Prepare the loved-by-everyone Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato at home! I’ll share the tips and the secrets on how to make this delicious treat.
Slightly sweetened milk on the bottom, ice in the middle, bittersweet espresso on top and rich caramel sauce all over the cup… Isn’t this what you are craving this summer? Get ready to make your very own Iced Caramel Macchiato!
While working at Starbucks, I learned that the #1 most loved espresso drink is the incredible Iced Caramel Macchiato and, today, I am sharing with you how to make this drink at home. The basics are pretty simple. We combine vanilla syrup with cold milk, then add some ice, fresh espresso and top it all off with buttery caramel sauce. Let’s discuss each ingredient.
VANILLA SYRUP.
You can purchase vanilla syrup in a large supermarket, or on Amazon. They even sell Starbucks Vanilla Syrup on Amazon, so that would be your best option to achieve a very authentic Starbucks taste. However, I don’t recommend buying the whole bottle if you are not planning on making Iced or Hot Caramel Macchiatos regularly. If you are just making it once, use homemade simple syrup instead, or, I also like using a little agave syrup (Yum!).
MY LATEST VIDEOSMILK.
At Starbucks we usually use 2% reduced fat milk, but you may choose to use whole milk, non-fat milk or vanilla soy milk. If you use vanilla soy milk, you may skip the vanilla syrup altogether.
ESPRESSO.
I always recommend using a macchinetta to prepare THE BEST TASTING espresso. It is a very convenient and cheap option that guarantees great results. You can shop around and find a macchinetta for as low as $7, but I am secretly dreaming about this beauty: Bialetti Moka Express 3-Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker. Here is a useful video demonstrating how to make espresso using macchinetta:
If you’d like to find out a little more about espresso and what kind of coffee beans are best, check out my Hot Caramel Macchiato recipe.
Lastly,
THE CARAMEL SAUCE.
While it is possible to find Starbucks caramel sauce on EBay and sometimes in-stores, I found that this Ghirardelli Caramel Sauce is really wonderful, so I always purchase this kind.
Here is a quick overview of how to make an Iced Caramel Macchiato.
1. Add vanilla syrup to the cup. (2 tsp – 12oz cup, 3 tsp – 16oz cup, 4 tsp – 20oz cup). Of course, you can adjust the sweetness to your liking.
2. Add milk over the syrup (approx. halfway).
3. Add ice, reserving room for espresso.
4. Add espresso (1oz – 12oz cup, 2oz – 16oz cup, 3oz – 20oz cup).
5. Drizzle with caramel sauce on top and enjoy!
Let me know if you have any questions about this Iced Caramel Macchiato. I’ll be happy to answer them. Hope you’ll enjoy this deliciousness as much as I did!
MORE STARBUCKS RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE:
- Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino
- Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino
- Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte
- Starbucks Peppermint White Hot Chocolate
Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato Video Tutorial
Copycat Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp vanilla syrup or to taste
- 6 oz. milk
- 1 oz espresso
- caramel sauce to drizzle
- ice
Instructions
- Add vanilla syrup to the cup first, then milk, ice and espresso on top.
- Drizzle with caramel sauce.
Notes
Nutrition
COPYCAT STARBUCKS CARAMEL MACCHIATO
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Kaitlyn O says
May 18, 2019 at 2:35 pmHi! I’m really new to the coffee game. But I’ve recently got addicted to these. And working/living in Seattle with a Starbucks on every block has made it hard for me to resist buying one every day. Would it make a difference if I made a few cups of espresso at the beginning of the week to last me for a while? Would that effect anything?
Thank you so much for the recipe and tips!!
Tania Sheff says
May 19, 2019 at 12:03 amHi Kaitlyn! I feel you. Starbucks is teaching all baristas that espresso shots are “dead” after 10 seconds and they are supposed to throw it away. That said, you CAN keep it refrigerated for 2-3 days. I wouldn’t suggest keeping it for a week. Hope this helps, and I can’t wait to hear when you try it! Thanks!
