Try this homemade recipe for the most popular Starbucks drink – Caramel Macchiato! Lightly sweetened vanilla milk mixed with espresso and topped with buttery caramel sauce. This Starbucks Caramel Macchiato recipe is not to be missed!
I’ve got great news for you, friends! You can make your favorite Starbucks Caramel Macchiato at home! Yep, you read it right. You don’t need to travel far or spend extra $$ to get a cup of one of those treats. You can prepare it at home without any fancy equipment. (If you already own an espresso machine, good for you! You can use this recipe as well.)
Caramel Macchiato Video Tutorial
First things first.
What is a Caramel Macchiato?
Caramel Macchiato is an espresso-based beverage sold in Starbucks and pretty much any other coffee shop out there. It is made with vanilla syrup, steamed milk, espresso, and caramel sauce. The espresso shot is poured on top of the milk leaving a dark mark on top of the milk foam ("macchiato" means "marked" in Italian). Caramel sauce is poured on top of the foam, adding a layer of sweetness. Caramel Macchiato is one of the most popular Starbucks drinks. You can buy hot caramel macchiato or iced caramel macchiato.
Let's discuss all of the ingredients needed to make Caramel Macchiato at home.
Espresso
While living with my mom in Italy, I picked up that classic Italian habit: enjoying a cup of bittersweet espresso after almost every meal. Espresso was prepared in a “macchinetta” or “moka”. A macchinetta is made up of 3 major parts: the bottom chamber (where you add water), the middle chamber (where you add coffee), and the top chamber (where your finished espresso will travel). In my opinion, a macchinetta is an amazing machine that makes a REAL espresso without taking up a lot of space on your kitchen counter and making your wallet thinner. I have a pretty old macchinetta that I brought from Italy many years ago, but this is the one I am considering buying next: Bialetti Moka Express 3-Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker. If you are an espresso lover, this is something that will make you happy! Here is a useful video on how to use a macchinetta:
You are probably wondering what kind of COFFEE BEANS are used to make espresso. Here is something you might not know: “espresso” is defined by the process, not by the type of bean. Unlike brewing drip coffee, making espresso means forcing hot water through finely ground beans with a high degree of pressure. So, basically, any coffee bean can make espresso as long as it’s prepared this way. You may choose to buy Starbucks Espresso Coffee Beans, Lavazza Espresso Italiano, or use the coffee beans you have at home. Test a few kinds of coffee to see which one works best for you.
Another option is to use instant espresso. You can refer to the instructions on the package on how to prepare it.
Of course., if you own an espresso machine, feel free to use that instead. 🙂
Caramel Sauce
I used generic caramel sauce I bought at a local store, but it was too watery. However, I had a great experience with this Ghirardelli Caramel Flavored Sauce in the past. It is AMAZING!
Vanilla Syrup
You can make your own vanilla syrup or use store-bought. It is very easy to find vanilla syrup these days, as it is sold in most large grocery stores. Of course, you can buy vanilla syrup on Amazon or use simple syrup instead.
How to make Starbucks Caramel Macchiato
Ingredients Needed
- 14 oz reduced fat or whole milk
- 2 tbsp. vanilla syrup
- 2 oz espresso
- caramel sauce, to drizzle
Instructions:
1. Prepare the espresso using a macchinetta or espresso machine. (You may use a very strong coffee, but you'll need to double the amount: use 4 oz instead of 2).
2. While the espresso is being made, warm up the milk. Froth the milk using a milk frother. If you don't have a milk frother, you can use a regular whisk instead. (Just whisk the milk until foam forms). If you have an espresso machine at home, use the steam option to warm up and froth the milk.
3. Pour the espresso into a measuring cup.
4. Add vanilla and frothed milk to the cup. Then, pour the espresso on top of the frothy milk creating a "mark" on the foam. (Macchiato means "marked" in Italian).
5. And the last step is to drizzle the caramel on top. At Starbucks, we make two circles around the edges of the cup and then we make a grate pattern in the middle. Some people like to add a drizzle of caramel to the bottom of the cup as well.
Whoa-la! A Grande Starbucks Caramel Macchiato is ready! The only difference between this Caramel Macchiato and a store-bought one is that I am missing my name on the cup. 🙂
I hope you enjoyed this Starbucks Caramel Macchiato recipe, friends! It's one of my favorite coffee drinks. Let me know what are your favorite Starbucks drinks, and I'll be happy to share the recipe with you. Cheers!
More Starbucks drink recipes:
Why do I share Starbucks recipes? Read my Starbucks Journey. 🙂
Copycat Starbucks Caramel Macchiato
Ingredients
- 12 oz reduced fat or whole milk or other kind of plant milk
- 2 tbsp vanilla syrup
- 2 oz espresso
- caramel sauce to drizzle
Instructions
- Prepare the espresso using a macchinetta or espresso machine. (You may use a very strong coffee, but you'll need to double the amount: use 4 oz instead of 2).2 oz espresso
- While the espresso is being made, warm up the milk. Froth the milk using a milk frother. If you don't have a milk frother, you can use a regular whisk instead. (Just whisk the milk until foam forms). If you have an espresso machine at home, use the steam option to warm up and froth the milk.12 oz reduced fat or whole milk
- Pour the espresso into a measuring cup.
- Add vanilla and frothed milk to the cup. Then, pour the espresso on top of the frothy milk creating a "mark" on the foam. (Macchiato means "marked" in Italian).2 tbsp vanilla syrup
- And the last step is to drizzle the caramel on top. At Starbucks, we make two circles around the edges of the cup and then we make a grate pattern in the middle. Some people like to add a drizzle of caramel to the bottom of the cup as well.caramel sauce to drizzle
Shannon says
Loved it... Thank you!
Tania Sheff says
Thanks, Shannon!
Dawn says
This was SO Yummy! Thank you!
Tania Sheff says
Thank you, Dawn!
Ali says
You have made me so very very happy. This tastes exactly like Starbucks, truly! I bought a bag of Starbucks brand espresso, 2% RF milk, ghirardelli caramel, and Torani vanilla syrup. Thankfully I already had the Bialetti and it turned out better than I had anticipated. So often the copycat recipes come close but still leave you craving the real deal. Not this one. If you’re thinking about trying this recipe, please do! I promise you won’t regret it.
Tania Sheff says
Thank you so much, Ali!
Bounmui says
This is NOT macchiato. Starbucks sugar drink...... for people who want to drink sugar, vanilla, caramel and LOADS of milk because they don't avtually like coffee.
Tania Sheff says
I am sharing a copycat Starbucks recipe here, and not opinions. Thank you for the feedback!
Sarah!!! says
Hi, I don’t normally write comments, but I just got a nespresso for Christmas and I did the double shot espresso pod (2.7oz) and then filled the frother to the top with milk (not sure how many oz that is) but anyway, made this and it was AMAZING!!! A true Christmas miracle. Thanks for making this recipe. I will likely make this for all my friends now so they think I know what I’m doing! Seriously, thank you sooooo much!
Tania Sheff says
That's so great to hear, Sarah! Thank you so much for reporting back! Happy Holidays!
Amanda Pietsch says
Do i use 2 tablespoons vanilla syrup? I only ask because the iced version which i made earlier (AMAAAZING!!) only called for teaspoons not tablespoons.
Tania Sheff says
Hi Amanda! I do use 2 tbsp. for this recipe. However, I think it's best if you adjust it to your personal preference. You can start with 1 1/2 tbsp. and then add more, if you feel more sweetness is needed. 🙂