What is an Upside-Down Caramel Macchiato? | Elijah Coffee (2024)

It’s very likely that—one time or another—that obscure drink was an upside-down caramel macchiato. And just what is an upside-down caramel macchiato, you might be wondering?

Well, simply put, it is basically just a caramel latte with a little twist—that twist being a vanilla drizzle on top.

It’s easy for me to simplify an upside-down caramel macchiato to just a caramel latte with a twist because—to be frank—my typical order at Starbucks is a caramel latte. Sometimes I ask for the vanilla drizzle, and other times I don’t.

In my opinion, it’s a lot easier to say “I’ll have a caramel latte with a vanilla drizzle” rather than “I’ll have an upside-down caramel macchiato.” Also—little tip—the barista will probably be less likely to screw up your order if you ask for a caramel latte drizzled with vanilla.

For those of you who are familiar with the ingredients of a caramel latte, perhaps my description of an upside-down caramel macchiato as a caramel latte with a twist is enough explanation.

If you’re still confused about the upside-down caramel macchiato—which is understandable because it is a mysterious and complicated drink—then read on to learn more about the exact ingredients of an upside-down caramel macchiato and why it’s comparable to a caramel latte with a twist.

First and Foremost: What is a Latte?

Like I said, my typical order at Starbucks is a caramel latte, so I should be able to tell you at least what goes into the drink, right?

When a barista is making a caramel latte, they start by pumping caramel syrup into the bottom of the cup. After the caramel syrup comes the good stuff—the espresso. The drink is then topped off with steamed milk and a layer of milk foam. If you order your caramel latte with vanilla drizzle, the barista will then add the vanilla drizzle on top of the milk foam.

It’s that layer of foam on top that really gives the drink a smooth and creamy taste.

Second: What is a Caramel Macchiato?

If you take a caramel latte and flip it over, you basically have a caramel macchiato. The main difference between the caramel latte and the caramel macchiato is the order of the ingredients. In fact, this is the main difference between quite a few different coffee drinks: The way that the ingredients are layered actually affects the way that the drink turns out.

When a barista is making a caramel macchiato, they start by pumping vanilla syrup—I know this sounds off because we’re talking about a caramel macchiato but bear with me—into the bottom of the cup. After the caramel syrup comes the steamed milk, espresso, and, finally, the milk foam. The drink is then topped off with a caramel drizzle.

You can usually recognize a caramel macchiato just by the caramel drizzle: A talented barista will create lattice-style patterns on the milk foam using the drizzle.

Lastly: What is an Upside-Down Caramel Macchiato?

If you ask a barista for any drink made “upside-down,” it means you want the order of the ingredients reversed.

So, if you order an upside-down caramel macchiato, you can expect that the barista will start by pumping caramel syrup into the bottom of the cup. After the caramel syrup comes the espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam. Finally, the drink is topped with—you guessed it—vanilla drizzle.

This drink sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

It sounds just like a caramel latte minus the vanilla drizzle on top, and that’s because the upside-down caramel macchiato and the caramel latte are basically the same drink. If you desperately need the vanilla drizzle on top, simply ask for a caramel latte with a vanilla drizzle and you’re set.

What is an Upside-Down Caramel Macchiato? | Elijah Coffee (2024)

FAQs

What does upside-down caramel macchiato mean? ›

Ordering an "Upside Down Caramel Macchiato" means that the steps to make a regular Caramel Macchiato are reversed (first caramel, then espresso, then milk and ice, and then vanilla syrup).

How do you order a Starbucks caramel macchiato upside down? ›

Select your Iced Caramel Macchiato and go to “Espresso & Shot Options.” Under “Shot Prep” select “Upside Down” and TA-DA! One Upside Down Iced Caramel Macchiato!

Is an upside-down caramel macchiato the same as a latte? ›

No, an upside down macchiato is not just a latte. A latte is brewed by combining shots of espresso with steamed milk, while an upside down macchiato is made by layering espresso shots with caramel drizzle and then topping it off with steamed milk. The result is a drink that's sweet, rich, and smooth.

