Skip the drive-thru and make your favorite coffee shop drink at home with this Iced Caramel Macchiato recipe. This Starbucks copycat drink is made in minutes with just four simple ingredients—you don’t even need an espresso machine *!
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About this Iced Caramel Macchiato Recipe
I’ve loved Iced Caramel Macchiatos since I was in college and used to frequent Starbucks. I could never get enough, but my wallet sure could!
For the sake of my budget, I finally figured out how to make my own version of this iced coffee drink at home. And honestly, I think it might be even better than the ones I used to buy.
In Italian, the word “macchiato” means “marked” or “stained.” When it comes to coffee, it means espresso coffee with a little milk.
The caramel macchiato is a coffee drink sold at Starbucks coffee shops. It is made inverted, so the milk and syrup are added first and then the espresso is added on top. This means the drink is a little bit sweeter at the bottom and gets less sweet as you sip, unless you stir it up with your straw or a spoon to equalize the sweetness.
The caramel macchiato is also easy to make different versions of, such as the apple crisp macchiato in the fall.
This at-home version is made with just four simple ingredients and doesn’t require any special equipment—you can even make it without an espresso maker!
Recipe testing notes
- Make it hot or iced. Even though the Iced Caramel Macchiato is probably the most famous, you can absolutely make this drink hot if that’s your preference. If you’re making the iced version, make sure to let the shot of espresso cool a bit so it doesn’t melt the ice and turn your drink into a watery mess.
- Add the ingredients in the order listed. Part of the allure of the Iced Caramel Macchiato is the beautiful layered ombré effect, making it different from lattes (such as a lavender latte, for example). This only happens if you add the espresso on top of the milk, so don’t change up the ingredient order.
- Make sure that the caramel sauce is drizzled around the edge of the glass, not directly over top of the ice. You don’t want it to be stuck on the ice — you want it to drizzle between the ice and the glass. If you prefer, you can drizzle the caramel on the inside of the glass before making the drink, but it’s not necessary.
- You don’t have to have an espresso maker. The recipe is a bit easier if you do have one, but you’re not out of luck without it. You can use strong brewed coffee or use some tips for making a latte without an espresso machine.
Ingredients and essentials
You only need a few ingredients to make this recipe at home.
Since this is an espresso-based coffee drink, you’ll of course need a shot of espresso. Next you’ll need espresso shots. I recommend a darker or medium roast to pair with this sweet drink.
If you’re using a Nespresso machine, the Ristretto capsules are my favorite. Try these decaf capsules if you prefer less caffeine. If you’re using another method (more on that below), you’ll need a high-quality ground espresso.
In a pinch, you can use any strong coffee such as instant espresso, instant coffee or cold brew coffee instead.
You’ll also need the milk of your choice. I usually use whole milk or 2%, but you can use any milk you like best, including non-dairy milks such as almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk.
Vanilla syrup adds a touch of sweetness and vanilla flavor. It’s what Starbucks uses to sweeten this drink, in addition to the caramel sauce.
You can make your own vanilla syrup at home with just sugar, water and vanilla extract *. Or, if you want a stronger caramel flavor, use caramel simple syrup.
And finally, you’ll need caramel! It’s what makes the drink so pretty and gives it that rich caramel flavor. You can use store-bought caramel syrup or you can make your own. (My favorite is bourbon caramel sauce.)
Whatever you use, the sauce should be thick, creating a pretty pattern in the glass as it sinks to the bottom.
Making the espresso
The easiest way to make this copycat Starbucks drink is with an espresso machine *. Personally, I use a Nespresso machine.
I love having this on hand for easy lattes and cappuccinos. It is definitely the easiest way to make espresso drinks at home.
But if you don’t have an espresso machine, you can use very strong coffee or you can brew espresso another way, such as:
- With an Aeropress: Learn how to use this easy method for making coffee and espresso. I have tried this before and it’s really delicious!
- With a stovetop espresso maker: You can make your pumpkin spice latte on the stove by making your espresso in this cute little pot!
- Using Instant espresso powder: This is probably my least favorite method because fresh is better, but the instant stuff can still be good in a pinch, especially if you are traveling or can’t access these other methods.
How to make an Iced Caramel Macchiato
Ready to make your own own iced caramel macchiato? It is super simple! Here’s what to do:
First, fill a tall cup or glass with ice. Add your vanilla syrup and cold milk to the glass and stir them together to combine.
Then add the espresso over top. Remember to let the espresso cool for a few minutes for an iced drink. The espresso will sit on top and blend slowly into the cream layer to make a pretty gradient, ombré look.
The best part is adding the caramel drizzle. Drizzle some caramel over the top of the ice around the edge of the glass so that it drips down and creates a pretty effect.
Flavor variations
Hot caramel macchiato: Use steamed milk and skip the ice to make this a hot drink.
Salted caramel macchiato: Add a pinch of sea salt, to taste, to give the drink a dreamy salted caramel flavor.
Dairy-free caramel macchiato: Use your favorite non-dairy milk and be sure your caramel sauce is dairy-free.
Sugar-free caramel macchiato: Use sugar-free caramel sauce and sugar-free syrup with vanilla extract.
Decaf caramel macchiato: Stock up on decaf espresso if you need your afternoon pick-me-up to pack less of a punch.
Mocha macchiato: Use chocolate sauce in place of the caramel for a mocha version.
Coffee ice cubes: Freeze coffee into ice cube trays ahead of time . When added to a drink, it becomes infused with more flavor as the ice melts.
Serving suggestions
For a morning treat, make a batch of blueberry crumble muffins or chai muffins. You’ll really feel like you are at the coffee shop (without ever leaving your house)!
In the fall, a slice of pumpkin loaf is the perfect afternoon treat to enjoy with this caramel coffee.
A good sweet-and-salty snack would be a batch of caramel popcorn.
FAQ
An iced latte is made with espresso and steamed milk. The espresso goes into the cup first, then the milk, which forms a foamy layer on top. It can be flavored with syrups or enjoyed unsweetened. In a caramel macchiato, the milk goes in first, followed by the espresso and finished with a drizzle of thick caramel sauce.
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Iced Caramel Macchiato
ingredients
- 1 shot espresso slightly cooled
- ½ ounce vanilla syrup
- ¾ cup whole milk
- 2 tablespoons caramel sauce for garnish
instructions
- Prepare espresso and allow it to cool slightly.1 shot espresso
- To a tall glass filled with ice, add vanilla syrup and milk. Top with ice.½ ounce (14 ⅙ ml) vanilla syrup, ¾ cup (177 3/7 ml) whole milk
- Pour cooled espresso over top.
- Drizzle the top and inner rim of the glass with caramel sauce.2 tablespoons (40 g) caramel sauce
notes
Ingredients
- Feel free to substitute the milk of your choice.
- Make sure that the espresso is slightly cooled before adding it to the glass so that it does not melt the ice.
Assembly
- In order to get the classic layered ombré effect quintessential to the coffee-shop version of this drink, be sure to add the ingredients to the glass in the order described.
- If you wish, you can decorate the glass with caramel drizzle before adding any of the other ingredients, but it’s not necessary as the caramel will drip down around the edges of the glass once the drink is prepared.
Variations
- For a hot caramel macchiato, use steamed milk and add the espresso while it is still hot.
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