A macchiato is a shot of espresso marked with just a dollop of foamed milk; a latte is espresso stretched with a tall pour of steamed milk and a thin layer of foam. Both start from the same shot, but the milk ratio is roughly ten times apart, which is the whole reason one fits in a two-ounce cup and the other needs twelve.
Both drinks get mentioned in the same breath constantly, yet most guides only cover them as part of a bigger comparison. This one is a straight head-to-head: what each drink actually is, how they taste, cost in calories and caffeine, and the Starbucks naming mix-up that confuses more people than almost any other coffee order. If you want cappuccino thrown into the mix too, see our three-way macchiato vs cappuccino vs latte comparison.
Macchiato vs Latte: The Difference at a Glance
| Macchiato | Latte | |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso | 1 shot (~1oz) | 1–2 shots |
| Milk | A small dollop of foam | Steamed milk, roughly 3–5x the espresso |
| Size | ~1–2 oz | 8–16 oz |
| Milk-to-espresso | Tiny | Roughly 3:1 or more |
| Foam | Just a spoonful | Thin layer on top |
| Taste | Bold, espresso-forward | Mild, creamy, milk-forward |
| Calories (whole milk) | ~13 kcal | ~180 kcal (12oz) |
| Caffeine | ~63mg (single shot) | ~63–125mg (1–2 shots) |
| Best for | Espresso lovers who want just a touch of milk | Milk lovers who want a mellow, creamy coffee |
What Is a Macchiato?
“Macchiato” means “stained” or “marked” in Italian. A traditional caffè macchiato is a single shot of espresso marked with just a small dollop of foamed milk, enough to soften the sharp edge without turning it into a milk drink. It is tiny, intense, and meant to be drunk in two or three sips.
It sits at the strongest end of the milk-drink family. If you want to see how it stacks up against a bigger milk pour, see our macchiato vs cappuccino guide, or for something between the two, our cortado vs macchiato comparison.
What Is a Latte?
A latte starts with one or two shots of espresso, topped with a tall pour of steamed milk and finished with only a thin layer of foam. The ratio runs anywhere from 1:3 to 1:5, espresso to milk, which mellows the shot into a smooth, mild, and highly customisable drink, it is the default base for flavoured syrups and latte art alike.
If you want a drink that sits between the two, that is exactly what a cortado vs latte comparison is for, the cortado keeps the espresso character of a macchiato but with a bit more warm milk. Getting the steamed-milk texture right matters more here than in a macchiato; see our guide to frothing and steaming milk for the technique.
The Starbucks Confusion: Caramel Macchiato vs Latte
Here is the catch that causes most of the search traffic behind this comparison: a Starbucks “caramel macchiato” is not a traditional macchiato at all. It is built milk-first, like a latte, with the espresso poured in last so it “marks” the milk from above, the reverse of the traditional method, where milk marks the espresso. In practice, a caramel macchiato is closer in size, milk content, and calories to a flavoured latte than to the tiny, espresso-forward drink covered above.
For the full breakdown of that specific mix-up, see our latte macchiato vs macchiato guide and our caramel macchiato recipe. If someone asks you to order “a macchiato” in the US, they almost always mean this milk-forward version rather than the Italian original.
Taste and Strength Compared
A macchiato tastes almost exactly like a straight shot of espresso, with just enough foam to round off the bitterness, bold, concentrated, and gone in a few sips. A latte’s much larger volume of steamed milk dilutes that same shot into something mellow and creamy, where the espresso sits in the background rather than up front. Neither is objectively “stronger” in caffeine per shot; the difference is entirely how much milk is diluting the flavour you taste.
Calories Compared
Calories track milk volume almost exactly, since neither drink adds sugar by default.
| Drink | Typical Size | Calories (whole milk) |
|---|---|---|
| Macchiato | 1–2 oz | ~13 kcal |
| Latte (12oz, whole milk) | 12 oz | ~180 kcal |
| Latte (12oz, skim milk) | 12 oz | ~130 kcal |
| Latte (16oz, whole milk) | 16 oz | ~230 kcal |
A macchiato is one of the lowest-calorie coffee orders you can make, full stop. A latte’s calorie count is really a milk decision, switching to skim or a plant-based milk changes the number more than any other choice you make when ordering one.
Caffeine Compared
Caffeine comes from the espresso, not the milk, so a single-shot macchiato and a single-shot latte carry the same roughly 63mg. Where they diverge in practice is order size: a latte is usually built on 1–2 shots depending on size, while a macchiato almost always stays at one. Ask for a double and either drink can carry closer to 125mg. For the full math on shot strength, see our doppio espresso guide.
Which Should You Order or Make at Home?
- Macchiato, you want espresso with just a hint of milk, small, strong, and quick to drink.
- Latte, you want a large, mild, creamy coffee, and a good base for syrups or latte art.
- Neither is stronger in caffeine per shot, the choice is really about how much milk you want between you and the espresso.
Both are easy to make at home once you have a way to pull a shot and steam or froth milk. See our best espresso machine picks if you are starting from scratch, or a dedicated milk frother if you already have a moka pot or AeroPress and just need the milk side sorted.
Frequently Asked Questions About Macchiato vs Latte
For the full ordering guide across the whole espresso-and-milk family, see our types of coffee drinks guide. We have more on milk and espresso drinks.
The amount of milk. A macchiato is a shot of espresso with just a dollop of foam, while a latte is the same espresso stretched with a tall pour of steamed milk and a thin foam layer, roughly ten times more milk.
Caffeine comes from the espresso, not the milk, so a single-shot macchiato and a single-shot latte carry the same amount, around 63mg. Lattes are just as often built on a double shot, so they can end up with more caffeine in practice.
No. A Starbucks caramel or vanilla macchiato is built milk-first, like a latte, with espresso poured in last. A traditional espresso macchiato is the opposite: mostly espresso with just a dollop of foam.
A latte, by a wide margin. A traditional macchiato is close to 13 calories since it is almost all espresso. A 12oz latte with whole milk runs closer to 180 calories.
You need a way to produce a concentrated shot, so a moka pot or AeroPress works as a substitute for genuine espresso. Top it with a small spoonful of milk foam from a handheld frother and you are close to the real thing.
It is Italian for “stained” or “marked.” A traditional macchiato is espresso “stained” with a dot of milk foam. The reverse also exists: a latte macchiato is milk “stained” by espresso, which is the drink behind the Starbucks version.
Austin Barker
Founder & Lead Editor
Seven years behind a bar before starting Brewing Coffees. Writes most of the equipment coverage and tests every machine on this site in an ordinary home kitchen.