What does upside down mean in coffee? ›

If a drink is ordered upside-down, this means the recipe for it is reversed. So for an upside-down caramel macchiato, the steps to make it would start with caramel and end with vanilla syrup.

What does Upside Down coffee mean at Starbucks? ›

Ordering a Upside Down Caramel Macchiato means that the steps to make a regular Caramel Macchiato are reversed (first caramel, then espresso, then milk and ice, and then vanilla syrup).

What does Starbucks mean upside down? ›

What is an upside-down latte? It's just like a regular latte, except the espresso and milk are reversed. This means that the milk is at the bottom and the espresso is on top. You can add the foam from the milk on top of the espresso or leave it at the bottom. The upside-down latte was first created by Starbucks.

How to make a upside down macchiato? ›

An Upside Down Iced Caramel Macchiato is made with the ingredient order reversed. Caramel sauce goes into the cup first, then espresso, followed by milk and ice, then the vanilla syrup.

Are you supposed to mix a macchiato before drinking? ›

Should you stir a macchiato. Do you mix a macchiato? The answer is that it depends on what you prefer, although traditionally, a macchiato is not stirred. The rationale for this is that, unlike a latte, macchiatos are designed to be enjoyed with the foam first, then the milk, and finally the rich espresso at the bottom ...

How are you supposed to drink a caramel macchiato? ›

The point of the drink is that you drink the layers in order. The caramel syrup will naturally mix with the espresso a bit, so don't worry about that layer tasting too strong. There will also be some syrup at the bottom of the drink, so you won't be left with a bitter taste in your mouth.

Is a macchiato stronger than regular coffee? ›

Because the macchiato is usually made using just a small amount of milk, it has a much stronger flavor than other coffee drinks.

Which is stronger caramel macchiato or latte? ›

Caramel Latte

Caramel lattes are made by using two pumps of flavor, then pouring the shots of espresso into the cup, and then lastly, adding the steamed milk. A caramel latte has a more subtle, faint taste compared to the stronger, bolder flavors in the caramel macchiato.

Which is stronger macchiato or latte? ›

A macchiato is a much stronger coffee drink than a latte, offering more bold flavors and caffeine.

What is the most difficult coffee order? ›

The most complicated order

One customer's very specific order was " an iced, Ristretto, 10 shot, venti, with breve, 5 pump vanilla, 7 pump caramel, 4 Splenda, [and] poured, not shaken," according to hbizzy.

How do you make coffee upside down? ›

Cafe hafuch – upside down coffee

This cup of milky coffee differs from other similar drinks. To make it, the hot milk goes into the cup first, and then the espresso is added second. In most others – lattes and cappuccinos for instance – the coffee goes in first and the milk is added to it.

Are you supposed to stir a caramel macchiato? ›

No, you shouldn't mix your iced caramel macchiato.

A caramel macchiato is made with vanilla syrup to start, then milk, then espresso, and is finished with a special crosshatched pattern of caramel drizzle. Its components are meant to be sipped in order, so mixing them defeats its entire purpose.

How do you order upside down? ›

What does it mean to get a Starbucks drink upside down? It means that instead of the shots going in the bottom of the drink and the milk on top, it is the opposite! So we would steam the milk and pour it in the cup, then pour the shots on top!

What does upside down stand for? ›

Traditionally, the meaning of an upside-down American flag has always been that the person displaying the flag in this manner is in grave danger or distress, be it life danger or the danger to their property. Ultimately, the upside-down American flag is typically seen as a signal of dire distress.

What is the most ordered drink at Starbucks? ›

From coffee classics and Frappuccinos to multi-ingredient tea lattes, here are the most popular Starbucks drinks, ranked worst to best.
  1. Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso.
  2. Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew. ...
  3. Iced Caramel Macchiato. ...
  4. Pumpkin Spice Latte. ...
  5. Caramel Frappuccino. ...
  6. Iced Toasted Vanilla Oat Milk Shaken Espresso. ...
1 Apr 2022

Is a ristretto shot stronger than espresso? ›

Is ristretto stronger than espresso? Ristretto is stronger than espresso in taste. This is because less water is used in brewing the coffee, but the same amount of ground coffee is used. The amount of water used has an enormous impact on the flavor profile of the coffees.

