Coffee Drink
Caramel Macchiato: Recipe, Calories and Latte Differences
A caramel macchiato in the familiar Starbucks style is vanilla-sweetened milk marked with espresso and finished with caramel sauce. It is a larger, sweeter milk coffee than an espresso macchiato.
Drink Snapshot
- Caffeine
- ~75 mg referenceGeneric USDA espresso, 36 gBeans and extraction change the caffeine estimate.
- Calories
- About 175 kcalNamed ingredient-label estimate180 g (¾ US cup) whole milk, 10 ml (2 US tsp) Monin Vanilla Syrup and 10 g (0.35 oz) Smucker’s caramel-flavored topping.
Serving, sugar and sources
- Serving
- 1 home caramel macchiato; 300 ml (10.1 US fl oz) glass for headroom
- Made with
- 36 g espresso + 180 g (¾ US cup) milk + vanilla syrup + caramel
- Sugar
- About 22 g total. Includes about 13 g added sugar from the named syrup and topping.
- Preparation
- About 5 minutes with equipment ready
Ingredient calculations use USDA records and the named US product labels. See the full calculation or label comparison.
Key Takeaways
- 1Vanilla syrup sweetens the milk; caramel sauce supplies the topping. They are separate ingredients.
- 2This home recipe uses 36 g espresso, 180 g (¾ US cup) whole milk, 10 ml (2 US tsp) vanilla syrup and 10 g (0.35 oz) caramel topping.
- 3About 175 kcal and 22 g total sugar with the named labels; the ~75 mg caffeine figure is a generic reference.
On This Page10 Sections
Vanilla Inside, Caramel on Top
Starbucks’ Australian home recipe uses both, with espresso poured after the milk. Our measured version below follows that sequence with its own portions.
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| Ingredient | Its job | Useful substitution |
|---|---|---|
| Vanilla syrup | Sweetens and flavors the milk | Less syrup for less sweetness; extract alone does not replace its sugar |
| Caramel sauce | Adds a sweet topping | A pourable caramel-flavored topping; check its label |
| Espresso | Supplies the coffee and most caffeine | Decaf espresso changes caffeine; keeping the same amount of milk does not |
| Steamed milk | Gives body and a foam cap | A suitable barista plant drink; nutrition and foaming will differ |
Caramel Macchiato Recipe
Recipe
Home caramel macchiato
- Makes:
- 1 serving
- Time:
- About 5 minutes; equipment ready
Ingredients
- 18 g coffee beans, ground for espresso, to yield 36 g espresso
- 180 g (¾ US cup) cold whole milk
- 10 ml (2 US tsp) regular vanilla syrup
- 10 g (0.35 oz) caramel sauce or caramel-flavored topping
Equipment
- Espresso machine, grinder, scale, milk pitcher, thermometer
- 300 ml (10.1 US fl oz) heatproof glass
Method
- Prepare the base. Put 10 ml (2 US tsp) vanilla syrup in a warm 300 ml (10.1 US fl oz) heatproof glass. Extract 18 g ground coffee to 36 g espresso in a separate cup.
- Texture the milk. Steam 180 g (¾ US cup) whole milk to 60–65°C (140–149°F), creating fine, pourable foam. Add all the milk and foam to the syrup; leave room for coffee.
- Mark and finish. Pour the espresso slowly through the center of the foam. Drizzle 10 g (0.35 oz) caramel sauce over it. Serve promptly; stir if preferred.
Estimated nutrition per serving: 175 calories; total sugar 22 g. Serving: 1 complete drink.
Recipe notes
Nutrition uses Monin US Vanilla Syrup and Smucker’s Caramel Flavored Spoonable Topping. Caffeine estimate: 75 mg from the espresso.
Leave headroom in the recipe glass.
Follow the espresso brewing method for the 18 g dose and 36 g output.
Milk is weighed before steaming, and the estimate counts the full portion served. If your steam pitcher cannot work with 180 g (¾ US cup), use a small heated frother or warm and whisk that portion separately. Avoid boiling. A capsule espresso or concentrated moka coffee can make an adaptation, but use its own caffeine information; the espresso reference below does not measure those alternatives.
Caramel Macchiato vs. Caramel Latte
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| Drink | Coffee and milk | Where the sweetness comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Caramel macchiato, Starbucks style | Espresso added after vanilla-sweetened milk | Vanilla syrup inside; caramel sauce on top |
| Caramel latte | Espresso, caramel and milk combined | Caramel syrup or sauce; extra topping is optional |
| Vanilla latte | Espresso and vanilla-sweetened milk combined | Vanilla syrup; caramel is an extra |
| Espresso macchiato | Espresso marked with a small milk portion | Usually no syrup unless requested |
Compare the espresso, milk portion and sweeteners to judge caffeine and calories.
