This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See how easy it is to make this Starbucks favorite at home in less than 5 minutes! The trick to making this drink is all in how its assembled. RELATED: 19 Starbucks Caramel Drinks (Including Secret Menu) One of the most popular drinks at Starbucks, the Iced Caramel Macchiato is made
with their signature espresso, vanilla syrup, 2% milk, and ice. Caramel sauce is added to the top of the drink in a crosshatch design (7 times vertically across the surface of the drink, 7 times horizontally, then 2 circles around the edge of the cup). Iced Caramel Macchiato can be ordered in 3 drink sizes: tall, grande, and venti. Tall (12 ounces) contains 2 pumps of
vanilla syrup and 1 shot of espresso. It has 180 calories and 75 mg of caffeine. Grande (16 ounces) contains 3 pumps of vanilla syrup and 2 shots of espresso. It has 250 calories and 150 mg of caffeine.
Venti (24 ounces) contains 5 pumps of vanilla syrup and 3 shots of espresso. It has 350 calories and 225 mg of caffeine. Common customizations include ordering this drink upside down (ingredients are put into the cup in reverse order) or with extra caramel drizzle. RELATED: Starbucks Salted Caramel Mocha Copycat For full ingredients and instructions, scroll down to the recipe. RELATED: Starbucks Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew Copycat Nespresso machines are the
easiest way to recreate Starbucks drinks at home.Recipe Highlights
Ingredient Notes
Starbucks
uses their signature dark roast espresso to make the drink. Use their espresso roast or a dark roasted coffee to get the closest in flavor.
Whole beans: Starbucks Espresso Roast
Nespresso Original: Starbucks Espresso
Roast
Nespresso Vertuo: Espresso Roast
Its a little tricky to make this at home, so I just buy it instead of making it from scratch. You can also use caramel syrup, which doesnt contain dairy, but its not
as rich in flavor as caramel sauce.
Vanilla syrup is super easy to make, so definitely go for homemade if you can. You can also use store-bought.
Starbucks uses 2% milk for most of their drinks. You can use any kind you like though.
Use filtered water to make ice. Starbucks makes their ice with triple filtered water.Step-by-Step Instructions
Use 2 Nespresso espresso pods or pull 2 shots from an espresso machine.Using a Nespresso
My Splurge Nespresso Pick
Photo Credit: amazon.com
Fully automatic Nespresso machine that makes all kinds of espresso-based drinks with an attached milk frother.
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1 shot of espresso = 1 Nespresso espresso capsule
To make a grande size Iced Caramel Macchiato, use 2 Nespresso espresso capsules or 1 double espresso capsule.
Make sure you dont use the coffee capsules for the Vertuo machines which make 7.77 ounces of coffee, and not espresso.
You can use any espresso capsule you like, but to make it taste closest to the one at Starbucks, use their capsules.
Starbucks uses regular espresso to make a Caramel Macchiato but try making it at home with their blonde espresso, which is more popular and better reviewed.
Nespresso Starbucks Espresso Vertuo
capsules
Nespresso Starbucks Espresso Original capsules
Expert Tips
- The drink must be made in a certain order for the drink to be an Iced Caramel Macchiato. Milk and vanilla syrup must be put into the cup first so that theyre at the bottom of the cup and then the espresso so that it sits on top. The caramel drizzle is added last, sitting on top of the drink, not stirred in.
- The drink is to be sipped without mixing or stirring. The first few sips will be espresso sweetened with caramel then as the espresso makes its way down the cup, itll taste like a vanilla latte.
- To add caramel just like Starbucks, drizzle in a crosshatch pattern, layering the caramel drizzle 7 times vertically across the surface of the drink, 7 times horizontally, then 2 circles around the edge of the cup.
- You can get vanilla syrup directly from Starbucks by going to any of their locations and asking if they have any vanilla syrup available for purchase. Theyll sell it to you if they have enough in stock. It should cost around $14.
Questions You May Have
Whats in Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato?
The grande drink is made with 2 shots of espresso, 3 pumps of vanilla syrup, 2% milk, ice, and caramel sauce.
Can I make this drink without espresso?
If you dont have an espresso machine or a Nespresso, replace the espresso with strong coffee (double-strength) or cold brew.
Can I make this drink with oat milk?
Yes! Use any milk you prefer. It tastes great with Oatly oat milk, which is what Starbucks uses.
What is an Upside Down Iced Caramel 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.
Related
- Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam
- Iced Latte with Boba
- 47 Best Starbucks Drinks
- Every Starbucks Drink Ranked by Caffeine Content
- Starbucks Latte Guide: Drink Menu, Starbucks Flavors, & Caffeine Content
Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato Copycat
A Starbucks copycat recipe to make this iced drink at home.
Prep Time 5 mins
Total Time 5 mins
Yield1 serving (16 ounces)
- ▢ 3 tablespoons vanilla syrup
- ▢ 1 cup 2% milk
- ▢ 1 cup ice
- ▢ 2 shots of espresso (2 Nespresso espresso capsules)
- ▢ 1 tablespoon caramel sauce
Pour vanilla syrup, milk, then ice into a cup. Top with espresso shots.
Use 2 Nespresso espresso pods or pull 2 shots from an espresso machine.
Add caramel drizzle.
- Starbucks uses 2% milk for most of their drinks. You can use any kind you like though.
- The drink must be made in a certain order for the drink to be an Iced Caramel Macchiato. Milk and vanilla syrup must be put into the cup first so that theyre at the bottom of the cup and then the espresso so that it sits on top. The caramel drizzle is added last, sitting on top of the drink, not stirred in.
- The drink is to be sipped without mixing or stirring. The first few sips will be espresso sweetened with caramel then as the espresso makes its way down the cup, itll taste like a vanilla latte.
- To add caramel just like Starbucks, drizzle in a crosshatch pattern, layering the caramel drizzle 7 times vertically across the surface of the drink, 7 times horizontally, then 2 circles around the edge of the cup.
- You can get vanilla syrup directly from Starbucks by going to any of their locations and asking if they have any vanilla syrup available for purchase. Theyll sell it to you if they have enough in stock. It should cost around $14.
Using A Nespresso Machine
- 1 shot of espresso = 1 Nespresso espresso capsule
- To make a 16 ounce (grande) Starbucks drink, youll need 2 Nespresso espresso or ristretto capsules. You can also use 1 Vertuo double espresso.
- With the Vertuo machine capsules, only use espresso capsules and not the coffee capsules that make 7.77 ounces.
- Recommended Nespresso capsules to make Starbucks
drinks at home:
Starbucks Blonde Espresso Roast
Nespresso Vertuo capsules
Nespresso Original capsules
Calories: 335 | Carbohydrates: 69g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 236mg | Potassium: 454mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 56g | Vitamin A: 259IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 310mg | Iron: 2mg