmilk Macchiato is very cinnamon forward as it has both cinnamon dolce syrup and cinnamon dolce sprinkles. Unfortunately, since it does still contain the caramel drizzle at the top, the drink is not vegan.
Starbucks does offer vegan coffee drinks, such as their Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso and Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso. While these are not exactly the same drink as the caramel macchiato, they are still delicious in their own right!
What Other Coffee Shops Offer Caramel Macchiatos?
While this article mainly focused on Starbucks, there are a ton of other coffee shops besides Starbucks that you could go to and order a caramel macchiato.
It seems like my area in particular has a bunch on just one strip. In the span of a few blocks, I can choose from Dutch Bros, 151 Coffee, Black Rifle Coffee Company, McDonald’s, and three or four donut shops.
This may not be the case for everyone, so I encourage you to explore your area if you can!
Conclusion
I hope that you found this article helpful and that you’re able to save some money on your next coffee outing. With all this inflation happening around us, we definitely need to support each other wherever possible!
If you liked this post, be sure to check out my copycat recipe for Starbucks Iced Green Tea. You can find it here!
Looking to cut down on sugar? You may like this post about sugar free options at Dutch Bros!
NOW I’D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU
What is your favorite drink to get at Starbucks?
Do you have any money saving tips and tricks you use when you go out for coffee?
Let me know by leaving me a comment down below!
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Make Your Starbucks Caramel Macchiato Cheaper – Lorin Cheung