Caramel Macchiato Caffeine, Calories and Sugar
This home serving is estimated at 175 kcal and 22 g total sugar, including roughly 13 g added sugar. The calculation uses 36 g espresso, 180 g (¾ US cup) whole milk, 10 ml (2 US tsp) Monin US regular Vanilla Syrup and 10 g (0.35 oz) Smucker’s Caramel Flavored Spoonable Topping.
Ingredient calculation and label assumptions
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| Component | Calculation | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Whole milk | 180 g × 61 kcal and 5.05 g sugar per 100 g | About 110 kcal; 9.1 g sugar |
| Vanilla syrup | One-third of Monin’s 30 ml label serving | About 33 kcal; 7.7 g sugar |
| Caramel-flavored topping | 10/41 of Smucker’s 41 g label serving | About 29 kcal; 5.4 g sugar |
| Espresso | 36 g × 9 kcal per 100 g | About 3 kcal |
Totals are calculated before rounding. USDA FoodData Central records 171265 and 171891 supply the generic milk and espresso values. The syrup label lists 100 kcal and 23 g sugar per 30 ml; the topping lists 120 kcal and 22 g sugar per 41 g. Use your package when a product or country differs.
Applying USDA’s generic espresso reference of 212 mg per 100 g to 36 g gives 76 mg, rounded here to 75 mg.
Caffeine is about 75 mg using a generic espresso reference. More or different espresso changes it; milk, vanilla and ordinary caramel topping do not make the same espresso more caffeinated.
For a café order, check that location’s stated size, espresso and milk.
Adjusting Caramel Macchiato Sweetness
Vanilla and caramel give this drink two independently adjustable sweet components. Keep the espresso and milk fixed while changing one, so the next cup is easier to compare.
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| Change to this recipe | Approximate calories | Approximate total sugar |
|---|---|---|
| Keep 10 ml (2 US tsp) vanilla and 10 g (0.35 oz) topping | 175 kcal | 22 g |
| Halve the vanilla to 5 ml (1 US tsp); keep the topping | 160 kcal | 18 g |
| Keep vanilla; omit the topping | 145 kcal | 17 g |
These estimates use the same product labels. The coffee’s roast and extraction still influence bitterness, acidity and aroma.
Caramel Macchiato Troubleshooting
| Problem | First adjustment |
|---|---|
| Too sweet | Reduce vanilla or topping before changing the coffee |
| Hard to taste the espresso | Try less milk while keeping the espresso recipe fixed; this changes concentration, not total caffeine |
| Large, dry bubbles | Introduce less air and keep the milk circulating; aim for a soft cap |
| The layers disappear | Pour more gently and serve promptly; mixing is not a failed drink |
| Bitter coffee under the sweetness | Taste the espresso separately and adjust its extraction before adding more syrup |
Ordering It Hot, Iced or Mixed
Specify caramel macchiato, rather than just macchiato, if you want this sweet milk coffee. For an “upside-down” order, explain that you want the espresso added before the milk. You can also simply ask for the ingredients mixed.
For a cold version, use the iced caramel macchiato guide. For a dairy-free order, check the caramel topping as well as the milk. Our named topping contains milk ingredients.
Common Questions
Does a caramel macchiato contain coffee?
Yes. Espresso is part of the standard style described here. A coffee-free vanilla-and-caramel milk drink is a different order.
Should you stir it?
You can. Stirring distributes the espresso and sweeteners more evenly; it does not change their totals.
Can you make it less sweet without decaf?
Yes. Reduce syrup or topping and keep the same espresso. Decaf concerns caffeine, not sweetness.
Editor's Take
Sources and Further Reading
6 references
External links open in a new tab
Drink and method
Ingredient calculations
- MoninVanilla Syrup, US labelRegular 750 ml product: 100 kcal and 23 g total/added sugar per 30 ml.(opens in a new tab)
- Smucker’sCaramel Flavored Spoonable ToppingUS 12.25 oz jar: 120 kcal, 22 g total and 21 g added sugar per 41 g; contains milk.(opens in a new tab)
- USDA SR28 original tablesWhole milk, NDB 01077Generic values per 100 g used for the 180 g milk portion.(opens in a new tab)
- USDA SR28 original tablesPrepared espresso, NDB 14210Generic 212 mg caffeine and 9 kcal per 100 g.(opens in a new tab)