Angela says
May 16, 2019 at 9:54 amJust found your recipe, thanks posting. & totally love the tip for using drip coffee too.
Tania Sheff says
May 16, 2019 at 10:53 pmThanks, Angela! Let me know when you give it a try!
Kate says
March 22, 2019 at 11:49 amSo you added the hot espresso right to the milk?
Tania says
March 22, 2019 at 3:47 pmYep. That’s how we do at Starbucks too. It cools down right away. Thank you!
Maria says
March 8, 2019 at 10:33 amWould you be able to give some tips on making the espresso. I have one of the stove top makers. How much coffee beans to how much water do you usually recommend?
Tania says
March 9, 2019 at 6:25 pmHi Maria! You’ll need about 1 tbsp. of ground coffee for every two oz. of water. Hope this helps!
Ashley says
December 31, 2018 at 7:12 pmWonderful tip for the caramel!! I’ve never found a good replacement for the coffee shop caramel and I think this will be it!! This was a great article to find! Thank you for your insider tips!
Happy New Year!
Tania says
December 31, 2018 at 10:54 pmThank you so much, Ashley! I am glad you found this useful. Happy New Year!
Tannia says
November 27, 2018 at 2:17 amHow much coffee would I need if I’m not using espresso and using regular drip coffee instead?
Tania says
November 28, 2018 at 4:50 pmHi Tannia! I don’t recommend using regular drip coffee, since it will change this recipe dramatically. If you want, just prepare yourself a regular iced coffee, add vanilla, Half & Half, and drizzle with caramel syrup on top. This way, you’ll end up having something close to the caramel macchiato. Best regards!
Angel says
September 18, 2018 at 9:38 amTHANK YOU SOOO MUCH! You just saved me $100 a month. It tastes delicious.
Tania says
September 18, 2018 at 9:24 pmCha-ching!!! Thanks, Angel! I am glad you enjoyed the CM!
Catherine says
September 4, 2018 at 9:51 amReviews state the Bialetti Moka Express 3-Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker should NOT be used on an induction stove. This makes me sad.
Tania says
September 4, 2018 at 2:11 pmHi Catherine! As you know, induction stove requires magnetic-based material, such as cast iron or magnetic stainless steel in order to work, so yes, the Moka Maker will not work in this case. Sorry, my friend. 🙁
Kerry says
August 11, 2018 at 3:30 pmWhat kind of coffee do you use for the expresso?
Tania says
August 11, 2018 at 7:46 pmHi Kerry! “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. I’ve tried many coffee brands, and I am still experimenting. One of my favorite ones is Lavazza Crema e Gusto, check it out on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2KLGOSa. Thanks and cheers!
Tanya says
April 11, 2018 at 11:49 pmI use this recipe all the time!
Jamie says
March 12, 2018 at 12:06 amLove this! Can’t wait to try it. Any chance you have a recipe for the chai latte?!
Tania says
March 12, 2018 at 12:10 amHi Jamie! Thank you. Please, let me know how you enjoyed the drink. I am actually planning to make Chai Tea Latte soon. Stay tuned! P.S. Caramel Frappuccino is coming out next week. It’s a game changer!
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine says
March 4, 2018 at 8:35 pmThis is the perfect recipe for my favorite Starbucks drink! And stunning photos.
Tania says
March 6, 2018 at 6:18 pmThanks!
Sure Mohanty says
October 6, 2016 at 4:11 pmThanks for sharing such kind of ides with cool create art on yummy beverage. Great job Tania …! Thanks
Tania says
October 7, 2016 at 9:51 pmThank you, Sure! I appreciate it! 🙂
Natasha @ Salt & Lavender says
August 18, 2016 at 2:43 pmLooks delicious, Tania! Love the step-by-step photos too. A lot of people will love this and appreciate you sharing the knowledge.
Tania says
August 18, 2016 at 5:26 pmThank you so much, Natasha!