Making sense of the different types of coffee drinks that you can get can be confusing at times.
This post will show you the differences between macchiato and frappucino.
So, what is the difference between macchiato and frappuccino? Macchiato is where a small amount of milk foam is added to espresso. Frappuccino refers to a type of cold coffee sold by Starbucks which is normally a blend of milkshake, ice cream and Cappuccino.
Depending on how they are made they can actually both vary a lot in the way that they taste and there are a number of other drinks that are similar to them.
Differences between macchiato and frappuccino
Below, I will show you the differences between macchiato and frappuccino, how to make them, what impacts their taste and drinks that are similar to them.
Macchiato
Macchiato is where a small amount of milk foam is added to espresso. Macchiato has a slightly creamy taste that is also rich and strong.
Espresso is the mixture that results from pushing hot and pressurized water through finely ground coffee. Espresso has a very strong taste that can be bitter depending on how it was made.
How to make macchiato
To make macchiato you make espresso, foam the milk and then add a small amount of the foamed milk to the espresso.
Since espresso needs pressurized water to be made it is necessary to use a specially designed machine to make it. There are three main types of machines that people use to make espresso which are semi-automatic, automatic and pod-style espresso machines.
Semi-automatic espresso machines
To make macchiato using a semi-automatic espresso machine you must get the beans, grind them, press them into a container, put the container into the machine and then turn the machine on.
You can then foam the milk using a milk steamer that will usually come with the machine and add it to the espresso to make macchiato.
You can watch the video below to see how to make macchiato and cortado using a semi-automatic espresso machine.
The issue with using semi-automatic espresso machines to make espresso is that they require the most amount of work in making the espresso and in maintaining the machine and they can have a steep learning curve.
However, they will give you the most amount of control over the taste of the espresso.
The semi-automatic espresso machine that I would recommend the most would be the Breville Barista Express which is the same machine as in the video above you can find it here on Amazon.
Automatic espresso machines
To make espresso using an automatic espresso machine you just need to put the coffee beans and water into the machine and then to press a button to make the espresso. You can then foam the milk using the milk steamer it will normally come with and add it to the espresso to make the macchiato or a different milk-based espresso drink.
Automatic espresso machines won’t give you as much control over the taste of the espresso as semi-automatic espresso machines.
However, automatic espresso machines do still give you a lot of options to adjust how the espresso is made and they are quick and easy to use.
The automatic espresso machine that I would recommend the most would be this one on Amazon.
Pod-style espresso machines
To make espresso using a pod-style machine you just need to put a pod and water into the machine and press a button to make the espresso.
Pod machines won’t give you espresso that is as fresh as with semi-automatic and automatic espresso machines. However, pod machines are quick and easy to use and they have a range of flavors that you can choose from.
I would recommend this on Amazon espresso machine the most since it will automatically froth the milk for you so you’ll just need to pour it into the espresso when it is done.
What impacts the taste of macchiato
There are a number of things that will impact the taste of macchiato.
If a lot of milk foam is added then it will make it less strong and more creamy like with the cortado.
The way that the espresso is made will also impact the taste of the macchiato.
If the espresso is made using Arabica beans then it will usually have a smoother taste but they can sometimes make it too sour. Whereas, Robusta beans will give it a nuttier taste that can be more bitter.
Likewise, if beans with a light roast are used then it will give a smoother taste but it can sometimes be sour. Whereas, beans with a dark roast will tend to give the espresso a more bitter taste.
If the beans are from a single origin then it will normally give the espresso a sharper taste but it can cause it to be tangy. Whereas, beans that are a mixture of beans from different origins will give it a more balanced taste.
Since espresso is meant to be slightly bitter beans with a dark roast that are from multiple origins that are a mixture of Arabica and Robusta beans are normally used.
Drinks that are similar to macchiato
There are a number of drinks that are similar to macchiato that you might also like such as:
- Cortado
Cortado is where milk foam is added to espresso. The difference between cortado and macchiato is that more milk foam is added to cortado.
- Con panna
Con panna is where cream is added to espresso. Con panna has a creamier taste compared to macchiato due to the higher fat content in the cream.
- Short macchiato
Short macchiato is where a small amount of milk foam is added to a single shot of espresso. A regular macchiato is where a small amount of milk foam is added to a double espresso.
- Cafe noisette
Cafe noisette is where hot milk is added to espresso it has a creamier taste compared to regular espresso that is similar to cortado.
Frappuccino
Frappuccino refers to a type of cold coffee sold by Starbucks which is normally a blend of milkshake, ice cream and Cappuccino.
Depending on the flavor, frappuccino will normally have a sweet, creamy and a coffee-like taste.
There are a number of different frappuccino flavors that you can get but two of the more popular flavors are vanilla and mocha which has a chocolatey taste to it.
There are ways to make your own versions of frappuccino, yourself, at home. You can watch the video below to see how.
Drinks that are similar to frappuccino
There are a number of other drinks that are similar to frappuccino that you might like including:
- Frappe
Frappe refers to a cold drink that has been blended and it usually will contain coffee.
- Affogato
Affogato is where espresso is poured over ice cream. Traditionally, vanilla ice cream is used to make affogato but you can use any type that you want.
Questions people ask about frappuccino
Is frappuccino cold or hot? It is served cold.
Does frappuccino have caffeine? Usually, frappuccino will contain caffeine. However, there are some decaf versions that are on offer.
