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This Starbucks caramel macchiato recipe is one of my favorite low-effort coffee drinks for caramel lovers. It is made with milk, vanilla syrup, coffee, and caramel and can be made in no time.
If you love these, you will also adore Starbucks Chocolate Cream Cold Brew Copycat, Better than Starbucks Blueberry scones copycat, Starbucks Iced Pineapple Matcha Drink Copycat, and Iced Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso Starbucks copycat!
This is the best Starbucks caramel macchiato recipe
It’s made with a few simple ingredients: a slightly sweetened milk layer thanks to the vanilla syrup, an espresso layer, and a generous drizzle of caramel on top.
Of course, if you’re not into sweet drinks you can tweak the recipe a little and if you’re not into caramel, you can substitute with another sauce, think white chocolate or mocha chocolate sauce!
Why you need to make this recipe!
- This copycat Starbucks caramel macchiato costs a fraction of what you’d pay in the drive-thru, and takes about the same amount of time.
- You control the sweetness. Starbucks’ version can be syrup-heavy, here you can dial the vanilla up or down to your taste.
- No espresso machine? No problem, I’ve got you covered with substitutes in the FAQ below. It’s ready in 5 minutes, so it’s realistic for a weekday morning, not just a weekend treat.
Looking for more homemade Starbucks drinks? Check out my complete guide to 50+ Starbucks Copycat Recipes, cold brews, lattes, frappuccinos, syrups, and more!
Ingredients for this Starbucks Caramel Macchiato recipe
Here are the ingredients you will need to make this caramel macchiato. Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full detailed ingredient measurements.
- Milk- You can use any milk you’d like, Starbucks uses 2% milk.
- Vanilla syrup– You can use homemade vanilla syrup or store-bought, whatever works for you.
- Espresso coffee- There are a few ways to make espresso or substitutes in case you don’t have an espresso machine. I’ll explain this in the FAQ.
- Caramel sauce– You can use store-bought or homemade caramel sauce for this.
Not into caramel? Sub in white chocolate or mocha sauce instead.
How to make the Starbucks Caramel Macchiato recipe
This is how you can make Starbucks caramel macchiato. Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full detailed instructions!
- Fill your glass with ice first. This is what creates those signature visible layers, so don’t skip it or stir things together too soon.
- Add the vanilla syrup, then the milk. Pour the milk in gently over the ice so it doesn’t disturb the syrup at the bottom.
- Pour the espresso shot over the back of a spoon, right on top of the milk. Pouring it slowly like this is the trick to keeping the layers distinct instead of muddy.
- Finish with a generous drizzle of caramel sauce on top, and enjoy immediately while the layers are still visible.
Tip: if you like your drinks fully mixed instead of layered, just give it a stir before drinking. Still tastes the same either way!
Frequently asked questions – FAQ
A classic caramel macchiato has four parts: milk, vanilla syrup, a shot of espresso, and caramel sauce drizzled on top. The espresso is added last and poured over the milk, which is what gives the drink its layered look instead of an all-mixed latte.
Before we got an espresso machine I used to use 2-3 teaspoons of instant coffee mixed with 3 tablespoons of hot water instead of espresso in my lattes!
You could also go with regular brewed coffee instead of espresso. That would technically make a cafe au lait and not really a latte but desperate times, call for desperate measures.
Yes, this drink is sweet because it uses both vanilla syrup and caramel sauce.
If you read what a caramel macchiato is a little bit higher up in the post you’ll know that it’s a layered drink while a latte is all mixed together. Very simple 🙂
Oatmilk is so popular right now! You absolutely can make this drink with oat milk, it will make it even more creamy and delicious.
This again will depend on the size of the drink you order. Here is an approximate breakdown:
A tall would have about 75mg of caffeine.
A grande would have about 150mg of caffeine.
A Venti would have about 225mg of caffeine.
Depending on the size of the drink, Starbucks will use different amounts of espresso:
Tall has one shot of espresso
Grande has two shots of espresso
Venti has three shots of espresso
Iced Starbucks caramel macchiato copycat recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp vanilla syrup Taste and add more if you need to. If you like it less sweet, use 1 tbsp.
- 1 cup milk 2% if you want it exactly like Starbucks
- 1 espresso shot
- 1-2 tbsp caramel sauce
- 1/2-1 cup Ice
Instructions
- Add the ice into a cut then add the vanilla syrup and milk.
- Top with the espresso shot, a generous drizzle of caramel, and enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
