Starbucks Caramel Macchiato vs. Caramel Latte: Which One Is Better?

Starbucks has numerous beverage options that one can choose from. However, many customers most of the time find it confusing picking what they want to have. I am an avid coffee lover, and recently my dad recommended I get one with espresso and frothed milk. I was undecided between getting Caramel Macchiato or Caramel Latte since both are great.

Well, after doing my research, I was in a position to differentiate them. For this reason, I came up with this article to help you find out the difference between the two. Moreover, in the end, you will get to know which one will be a great pick for you.

What are the differences between Starbucks Caramel Macchiato vs. Caramel Latte?

Features	Caramel Macchiato	Caramel Latte
Ingredients	Brewed Espresso, Milk, Caramel Sauce, Vanilla syrup	Brewed Espresso, Milk, Caramel sauce, and Caramel syrup.
Taste Profile	Has a mild sweet taste	Creamy with rich taste
Caffeine content/Nutritional value	A Grande Macchiato (16 fl oz) has 250 calories, 150 mg of caffeine, 33 grams of Sugar, 7 grams of Fat, and 35 Grams of Carbs.	A Grande latte (16 fl oz) has 310 calories, 150 mg of caffeine 35 grams of Sugar, 11 grams of Fat, and 37 grams of Carbs
Availability/Accessibility	You will find it easy to access this drink through the app and directly in store	This drink is available at Starbucks in-store and through the app.
Roast Level	Medium roast	Medium roast
Additional Sweetener	Contains added vanilla syrup	Has no additional sweetener

Starbucks Caramel Macchiato vs. Caramel Latte – How They Compare.

What it’s made of (Ingredients)

Well, Starbucks Caramel Macchiato is a great drink that is made of brewed espresso, caramel sauce, milk, and vanilla syrup. When you place an order for this drink you will get 2% steamed milk, 3 pumps of Vanilla syrup and the barista may add Caramel Drizzle as toppings of your drink, additionally, you will get 2 shots of signature espresso in Grande size

While the Caramel latte is made using Brewed Espresso, Milk, caramel sauce, and Caramel syrup. Caramel Latte drives a different texture since it uses more milk, moreover, the milk is foamed more thereby creating the latte layers.

Caramel Latte takes the win because it contains ingredients that make it distinct such as caramel syrup and it uses more milk and more milk foam to achieve its layers.

Taste profile

Espresso and vanilla syrup is the perfect match to spice up your Caramel Macchiato. This drink has a mild sweet taste that arises from the espresso, the vanilla syrup, and the caramel sauce. The foam was added to give it a creamy texture. You will find this drink amazing if you like a mild sweetness.

On the other side, the Caramel latte has a creamier rich taste. If you are not bothered with a little more sweetness and cream you will find this drink a great pick. The use of steamed hot milk makes it have a good mouthfeel. Caramel Latte does have extra flavor.

Caramel Macchiato wins in this category since it contains added vanilla syrup and has a more espresso flavor. The more milk in Caramel Latte dilutes the flavor of espresso in addition lattes lack extra flavor.

Caffeine content /Nutritional Value

If you are considering having a drink that gives you some caffeine boost caramel macchiato will give that. You will be supplied with 150 mg of caffeine in a Grande Size (16 fl oz) single serving. In addition to that, you will get has 250 calories, 33 grams of Sugar, 7 grams of Fat, and 35 Grams of Carbs per serving of Grande size.

On the flip side, the Caramel Latte also has the same amount of caffeine as Caramel Macchiato. The drink contains 150 mg of caffeine per serving of Grande size which is strong enough to keep you alert as well. Caramel latte is composed of 410 calories, 35 grams of Sugar, 11 grams of Fat, and 37 grams of Carbs. As much as the Caramel Latte has the same caffeine content as Caramel macchiato it has more amounts of calories.

For example, if you order a Grande size of caramel Macchiato you will be taking 250 calories which is almost a quarter of what Caramel late has. Moreover, caramel Latte has more sugar, fat, and carbs content compared to Caramel Macchiato.

The final verdict is that the two drinks went draw in terms of caffeine content, but if your goal is to get a healthier choice Caramel Macchiato takes a clean win.

