Macchiato is a coffee drink distinguished by a small mark of steamed or foamed milk atop an espresso shot, known as an “espresso macchiato”. The name itself, in Italian, means “spotted or stained”, which alludes to its distinct appearance of strong espresso with just a hint of creamy sweetness and the coffee-to-milk ratio is typically 1:2 making this beverage perfect for bold coffee flavors like espresso; its creamy froth contrasts nicely with smooth espresso below for an exciting sensory experience!

As with other coffee beverages, macchiatos can be customized to each individual’s preference by choosing their sweetener of choice – from classic granulated sugar and syrups to natural alternatives such as stevia. Please keep in mind that different sweeteners will alter both caloric intake and nutritional values of your beverage.

Macchiato drinkers can customize their beverage by choosing from among a range of non-dairy alternatives like soy, almond and oat milk for maximum taste, texture and caloric value. Traditional dairy milk may not always meet all their taste, texture and caloric needs; therefore it’s essential that they find one which meets them!

Preparing a macchiato requires first brewing a shot of espresso, which is then poured into a glass and allowed to settle at its base. Next, steamed or frothed milk is slowly added on top, creating distinct layers of steamed and frothy milk; depending on how much is added you can craft an array of unique macchiato variations from vanilla caramel and beyond!

Once your espresso and milk are combined, you can customize your macchiato to your tastes by adding additional sweeteners such as cinnamon dusting or syrup drizzles. Specialty macchiatos incorporating herbs such as nutmeg or lavender may add even more dimension for an unforgettable coffee experience.

Caffeine levels vary between macchiato and lattes, with the former usually providing more caffeine. A 2-ounce serving of macchiato has 85 mg while 16 ounce latte will have around 173 mg; though most may not notice, those watching their caffeine consumption should take note of this discrepancy. Furthermore, using steamed rather than foamed milk in macchiato will result in slightly lower calorie counts than that seen with lattes.