

The traditional macchiato is made with two espresso shots, half-and-half milk, and some foam or steamed milk on top and is served in a small cup. Macchiato coffee contains more espresso and tastes more like espresso so that it can be bitter and less sweet than other milk-based drinks. Which is better, an Americano or a Macchiato?īecause it is made by steeping espresso in hot water for a shorter period than macchiato coffee, americano coffee contains a higher concentration of caffeine than macchiato coffee.Īn espresso macchiato is made by combining one or two shots of espresso, half-and-half, and milk in between two cups of iced coffee. While the cappuccino was originally a morning coffee, the macchiato is traditionally a late-afternoon beverage. This is how the latter became “marked” with the addition of milk. It originated when baristas demonstrated to waiters the difference between an espresso and an espresso with a splash of milk. Macchiato, like Americano, is an Italian creation.

Macchiato is a happy medium between espresso and cappuccino, as it is neither too strong nor too weak. The macchiato is made with espresso and topped with steamed or foamed milk.

“Macchiato” means “stained” or “marked” in Italian. While no one can confirm this story, it is plausible and coincides with the emergence of Americanos. So they decided to combine Italian espresso with hot water, not realizing they had invented a new drink and revolutionized the coffee industry. What Are the Differences Between Americano and Cappuccino? However, because American soldiers were accustomed to drinking drip coffee at home, they were dissatisfied with the espresso served in Italy at the time. The use of the Americano by the United States military during World War II helped to popularize the beverage. What Is the Reason for the High Cost of Macchiato?.Is it possible to serve macchiato both hot and cold?.Which is better, an Americano or a Macchiato?.What Are the Differences Between Americano and Cappuccino?.And whilst we’re on the topic of cups…don’t forget to recycle your disposable coffee cups. I hope this gives you more appreciation for the thought that goes into cup size. So next time you visit your local coffee house why not check the tell tale signs of a poor coffee cup. Conversely you can increase to a double shot Espresso for a larger cup if the coffee house permits. For example, if you like the texture of a latte but want a stronger coffee a lower 6 ounce cup could help lower the ratio of milk to coffee for a more robust flavour. As you hone your coffee palette the cup size can be tweaked to cater for preference. The table provides a general guide to coffee cup sizes, but it doesn’t end here. That being said it is worth adding there are always exceptions. To elaborate i’ve pulled together a table of common cup sizes by coffee type to use as a benchmark which we follow in our own coffee shops.

However, outside of the espresso it gets more confusing with a number of coffee types sharing similar cup sizes. They come in either a single or double shot format and if drunk in the Italian style tend to be sipped quick for a concentrated burst of coffee and caffeine. This relates to the volume needed to achieve a drink, particularly with espresso based drinks where the ratio of coffee to milk as well as type of milk can determine which cup to use.Įspressos for most coffee shops are the smallest of coffees that are served in either a small cup or glass. WHY SIZE MATTERSĬup size plays an important role since the type of coffee you like or choose can affect the size of cup you receive. However, the common denominator between them is their size. After recently being flogged a latte in a cup worthy of a dolls house (slight exaggeration), rather than bear my frustrations online I thought I’d educate others with a brief overview of common coffee cup size and why they’re important.Ĭoffee cups and glasses come in many shapes and sizes that can either be aesthetically or ergonomically appealing, from the glasses, cups and saucers we use in our shops to even avocado skins….but let’s not go there.