What is the difference between caramel macchiato and macchiato? ›

The Caramel Macchiato is essentially a not-too-sweet vanilla latte topped with caramel. The “macchiato” distinction is due to the fact the espresso is layered on top of the milk, as opposed to the Starbucks latte, which does the opposite. This layering is especially noticeable in transparent vessels.

How many shots of coffee are in a macchiato? ›

For a Hot Macchiato, a rich and bold espresso beverage, we add a layer of steamed milk, topped with two shots of espresso, then finished with milk foam.

Do you pour milk first in a macchiato? ›

To state it plainly: the difference is the order of ingredients. When mixing a latte, the espresso is poured first with the milk as the second layer. For a macchiato, you pour the milk first with espresso as the second layer.

What's the difference between a caramel latte and a caramel macchiato? ›

Both beverages use espresso as their base, both are topped with a deep layer of frothed milk, and both use caramel sauce. The difference comes with the syrup. A caramel macchiato is made by mixing coffee with a little bit of vanilla syrup, while a caramel latte only uses caramel sauce as a sweetener.

Is macchiato stronger than espresso? ›

A macchiato is a stronger coffee offering bold flavours than latte and cappuccino. Its main ingredients are single or double-shot of espresso and a dollop of milk. The macchiato tastes like espresso the only difference is the hint of milk put on the Macchiato.

How many shots of coffee are in a caramel macchiato? ›

What is this? A tall beverage is made with 1 shot of espresso and has 75 mg of caffeine. A grande is made with 2 shots of espresso and has 150 mg of caffeine. An iced venti caramel macchiato, which is 24 fluid ounces, is made with 3 shots of espresso.

Is a macchiato healthy? ›

Macchiato: A macchiato is espresso served with a dash of foamed milk on top. “Because of the low volume of milk used, it's not much less healthy than espresso, but that also depends on the type of milk used,” Hunnes says. Whole milk, for instance, is considerably less healthy than soy milk.

Does caramel macchiato have a lot of caffeine? ›

Starbucks Caramel Macchiato contains 9.38 mg of caffeine per fl oz (31.70 mg per 100 ml). A 16 fl oz cup has a total of 150 mg of caffeine. See the most caffeinated coffees.

What has more caffeine caramel macchiato or latte? ›

Latte Macchiato Caffeine Content

For example, you can get caramel macchiatos with a double shot of espresso, which has more caffeine than a regular latte. A regular latte has more steamed milk in it than a macchiato. This means you might not feel the effects of the caffeine as much as you would from a macchiato.

Does a macchiato have 2 shots? ›

A traditional long macchiato is a double shot of espresso with a dash of textured milk and most of the glass left empty.

What is the closest thing to a caramel macchiato? ›

The caramel latte is another well-loved drink. And while some may confuse it with the caramel macchiato, it's much simpler to make. This drink is sweetened with caramel syrup. Once the syrup is added, you simply need to add your shots, pour steamed milk and milk foam on top.

Does macchiato have more caffeine than coffee? ›

What is this? As you can see, the cappuccino and latte have the same amount of caffeine because both coffees use the same amount of espresso. Because a macchiato uses a double shot of espresso, the caffeine content is also doubled.

Is a caramel macchiato just a vanilla latte? ›

Caramel macchiato contains caramel drizzle, espresso shots, steamed milk, and vanilla syrup. Vanilla latte only consists of espresso, steamed milk, and vanilla syrup. The order of ingredients in a caramel macchiato is vanilla pumps, steamed milk, shots of espresso, and lastly, caramel drizzle.

