An easy hot drink to prepare at home: the Latte macchiato ! Creamy milk foam mixed with coffee flavor, with a touch of vanilla. Prepare this very comforting recipe in just 5 minutes with very simple ingredients…
“Macchiato” means “stained” in Italian, like the color you get in our glasses of latte macchiato. 3 beautiful layers that overlap in the blink of an eye, I'll explain how to do it below!
What is the difference between a latte macchiato and a cappuccino?
Latte macchiato is a drink milkier, softer in the mouth than cappuccino. To make a cappuccino, you must first pour the coffee into the glass, then add the milk that has been frothed beforehand. Conversely, for the latte macchiato we start with milk, then coffee, then frothed milk.
What you will like about this latte macchiato recipe
- few ingredients : you probably already have everything in your cupboards!
- very quick to do : in 5 minutes it's ready! You'll need a small electric milk frother to create a nice foam.
- smooth : its milk foam is ultra comforting when you want to take a little gourmet break...
- cheap : nothing to do with the price of latte macchiatos found in cafes, and that's so much the better for the wallet!
Ingredient details
- milk : you need whole milk to make a latte, because you need creaminess to create a nice foam. A plant-based option is possible with cashew milk or oat milk.
- coffee : whether you are capsule coffee or barista machine at home, both work because the most important thing is to get espresso. I use a capsule machine myself.
- vanilla : it’s my little gourmet touch! It's delicious in the milk foam of the latte macchiato.
- sucre : only for those who sweeten their coffee (it can also be a little maple syrup) otherwise it is not essential.
How to make a homemade latte macchiato?
- We take a tall glass
- We heat milk, vanilla (and sugar optional)
- Once hot, pour it into a small pitcher
- We do froth the milk with a small electric frother
- On pour into the glass top
- We make it flow an espresso
- On place it gently in the glass of milk
- Le latte macchiato is ready !
NB: the complete list of ingredients and the detailed recipe are given at the bottom of the page.
My tips for making your latte macchiato a success
- the milk must be at the right temperature between 55-60° to be foamed: if it is overcooked, the foam will fall very quickly on the latte macchiato (and sinking is not very pretty), if it is not hot enough, the foam will have hard to take.
- the electric frother must be stationary et placed at the bottom of the pitcher to create the ideal foam: without large bubbles. It will look much prettier in the latte macchiato glass afterwards.
- so as not to destroy the foam when pouring the coffee : you must pour the liquid slowly, aiming for the middle of the glass. We add a little bit of milk foam on top to hide the hole left by the coffee.
Possible variations for this recipe
Do caramel latte macchiatos catch your eye? So it is very simple to recreate them at home by adding caramel syrup on the inside of the glass before pouring the milk into it. The rest of the recipe is identical.
You can also try a plant-based option : cashew milk and oat milk are best suited to creating milk foam, unlike other plant-based milks that are not dense enough.
Other recipes to try
If you like to make hot and delicious drinks at home, I advise you to take a look at these other recipes from the blog:
If you make this homemade latte macchiato, don't hesitate to rate the recipe below and tag @liliebakery on Instagram so I can see your cute drinks!
Latte Macchiato, The Homemade Recipe
Ingredients:
- 200 g whole milk plant-based option: oat milk or cashew milk, the creamiest
- 1 cc natural vanilla extract optional
- Powdered sugar or maple syrup only for those who sweeten their coffee
- 1 espresso capsule OR ground coffee for barista machine
- Bitter cocoa for decoration optional
Instructions:
- Prepare a tall glass, mine is 260ml and 14cm high (“equipment” link above).
- Pour the milk into a saucepan with the vanilla (and a touch of sugar for those who sweeten their coffee), and mix.
- Heat over low heat to no more than 55-60°, checking with a kitchen thermometer.
- Once the temperature is reached, pour into a small pitcher and froth for 20 seconds with an electric milk frother immersed in the bottom of the pitcher, in the center, without moving it. This also works with the steam nozzle of barista machines.
- Be careful not to create foam on the surface, but in the bottom of the pitcher, remaining in the center. Once the time is up, tap the pitcher on the work surface. Rest the pitcher and make circles so that the foam becomes smooth and creamy (this removes large bubbles).
- Pour this milk into the glass. The foam will automatically place on top.
- Then, with your coffee machine, pour espresso into a small container with a pouring spout.
- Gently pour the espresso into the center of the latte glass over the milk foam. The coffee passes through the foam and sits on top of the milk to create a third layer.
- Fill the hole made by the coffee with the milk foam you have left. You can also add a little bitter cocoa as decoration.
- Serve immediately, hot.