Availability/ accessibility

You are very likely to access both Caramel macchiato and Caramel Latte from Starbucks. Well, to order these drinks, you can do it directly at Starbucks stores new you by just letting the barista know the names of these drinks. you can also order for them online through the Starbucks app, by navigating through the Starbucks menu and finding them then you place your order.

Both drinks are regular on the Starbucks menu and you can enjoy either of them anytime you feel like having one.

In this category, it is a draw between Caramel Macchiato and Caramel Latte. This is because both of them are readily available and accessible year-round.

Roast level

Both Caramel Macchiato and Caramel Latte enjoy the medium roast. The medium roast is the best coffee roast for the two drinks. if you use a light roast for these drinks, it will be too light and you will not get the taste that you deserve. Again, using dark roast will also be too strong for these drinks to bear. The medium roast is the one that balances everything for a greater outcome in Caramel Macchiato and Caramel Latte. This is because your drink will have a milder flavor note which will allow caramel flavor to shine while providing more depth.

It is a draw for Caramel Macchiato and Caramel latte in this category since both of them are made with a medium roast that makes them have a flavorful taste.

Additional Sweetener

If you are looking for an additional sweetener in your drink, Caramel Macchiato gives you that privilege. Caramel Macchiato has added vanilla syrup, and you can increase the number of pumps to suit your desired taste.

On the hand, other hand Caramel Latte will not give you the privilege to have additional sweeteners added to it. it only contains the standard caramel syrup.

In this category, it is a win for Caramel Macchiato since it provides room for one additional sweetener added to it.

Starbucks Caramel Macchiato vs. Caramel Latte: A comparison review

Starbucks Caramel Macchiato – Overview

If you have never gotten the chance to have Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks you don’t know what you are missing. I went ahead to order Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks and I really enjoyed it. its flavors from espresso blend so well with caramel source and vanilla syrup giving out an amazing taste. Moreover, I also like the fact that it has a mild well balanced sweet taste.

You can add more shots of Vanilla syrup to make this drink delicious. Order this drink at Starbucks and customize it to your liking for more enjoyment. I like the fact that this drink is available year-round at Starbucks and I can order it in-store or online using the Starbucks app.

I did not like the fact this drink has a light milk foam. I love having that creamy texture around my mouth when a drink.

What I liked;

• Its mild well-balanced taste.
• Added sweetener

What I didn’t like;

• It has a light milk foam

Who it’s best suited for?

This will best suit anyone who is looking to have a sweet balanced taste of espresso, caramel sauce, and added vanilla syrup with healthier options.

Starbucks caramel latte – Overview

This espresso-based is rich in milk and milk foam this simply means it is creamier with a rich taste. Since this drink is a medium roast, it will give you the flavor that you deserve. I also like the fact that is creamy and will coat my mouth with a smooth texture. Another good thing about the Caramel latte is that you can order it with a plant-based milk

Starbucks will serve you this drink with caramel syrup to ensure you don’t miss the taste of caramel that comes with every sip.

The downward side of this drink is that it is not stronger in taste compared to Caramel Macchiato because of having more milk in it and has no room for additional sweetener

What I liked;

• It has the right smoothness.
• It is creamy with a rich taste

What I didn’t like;

• No additional sweetener

Who it’s best suited for?

This will best suit customers who want a high-calorie drink, as well as those with a sweet tooth.

Final Verdict: So, which is Better? – Starbucks Caramel Macchiato vs. Caramel Latte

Starbucks Caramel Macchiato is better than Caramel Latte. This arises from the fact that it contains more flavors that comes from its ingredients. In addition, vanilla syrup is added to make it richer in taste. I can’t forget the rich espresso-forward flavor it commands because of the less milk, allowing you to enjoy a balanced taste.

FAQ SECTION

Is Starbucks caramel macchiato sweeter than a caramel latte?

Yes, it is. Starbucks Caramel Macchiato is sweeter since it has vanilla syrup added to it.

Which one has a balanced flavor between caramel latte and caramel macchiato?

Caramel Macchiato has a balanced taste, unlike Caramel Latte which is diluted by more milk.

Which one is easier to make between caramel latte and caramel macchiato?

Caramel Latte is much easier to make since it has few ingredients required.

Is caramel macchiato stronger than caramel latte?

Yes, Caramel Macchiato is Stronger than Caramel Latte since it has a more robust espresso-rich flavor. The milk in Caramel Latte dilutes its taste.