Latte macchiato
Italian coffee drink where espresso stains steamed milk.
Latte macchiato is a coffee beverage whose name means 'stained milk' in Italian, referring to the method of pouring a shot of espresso into steamed milk. It derives from the older caffè macchiato, which is espresso 'stained' with a small amount of milk or cream.
Related drinks
A latte macchiato is built by pouring espresso into milk, not the other way around, and it uses more foam than just heated milk. It often contains half a shot of espresso or even less, and the drink is served in layers rather than stirred together. The focus is on the milk, whereas a caffè latte highlights the coffee. A mark called the macchia—a small stain of brown espresso foam, or crema—sits on top of the milk, setting it apart visually from a caffè latte, where the espresso goes in first and gets mixed. A separate drink, caffè macchiato (or espresso macchiato), is an espresso shot stained with just a little milk.
Preparation
A latte macchiato starts with milk that gets frothed until it forms a thick, airy foam. This foam is poured into a glass, leaving a layer of liquid milk beneath it, and then espresso is added. Unlike the fine, wet microfoam used for latte art, this foam is light and dry. Another method creates a layered drink: the espresso is poured very slowly, often over the back of a spoon, so it settles between the heavier milk at the bottom and the foam on top. A clear glass makes these layers visible. The espresso can come from a standard cup or shot glass, dumped in quickly, or from a small brew pitcher that makes pouring, especially for layering, easier.
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