This simple little coffee has grown in popularity massively over the last few years. It’s adored by black coffee drinkers and milky coffee guzzlers alike! The petite brew consists solely of espresso and frothed – or steamed – milk, and is the most espresso-heavy milk coffee that you can buy. It is essentially a shot of espresso with an added splash of steamed or foamed milk.
A splash of milk is added to take the edge off the rich espresso shot, but the small amount allows the espresso to maintain the limelight without being overpowered. The word ‘macchiato’ is the Italian word for ‘spotted’ or ‘stained’. The name derives from the spotted appearance of the top of the coffee, which occurs due to the espresso popping through the layer of milk.
This delicious coffee is so simple to make, but the method is not widely known. If you’re one of the many coffee drinkers that spend their fortunes in coffee shops, because they think they can’t recreate the same quality coffees at home, then I think you’ll want to read on. This article will tell you exactly how you can make a quality macchiato coffee in your very own kitchen! Go forth – your dream morning coffee awaits!
Step 1: The Coffee Beans
The type of coffee beans you choose is entirely up to you. For some, buying beans that are specifically for brewing espressos helps to give the espresso shot the depth they desire from their macchiato. Any type of regular coffee will do the job, though!
If you have a coffee grinder at home, use it! Some of the best macchiatos are made from freshly ground coffee. So, take your roasted coffee beans and grind them until they are really fine.
If you don’t own a grinder, don’t worry! Instead of purchasing coffee beans, buy readily ground coffee. Use whichever brand you like, or whichever ground coffee you would normally use to make an espresso. Unless you’re a coffee connoisseur, pre-ground coffee beans will make espresso just as tasty as freshly ground coffee.
Step 2: Making The Espresso Shot
Now that you have your finely ground coffee, it’s time to make your espresso. Whether you own a snazzy coffee machine or not, below are ways that guarantee you can make a delicious shot with whatever coffee maker you have.
For French Press Users:
Pour your ground coffee into the French press. The amount you use depends on the strength of espresso that you desire; as usual, more coffee means stronger coffee. Boil some water in a kettle or saucepan, and allow it to cool for a few seconds before pouring to avoid burning the coffee. Pour some of the water onto your coffee grounds, but not all of it at once – you should let the coffee bloom slightly before adding in all the hot water.
Once your preferred amount of water has been added, place the lid on the French press and keep the plunger up while the coffee is steeping. After it has brewed for around three minutes, slowly apply pressure to the plunger until it reaches the bottom of the French press. Your expresso is ready to go!
For Moka Pot / Caffetiere Users:
Fill the bottom chamber of your pot with the amount of cold water that you’d like in your espresso. Add your ground coffee to the coffee chamber, and reattach the upper and lower parts of the pot. Heat the pot at a low to medium temperature on your stove, until you start to hear bubbling.
Once the water has started bubbling, carefully open up the lid and have a look inside. If the coffee coming through the spout is foaming, it’s ready to be taken off the stove. If it’s not, keep it on the stove until it is. Et voila! Your espresso has been made.
For Espresso Machine and Coffee Machine Users: Do whatever you would usually do with your machine to make an espresso shot! Every machine is different, so follow the instructions that came with yours to make the best espresso possible.
Step 3: Foam Up Your Milk
While the espresso is brewing, you can prepare your milk. Use whatever type of milk you prefer, but regular low-fat cow’s milk will usually get you the most authentic results. If you’re lucky enough to have a steam wand in your own kitchen, use that! For the less invested coffee drinkers, like me, choose one of the following methods to steam up your milk.
French Press:
Heat up your milk in a saucepan on the hob, making sure not to burn it. Stir the milk continuously until it starts to simmer. Turn the heat off and pour the hot milk into your French press.
Put your lid on the press and proceed to quickly pump the plunger down and up again, repeating the process until the milk takes on a foamy appearance and has visibly increased in volume.
Microwave:
Pour your desired amount of milk into a clean glass jar and shake it vigorously. This should make the milk turn frothy. Quickly take the frothy milk jar and put it in the microwave for a few seconds. The heat should help the milk retain its foamy consistency.
Step 4: Putting The Pieces Together
Now that you have made both parts of your macchiato, it’s time to create the finished product.
Take a small glass or shot glass and pour in your espresso coffee shot. Next, grab your milk and a spoon, and slowly pour in the small amount of milk, before taking your spoon and scooping some of the foam on top. You can add as much or as little foam as you like, depending on your preference.
That’s it! Your macchiato is ready to be enjoyed.
It will probably take you a few tries before you reach the milk to espresso ratio that you love, but the upside of that is you get to have lots of macchiatos!
