What Espresso Does Starbucks Use For Caramel Macchiato? (What Brand Of Coffee Does Starbucks Use In A Caramel Macchiato? + More Information)

A Starbucks caramel macchiato is one of the best creamy caffeine-packed beverages, especially for coffee diehards. Its bitter coffee gives its foam milk a contrast that makes the drink worth the hype. What espresso does Starbucks use for caramel macchiato? Read on to find out.

Starbucks uses a unique dark roast espresso called Espresso Roast for its caramel macchiatos. This roast has deep spicy cocoa flavors that complement the flavors of the other ingredients in a caramel macchiato. At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, I couldn’t visit my local Starbucks for my favorite iced drink, a Starbucks caramel macchiato. I decided to make the drink at home, but I didn’t know which espresso Starbucks uses. I learned that Starbucks has a special espresso roast I can buy and use from the comfort of my home. If you want to make a homemade macchiato too, you can buy Starbucks Espresso Roast as ground coffee or whole beans.

Is Starbucks Caramel Macchiato Made With Espresso?

Yes, Starbucks makes its caramel macchiato with its signature brewed espresso, even if the drink is hot or iced. Starbucks also offers blonde espresso and decaf espresso; you can substitute the standard espresso with these options to enjoy lighter coffee tones and less caffeine.

What Brand Of Coffee Does Starbucks Use In A Caramel Macchiato?

Starbucks uses its timeless signature brand of coffee called an Espresso Roast to make its hot and iced caramel macchiato. This coffee is a dark roast with deep rich tones of caramelized sugar and molasses that complement a macchiato’s caramel and vanilla taste. The coffee company even refers to its Espresso Roast as rich and caramelly.

Starbucks sources the Arabica coffee beans it uses in its Espresso Roast from Latin America and Asia/Pacific; coffee from these regions has a bold, spicy cocoa taste. The coffee company roasts and grinds the beans to make this special roast for its caramel macchiato. This espresso is ideal for people who love dark and bitter coffee served with milk. Lastly, if you want to enjoy a caramel macchiato at home, you can buy ground and whole bean Espresso Roast from Starbucks and make yourself a cup.

Do All Starbucks Macchiatos Have Espresso?

Yes, Starbucks adds espresso to all its macchiatos. Coffee is an essential ingredient in a macchiato’s base. Starbucks also allows you to substitute its signature espresso roast with a decaf coffee option. The strength of the decaf coffee varies; you can choose a complete decaf espresso or a ⅓, ½, and ⅔ decaf espresso. These decaf espressos mix regular and decaf coffee to get rich coffee flavors despite the low caffeine content. If you want to enjoy a macchiato without espresso, you can make some at home and skip the coffee. A homemade macchiato allows you to add as little coffee as possible, especially when all you want is a hint of caffeine. You can also add a few pumps of chai to your order to mellow your macchiato’s taste.

FAQ Section

What kind of espresso is in an iced caramel macchiato?

Most iced caramel macchiatos have the same shots as the dark espresso roast found in hot caramel macchiatos. The espresso’s dark bitter flavor is an essential component of a caramel macchiato. A traditional macchiato comes in two sizes; a solo has an espresso shot, while a doppio has two.

What else is Starbucks caramel macchiato made of?

Besides a dark roast espresso, a Starbucks caramel macchiato has steamed milk, caramel sauce, and vanilla syrup ingredients. The syrup sweetens the drink and blends well with the coffee’s flavors. The foam in the steamed milk works as a garnish and balances the espresso’s strong taste. Baristas drizzle a velvety caramel sauce on the foam to give a macchiato its distinct taste and appearance. You can play around with other toppings, milk options, and sweeteners to get a personalized Starbucks caramel macchiato experience.

What is a Starbucks Espresso Macchiato?

A Starbucks Espresso Macchiato is the coffee company’s take on an Italian coffee called macchiato, which means marked. Interestingly, Starbucks used this name because its macchiato’s brown coffee stains its white milk foam and gives it a marked look. An Italian macchiato is an espresso topped with milk foam; Starbucks tweaks this beverage with vanilla syrup and a cross-hatch garnish of a caramel drizzle.

How much caffeine is in a caramel macchiato with espresso?

A standard Grande and a Venti caramel macchiato have two shots of espresso, which offer around 150mg of caffeine. Starbucks uses a shot of espresso for Short and Tall cup sizes. If you want to make the coffee in your caramel macchiato stronger, ask your barista to add a shot of espresso.