Name: Copycat Starbucks Caramel Macchiato
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 12 oz reduced fat or whole milk; 2 tbsp vanilla syrup; 2 oz espresso; caramel sauce to drizzle

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Try this homemade recipe of the most popular Starbucks drink – Caramel Macchiato! Lightly sweetened vanilla milk mixed with smoky (homemade!) espresso and topped with buttery caramel sauce. This Starbucks Caramel Macchiato recipe is not to be missed!

Starbucks Caramel Macchiato in a cup with espresso maker on the background

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. It is made with vanilla syrup, steamed milk, espresso, and caramel sauce. The espresso 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.

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 dreaming of 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 or use the coffee beans you have at home. Test a few kinds of coffee to see which one works best for you. By the way, 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 use homemade vanilla syrup or 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.

How to make Starbucks Caramel Macchiato?

Ingredients:

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 regular 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 milk frother. If you don't have a milk frother, you can use a regular whisk instead. (Just whisk the milk until foam forms).

3. Pour the espresso into a measuring cup.

4. Add vanilla and 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).

pouring the espresso over the frothed milk

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.

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. 🙂

Starbucks Caramel Macchiato in a cup. Close up shot.

I hope you enjoyed this Starbucks Caramel Macchiato recipe, friends! 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. 🙂