The name derives from the term “cotar” which means “to cut”, in this case meaning to cut the intense flavor of the coffee with the sweetness of the milk. In Spain and Portugal the equivalent of the caffè macchiato is the cafè cortado, a version without foam, where the milk is simply heated. But there are a couple of unusual exceptions. Ordering a caffè macchiato outside Italy is not always the easiest thing, because very often it is confused with other coffee-based drinks with lots of milk. Also in Genova you will have to order a “Genovese coffee” in order to get a caffè macchiato. Ordering a caffè macchiato, you will probably be served with a classic espresso with some milk served separately on the side. If you find yourself taking a trip around Trieste, ordering caffè macchiato at the bar could cause some misunderstanding: in fact, here, if you want a caffè macchiato, you will have to order a cappuccino, a drink which is practically inexistent. This is probably due to its sweeter and more delicate flavor compared to the more intense flavor of traditional coffee.
In Italy, around 97% of the population regularly consume coffee, but who exactly prefers caffè macchiato to the classic espresso? A research study by studio di Largo Consumo showed that in general women prefer it (77% against 23% of men), in an age range between 18 and 24 years old and typically resident in the north. Caffè macchiato in ItalyĬoffee is the third most consumed drink in the whole of Italy and in the world after water and wine. Having clarified what we mean when we talk about caffè macchiato, we must remember that there are many different ways to call this particular type of coffee both in Italy and the rest of the world. Latte macchiato, on the other hand, has proportions which are totally the opposite of the caffè macchiato: there is a much higher proportion of milk to coffee and the milk is not foamed but simply heated. The rest of the cup is then occupied by steamed milk, thus becoming the perfect drink for a sumptuous breakfast. In reality, the differences are huge cappuccino is served in a larger and broader cup in that a greater portion of a milk is served in it, around 125 ml. Caffè Macchiato? Let us not confuse it with cappuccino or latte macchiatoĮspecially outside Italy, asking for a caffè macchiato at the bar may cause some misunderstanding: it is often confused with its “closest relative”, the cappuccino, or even the latte macchiato.
Let’s discover together how to prepare a caffè macchiato as it should be done and what distinguishes it from other famous coffee-based drinks. Now considered to be one of the great bar breakfast classics, despite its apparent simplicity, in order to prepare a perfect caffè macchiato, it takes practice and extreme precision, both in terms of proportions and in foaming the milk. Its most common variation, the caffè macchiato, sees the intense flavor of the espresso fuse with the creaminess of the foamed milk. Espresso is the Italian drink par excellence, one of the strongholds of the enogastronomic traditions of our country.