In the hot season, iced macchiato vs iced latte are both excellent favorite drinks for any coffee lover. Because they are made with espresso and milk, they bring fresh flavor, caffeine strength, and overall experience. The iced macchiato has a bold, rich taste of coffee with layered espresso, while the taste of an iced latte is even and creamy.
If you like your iced coffee strong or mild and refreshing, these differences will help an individual nail the appropriate selection to suit his taste. Now, the question is, which kind of iced coffee is ideal for you?
What is an Iced Macchiato?
The iced macchiato is a cold drink with espresso added onto milk and ice, the brew of espresso is usually poured over the surface. Because of that, the coffee flavor in an iced macchiato is mostly strong. So you will enjoy the rich taste of the coffee.
The word “macchiato” means “marked” or “stained” in Italian. The reason why is that the milk is “marked” by adding the espresso below. So you will have an iced macchiato a bold, slightly bitter taste that coffee lovers who enjoy strong flavors love.
What is an Iced Latte?
An iced latte is a cold, refreshing coffee drink. It is made by mixing espresso with chilled milk using ice. Unlike an iced macchiato, the milk and espresso are combined to create a smooth and balanced flavor.
Because of the added milk, the taste is lighter and creamier than that of stronger coffee drinks. If you are looking for a milder coffee taste with a fresh espresso tint, don’t miss iced latter.
Key Differences between Iced Macchiato vs Iced Latte
Are you curious about the main differences between an iced macchiato and an iced latte? From the list of ingredients to the preparation process, you can explore below now!
Main Ingredients
Espresso, cold milk, and ice make up an iced macchiato. The amount of milk used is important. It is always added on top of a shot of espresso, to provide the drink with a beautiful layered look.
In turn, the iced latte is creamier because it involves the addition of espresso and more milk, with the ice in equal measure. More milk in a latte makes the drink much smoother and well-balanced.
Preparation Method
With an iced macchiato, the preparation method will keep the flavor of the coffee strong. You can pour espresso over cold milk and ice. The beverage is in layers, where the espresso remains atop the milk, and you can see many colors in your cup.
An iced latte is made by placing espresso and cold milk together over ice and then stirring. This blends the coffee and milk to create a creamier feel throughout the drink. If you like mixing ice with coffee base you also try cold brew vs iced coffee.
Flavor and Taste
Flavor and taste are also different between iced macchiato vs iced latte. With a higher concentration of espresso, iced macchiatos can be quite bold and robust. The slight bitterness from the espresso comes from the minimal milk. So it is the best choice for those who enjoy a stronger coffee flavor.
However, iced lattes have a pretty smooth and creamy taste. Milk content mixes with espresso, making a lighter and fresher drink. If you don’t enjoy strong coffee flavors, let’s try it.
Caffeine Content
Because iced macchiatos usually use higher espresso and milk, they have more caffeine. The serious coffee kick an ordinary iced macchiato has would be good for those who really like caffeine.
Iced latter is prepared using a larger amount of milk, which means it usually has less caffeine. Although it is made with espresso, the caffeine is somewhat watered down and, therefore, will have a milder taste compared to an iced macchiato.
Nutritional Value
Iced macchiatos are generally low in calories because of the smaller milk addition. Without adding sweeteners or syrups, they are a lighter drink option for those who want to enjoy drinking coffee without adding calories.
Iced lattes have more calories mainly because of the greater serving size of milk. However, calories depend on the type of milk in use. Those who prefer using almond or oat milk already have a pretty light drink.
| Aspect | Iced macchiato | Iced latte |
| Main Ingredients | Made with espresso, cold milk, and ice. Milk is added on top of the espresso for a layered appearance. | Made with espresso, more milk, and ice in equal parts. Milk creates a creamier and smoother drink. |
| Preparation Method | Espresso is poured over cold milk and ice, creating distinct layers with a strong coffee flavor. | Espresso and cold milk are mixed together over ice and stirred, resulting in a creamy, blended texture. |
| Flavor and Taste | Bold and robust with minimal milk, highlighting the strong espresso flavor and slight bitterness. | Smooth, creamy, and lighter due to the higher milk content, making it less intense than an iced macchiato. |
| Caffeine Content | Contains more caffeine due to a higher concentration of espresso. Ideal for a strong coffee kick. | Contains less caffeine as the milk dilutes the espresso, offering a milder coffee experience. |
| Nutritional Value | Lower in calories because of less milk. A lighter option without added syrups or sweeteners. | Higher in calories due to the larger milk portion, depending on the type of milk used (e.g., almond, oat). |
How to Make an Iced Macchiato vs Iced Latte?
A Latte Macchiato is a coffee drink that is essentially the opposite of a traditional Macchiato. You can make latte macchiato by first putting steamed milk in a glass, and then adding a shot of espresso on top of the milk. Hence, the kind of coffee stains the milk, from which the name “Macchiato” originates.
Unlike a normal latte, which has a higher milk-to-espresso ratio, the Latte Macchiato is made with more milk and less espresso. The texture is therefore lighter and creamier with just a hint of coffee taste. It’s perfect for anyone wanting a very milky coffee with just a touch of espresso.
Final Thought
Both iced macchiato vs iced latte have different tastes. If you really like a strong, bold coffee flavor, the iced macchiato may be your perfect drink. On the other hand, if your taste is milky and smooth, let’s drink iced latter. So, why not try both and see which one will be your favorite?
FAQs
Here are quick answers about these favorite coffees. So, honestly, I hope that helps you decide which drink best suits your taste and lifestyle.
Yes, a macchiato is stronger than a latte since it has less milk, and the bold espresso flavor shows through more. On the other hand, a latte contains more milk, so the coffee taste gets watered down, hence milder.
It really comes down to preference. An iced latte would be creamier and milder, containing more milk, while an iced macchiato is bolder and contains more espresso with less milk. So, if you want your coffee to be a bit stronger, it would be better to go for the iced macchiato.
Macchiatos at Starbucks have an espresso-to-milk ratio of two to one, meaning it’s a lot stronger in terms of tasting the espresso. Lattes have a one-to-three ratio with more milk, making them creamier but lighter in taste. Another characteristic is macchiatos are quite often layered, while lattes are mixed.
In general, an iced macchiato may contain more caffeine. Because they use more espresso when brewing. Since the espresso floats atop the milk, both flavor and caffeine from the coffee would be a lot stronger compared to iced lattes.