Does a caramel macchiato have a strong coffee taste? ›

The caramel macchiato is a hot coffee drink, but it doesn't have a strong flavor. It also takes care of sweet cravings like a true champion with its delicious caramel finish. It's not a surprise that the iced caramel macchiato is one of Starbucks' sweetest iced coffee drinks.

Is caramel macchiato better than vanilla latte? ›

Macchiatos are much stronger than lattes, so if you're looking for an ice-cold boost in the morning or afternoon you'll have a better time sipping on an iced caramel macchiato. However, if you're just wanting to cool down on a hot summer's day and want something a little creamier, nothing beats an iced vanilla latte.

Is a caramel macchiato stronger than iced coffee? ›

A macchiato coffee is stronger in flavor because it has an extra shot of espresso added. It also uses whole milk instead of a low-fat kind that is mostly used when making a latte, creating a more textured and fuller coffee flavor.

What is Kim Kardashian's coffee order? ›

"Small size soy chai latte or smallest size white chocolate mocha with whipped cream," she tweeted, before explaining, "they have to be the smallest size or they don't taste the same to me." So there ya have it folks, Kim K's Starbuck's order is not all that complicated, it simply has to be miniature sized.

What is the number 1 coffee in the world? ›

Top 10 Coffee Brands in the World 2020
RankCoffee BrandRevenue (USD billions)
1Starbucks26.5
2Costa Coffee1.54
3Dunkin' Donuts1.37
4McCafé21.07
6 more rows
11 Nov 2020

Why make a latte upside down? ›

This gives the drink a layered appearance – the top layer is pure foam, the middle is pure espresso and the bottom layer is coffee-flavoured foam created by some espresso in the middle trickling to the bottom of the cup.

Are you supposed to swirl a macchiato? ›

No, you shouldn't mix your iced caramel macchiato.

Most people's first inclination upon receiving the cup is to swirl their straw in circles, mixing the two layers of espresso and milk to create a uniform creamy brown-colored coffee drink.

Does macchiato mean shots on top? ›

Macchiato means “marked” in Italian. As the name suggests, it's traditionally an espresso with a little bit of warm milk, marked on top with foam to indicate that it isn't just a straight shot of espresso. It is a small coffee drink.

What are the layers of a caramel macchiato? ›

Iced Caramel Macchiato has milk and espresso in separate layers (espresso on top and milk on the bottom). It is sweetened with vanilla syrup. Also, ICM has caramel sauce on top. Iced Latte, on the other hand, is made with espresso, milk, and iced mixed together.

What is the difference between a macchiato and a latte macchiato? ›

An espresso macchiato contains an espresso with only a tiny bit of frothed milk added on top of the espresso. A latte macchiato consists of a lot of steamed milk, a shot of espresso and foamed milk on top. A latte macchiato is often served in a large glass while an espresso macchiato is served in an espresso cup.

Why do you not stir a macchiato? ›

Should you stir a macchiato. Do you mix a macchiato? The answer is that it depends on what you prefer, although traditionally, a macchiato is not stirred. The rationale for this is that, unlike a latte, macchiatos are designed to be enjoyed with the foam first, then the milk, and finally the rich espresso at the bottom ...

What is stronger a latte or a macchiato? ›

A macchiato is a much stronger coffee drink than a latte, offering more bold flavors and caffeine.

Which is stronger macchiato or cappuccino? ›

Since macchiatos are virtually all espresso, they have a much stronger coffee flavor than cappuccinos. If you don't love the taste of espresso, chances are good that you won't like a macchiato as much as a cappuccino.

What is a topped up macchiato? ›

A traditional short macchiato is a single shot of espresso with a splash of textured milk. A topped-up short macchiato is also a single shot of espresso, however, the cup is filled with textured milk rather than left partly empty.

Are there different types of macchiatos? ›

As you may know by now, there are two types of macchiato drinks. First is the plain macchiato, which is typically served in a tall glass and topped with milk foam; second is the espresso macchiato, which is served in a small cup and often has a milk foam-topping or latte art.

What are the different types of macchiato? ›

There are two main types of macchiato coffee: the espresso macchiato and the latte macchiato.

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