Copycat Starbucks Caramel Macchiato Recipe (2024)

Try this homemade recipe for the most popular Starbucks drink – Caramel Macchiato! Lightly sweetened vanilla milk mixed with espresso and topped with buttery caramel sauce. This Starbucks Caramel Macchiato recipe is not to be missed!

I’ve got great news for you, friends! You can make your favorite Starbucks Caramel Macchiato at home! Yep, you read it right. You don’t need to travel far or spend extra $$ to get a cup of one of those treats. You can prepare it at home without any fancy equipment. (If you already own an espresso machine,good for you! You can use this recipe as well.)

Caramel Macchiato Video Tutorial

First things first.

What is a Caramel Macchiato?

Caramel Macchiato is an espresso-based beverage sold in Starbucks and pretty much any other coffee shop out there. It is made with vanilla syrup, steamed milk, espresso, and caramel sauce. The espresso shot is poured on top of the milk leaving a dark mark on top of the milk foam ("macchiato" means "marked" in Italian). Caramel sauce is poured on top of the foam, adding a layer of sweetness. Caramel Macchiato is one of the most popular Starbucks drinks. You can buy hot caramel macchiato or iced caramel macchiato.

Let's discuss all of the ingredients needed to make Caramel Macchiato at home.

Espresso

While living with my mom in Italy, I picked up that classic Italian habit: enjoying a cup of bittersweet espresso after almost every meal. Espresso wasprepared in a “macchinetta”or “moka”. A macchinetta is made up of 3 major parts: the bottom chamber (where you add water), the middle chamber (where you add coffee), and the top chamber (where your finished espresso will travel). In my opinion, a macchinetta is an amazing machine that makes a REAL espresso without taking up a lot of space on your kitchen counter and making your wallet thinner. I have a pretty old macchinetta that I brought from Italy many years ago, but this is the one I am considering buying next:Bialetti Moka Express 3-Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker. If you are an espresso lover, this is something that will make you happy! Here is a useful video on how to use a macchinetta:

You are probably wondering what kind ofCOFFEE BEANSare used to make espresso. Here is something you might not know: “espresso” is defined by the process, not by the type of bean. Unlike brewing drip coffee, making espresso means forcing hot water through finely ground beans with a high degree of pressure. So, basically, any coffee bean can make espresso as long as it’s prepared this way. You may choose to buyStarbucks Espresso Coffee Beans, Lavazza Espresso Italiano,or use the coffee beans you have at home. Test a few kinds of coffee to see which one works best for you.

Another option is to useinstant espresso. You can refer to the instructions on the package on how to prepare it.

Of course., if you own anespresso machine, feel free to use that instead. 🙂

Caramel Sauce

I used generic caramel sauce I bought at a local store, but it was too watery. However, I had a great experience with this Ghirardelli Caramel Flavored Saucein the past. It is AMAZING!

Vanilla Syrup

You can make your own vanilla syrup or use store-bought. It is very easy to find vanilla syrup these days, as it is sold in most large grocery stores. Of course, you can buy vanilla syrup on Amazon or use simple syrup instead.

How to make Starbucks Caramel Macchiato

Ingredients Needed

• 14ozreduced fat or whole milk

• 2 tbsp. vanilla syrup

• 2ozespresso

• caramel sauce, to drizzle

Instructions:

1. Prepare the espresso using a macchinetta or espresso machine. (You may use a very strong coffee, but you'll need to double the amount: use 4 oz instead of 2).

2. While the espresso is being made, warm up the milk. Froth the milk using amilk frother. If you don't have a milk frother, you can use a regular whisk instead. (Just whisk the milk until foam forms). If you have an espresso machine at home, use the steam option to warm up and froth the milk.

3. Pour the espresso into a measuring cup.

4. Add vanilla and frothed milk to the cup. Then, pour the espresso on top of the frothy milk creating a "mark" on the foam. (Macchiato means "marked" in Italian).

5. And the last step is to drizzle the caramel on top. At Starbucks, we make two circles around the edges of the cup and then we make a grate pattern in the middle. Some people like to add a drizzle of caramel to the bottom of the cup as well.

Whoa-la! A Grande Starbucks Caramel Macchiato is ready! The only difference between this Caramel Macchiato and a store-bought one is that I am missing my name on the cup. 🙂

I hope you enjoyed this Starbucks Caramel Macchiato recipe, friends! It's one of my favorite coffee drinks. Let me know what are your favorite Starbucks drinks, and I'll be happy to share the recipe with you. Cheers!

More Starbucks drink recipes:

• Starbucks White Mocha
• Starbucks Chai Tea Latte
• Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte
• Caramel Frappuccino

Why do I share Starbucks recipes? Read my Starbucks Journey. 🙂