When I first tried Starbucks, the iced caramel macchiato was my favorite coffee drink to get. It’s sweet, creamy, and has a subtle coffee flavor, perfect for an experimenting high schooler.

However, I didn’t realize until years later that the iced caramel macchiato is actually not a macchiato and is more similar to an iced latte. AND caramel isn’t the main flavor in the drink! But it still doesn’t take away from the fact that it tastes so good and is easy to make at home!

Here’s how to make an iced caramel macchiato at home!

What is an Iced Caramel Macchiato?

Many people (including myself) are confused about an iced caramel macchiato and how it differs from other iced coffee drinks, particularly an iced latte.

So, for starters, an iced caramel macchiato is an iced coffee drink made with espresso milk, ice, vanilla syrup, and caramel syrup. However, vanilla is the primary flavor in the drink, while the caramel syrup is the drizzle on top as a garnish. This is ironic, considering the name literally has caramel in it.

It’s one of the more popular coffee drinks on Starbucks’ menu and is also found on other large coffee chain menus like Peets, McDonald’s, Dunkin Donuts, etc.

It’s a sweet, creamy coffee drink with a delicious vanilla and slight caramel flavor. However, what’s the difference between a latte and a macchiato?

Latte vs. Macchiato

Both lattes and macchiatos are cafe beverages made of espresso and steamed milk. The difference between them is the ratio of espresso to milk. Lattes have more steamed milk than espresso, while macchiatos have less.

Both drinks have a double shot of espresso, but lattes have about double the amount of espresso in milk, while macchiatos have a third of the espresso amount in milk.

Macchiato in Italian means “marked” or “stained,” referring to espresso stained with milk. Latte in Italian means “milk,” so you will get a glass of milk if you order a latte in Italy. A caffe latte means coffee milk, which has much more steamed milk than espresso.

Is Starbucks’ Iced Caramel Macchiato a Macchiato?

So, no, Starbucks’s iced caramel macchiato is not an authentic macchiato because it has milk proportions similar (or literally the exact same) as the iced latte. If it were a true iced macchiato, it would be a double espresso over ice with a splash of milk foam.

To make the iced caramel macchiato, you can literally ask for an iced vanilla latte with caramel syrup, and it’s the exact same. However, it is not the same as an iced caramel latte.

An iced caramel macchiato from Starbucks is milk and espresso sweetened with vanilla syrup and a drizzle of caramel.

An iced caramel latte is milk and espresso sweetened with caramel syrup.

These two drinks taste similar but have different flavor profiles.

What is an Iced Caramel Macchiato Upside Down?

The problem with current iced caramel macchiatos is that you end up with leftover undissolved caramel at the bottom of your cup because it doesn’t dissolve in cold liquids easily. So, drinking an iced caramel macchiato tastes mostly like vanilla syrup.

To combat this, people started ordering caramel macchiatos upside down, which means that baristas make the drink, starting by adding caramel and then adding espresso, ice, milk, and vanilla syrup. This way, the caramel is dissolved into the espresso, so you actually taste the caramel in your drink.

Honestly, I get why they do this; otherwise, the caramel flavor wouldn’t come through. However, it might be easier to ask your barista to dissolve the caramel into the espresso.

How to Make Flavored Syrups

Luckily, making iced caramel macchiatos at home is easy, especially if you make your own vanilla and caramel syrup. Flavored syrups are ridiculously easy and can be easily made beforehand so that you can enjoy them in your coffee throughout the week.

How to Make Vanilla Syrup

For vanilla syrup, you’ll need vanilla beans or extract, sugar, and water:

1. Add vanilla extract or beans, sugar, and water to a small pot.
2. Boil until sugar dissolves, and syrup cooks down and becomes viscous.
3. Let cool before use.

How to Make Caramel Sauce

For caramel sauce, you’ll need sugar, water, butter, and heavy cream:

1. Cook sugar in a small or medium-sized pot on medium heat until the sugar liquifies.
2. The sugar will turn golden and then amber in color. Once the caramel is dark amber, slowly add heavy cream. The sugar will bubble rapidly, so be careful.
3. Simmer the caramel for 1-2 more minutes while stirring to combine the heavy cream. Add butter and mix until combined well.
4. Let cool before use.

You can alternatively make caramel syrup, which you’ll need sugar and water:

1. Add sugar and water to a small pot.
2. Boil the mixture until all the sugar dissolves on medium heat.
3. Lower the heat and let the sugar caramelize in the pot. It will turn light golden, then amber.
4. Once the sugar turns dark amber, carefully add water and cook until the syrup becomes viscous.
5. Let cool before use.

Where to Buy Flavored Syrups

If you want more convenience and don’t want to make homemade syrups, you can buy flavored syrups in person at grocery stores or online. Most large grocery stores have vanilla and caramel syrup and zero sugar options.

Popular syrup brands include Torani, Monin, and 183. You can look online on their websites or via stockists for more niche flavored syrups.

If you can’t find caramel syrup at grocery stores, you can also use caramel sauce instead.

How to Make An Iced Caramel Macchiato

To make an iced caramel macchiato at home, you’ll need:

• Caramel sauce
• Vanilla syrup
• Milk
• Ice
• Espresso

Iced Caramel Macchiato Recipe

1. Brew espresso or coffee. Brew 1-2 shots of espresso or strong coffee equivalent. You can also use premade coffee, cold brew concentrate, or instant espresso powder.
2. Add vanilla syrup to milk. Dissolve vanilla syrup or extract and sugar into milk.
3. Make drink. Add ice and vanilla milk into a separate cup, then top with espresso or coffee. Drizzle caramel sauce on top.
4. Mix and enjoy!

How to Customize an Iced Caramel Macchiato

The nice thing about making drinks at home is that you can customize them! Instead of vanilla syrup, you can use other sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, agave, etc.

For milk, you can use oat, soy, almond, cashew, pistachio milk, etc. You can add as much or as little ice as you want to make your drink more caffeinated.

You can also omit vanilla syrup and just use caramel sauce or syrup for flavoring. The possibilities are endless!

Tips

Here are some tips for making a classic iced caramel macchiato at home!

• Mix your vanilla and caramel syrups or sauce with hot espresso or coffee for easier dissolving. Then, add it to milk. Depending on your syrup or sauce consistency, it will dissolve easier in warm liquids rather than cold.
• Add a dash of cinnamon on top for a festive flavor!