Starbucks macchiato vs real macchiato: is there a big difference?

Starbucks boasts of an extensive coffee menu that caters to people with varying preferences. One of the company’s popular coffee beverages, which I must admit is one of my favorite treats, is Starbucks macchiato. I enjoy the Starbucks macchiato because it is creamy due to milk and deliciously sweet as it involves vanilla syrup and a generous drizzle of caramel. While most Starbucks customers are familiar with Starbucks macchiato, they may not know that this version is far from how a real macchiato is made. This article will help you learn about the primary differences between Starbucks macchiato and real macchiato.

What are the differences between Starbucks macchiato vs real macchiato?

Feature/Macchiato	Starbucks Macchiato	Real Macchiato
Ingredients	Milk, brewed espresso, vanilla syrup, caramel sauce	Brewed espresso, milk
Taste Profile	A sweet, vanilla flavor	Sweet and creamy
Calories	120	15
Sugar	15 grams	0 grams
Fat	4 grams	0 grams
Caffeine	75 milligrams	150 milligrams
Availability/ Accessibility	Easily accessible in all Starbucks stores throughout the year	Easily accessible in all Starbucks stores throughout the year
Roast Level	Dark roast	Dark roast

Starbucks macchiato vs real macchiato – How They Compare

Ingredients

The Starbucks macchiato is prepared using milk, brewed espresso, vanilla syrup, and caramel sauce. The macchiato is sweet and has a vanilla flavor.  

On the other hand, the real macchiato is prepared using brewed espresso and milk. It tastes a lot like espresso, but with a sweeter and creamier body due to a small amount of steamed milk. 

The Starbucks macchiato wins in this category because the ingredients used to prepare it make it sweeter. Additionally, the vanilla flavor makes it even better. 

Taste Profile

The Starbucks macchiato is prepared using vanilla syrup and caramel sauce. The outcome is a sweet cup of coffee with a vanilla flavor. 

On the other hand, the real macchiato tastes a lot like espresso, but with a sweeter and creamier body due to a small amount of steamed milk.

The Starbucks macchiato wins in this category because it tastes better than the real macchiato. 

Calories 

The macchiato with fewer calories suits you if you want to lose weight or have a heart problem. The real macchiato has fewer calories. A standard serving of the real macchiato contains 15 calories. 

Conversely, the Starbucks macchiato has more calories. A standard serving of the macchiato contains 120 calories.

The real macchiato wins this category because it is the healthier option. 

Sugar 

The macchiato with lesser sugar suits you if you have diabetes or want to lose weight. The real macchiato is sugar-free.

On the other hand, the Starbucks macchiato has some sugar. A standard serving of the macchiato adds 15 grams of sugar to your body. 

The real macchiato wins this category because it is the healthier option.

Fat 

The macchiato with less fat suits you if you have a heart problem or want to lose weight. The real macchiato is fat-free.

On the other hand, the Starbucks macchiato has some fat. A standard serving of this macchiato adds 4 grams of fat to your body. 

The real macchiato wins this category because it is the healthier option.

Caffeine 

The macchiato with more caffeine suits you if you are a strong coffee lover. Conversely, the macchiato with less caffeine suits you if you have a caffeine issue.

The real macchiato has more caffeine. A standard serving of the macchiato contains 150 milligrams of caffeine. Therefore, it is ideal if you are a strong coffee lover.

On the other hand, the Starbucks macchiato has less caffeine. A standard serving of the macchiato contains 75 milligrams of caffeine. Therefore, it is the healthier option.

The choice between the two will be made by choosing the majority between people who have and those who do not have caffeine issues. A majority of people have no caffeine issues. Therefore, the macchiato with more caffeine wins in this category.

The real macchiato wins in this category because it has more caffeine than the Starbucks macchiato.  

Availability/Accessibility

Both macchiatos are easy to access. The two are also readily available throughout the year. 

This category is a draw because both macchiatos are easily accessible and readily available throughout the year. 

Roast Level

Both macchiatos are prepared with brewed espresso. Brewed espresso is prepared using dark roast coffee. 

This category is a draw since both macchiatos are prepared using dark roast coffee. 

Starbucks macchiato vs. real macchiato: A comparison overview

Starbucks macchiato- Overview

Starbucks macchiato is the go-to coffee drink for sweet and caramel comfort. Caramel macchiato debuted in 1996 when Starbucks sought to create a special drink for its 25th anniversary.

I like that the drink is deliciously sweet to satisfy my sweet tooth. Additionally, it is creamy as it involves a lot of milk. The drink is best suited for people who love a sweet coffee drink.

What I liked;

• It is deliciously sweet.
• It is creamy.

What I didn’t like;

• It has high calories.

Who it’s best suited for.

• It is best suited for people who love a sweet coffee drink.

Real Macchiato- Overview

The real macchiato is the go-to option if you crave a macchiato that is sweet and creamy. It blends brewed espresso and milk to give you a sweet yet healthy drink. 

I like its sweet and creamy flavor. However, I’m not fond of its high caffeine content. The real macchiato is suitable for robust coffee lovers. 

What I liked;

• Its sweet and creamy flavor 

What I didn’t like;

• Its high caffeine content

Who it’s best suited for.

• Best suited for robust coffee lovers. 

Final Verdict: So, Which is Better? – Starbucks macchiato or real macchiato

The real macchiato is better. It is so because it is healthier with fewer calories, fat, and sugar, thus ideal for those seeking a healthy coffee option. Additionally, it has more caffeine to keep you energized in a small serving.

FAQ Section 

Does the real macchiato taste different from Starbucks macchiato?

The real macchiato tastes different from Starbucks macchiato since it involves rich espresso that is marked with a dollop of foam and steamed milk, thus it retains much of the espresso flavor. The latter contains a lot of steamed milk and vanilla syrup that is marked with espresso and finished off with caramel drizzle, thus it is overly sweet.

Which one is stronger between the real macchiato and Starbucks macchiato?

Real macchiato is stronger since it has more caffeine than Starbucks macchiato.

Which one has a better flavor between real macchiato and Starbucks macchiato?

Starbucks macchiato has a better flavor since it has vanilla syrup and caramel that makes it taste delicious.