Macchiato

Macchiato

Caffè macchiato is an espresso coffee drink with a small amount of milk, usually foamed. In Italian, macchiato means "stained" or "spotted", so the literal translation of caffè macchiato is "stained coffee" or "marked coffee".

The name "macchiato" comes from baristas needing to show the serving waiters the difference between an espresso and an espresso with a tiny bit of milk in it. So the name had a meaning "marked". This approach also is reflected in the Portuguese name for the drink: café pingado, meaning coffee with a drop.

Caffè macchiato as well as espresso is traditionally served in 30–40 ml cups.