Iced Latte Vs Iced Macchiato: Differences Explained

It doesn’t matter when summer comes with the scorching temperatures. It is still important to get your everyday coffee fix.

But, you may like to refresh your drink with an iced version of your preferred beverage.

The two most loved varieties include Iced Latte vs Iced Macchiato. They are similar in appearance, but what is the difference between them?

Let’s find out together in this article!

What is the distinction between an iced latte and a macchiato?

Comparing the average iced lattes and macchiato is simple if you know where to look.

The biggest difference is the strength of the coffee as well as the additional ingredients. Following are some of the major differences:

Making Process

An espresso shot, low-fat milk, and ice are needed to prepare an iced latte. The drink looks like a mix and has a dark brownish coffee hue. 

However, the macchiato iced is created using whole milk into glasses, top it with ice, then pour two espresso shots over it. This makes an excellent marble effect on the coffee and milk.

Ingredients

The order you add ingredients can be different. You place the espresso first in a latte and pour vanilla syrup and milk over it.

If it’s an Iced Macchiato, you work the opposite way. You put the sugar and vanilla into the glass first. Then, pour the espresso over it.

If you are making an Iced Caramel Macchiato, it has one additional ingredient: the caramel drizzle.

If you look at the drinks, you’ll notice that one drink is a homogeneous mix, and the other is a heterogeneous, layered drink. 

This is because you need to stir the Iced Latte, while you must not shake the macchiato prior to drinking it.

Texture

A further significant distinction can be seen in the taste. Using milk with low fat for this Iced Latte will make it more consistent and light density from top to bottom. 

Whereas Iced Macchiato has layers, so you won’t have the same texture and thickness throughout the entire drink.

Milk

The differences in milk are significant. Iced drinks are made with low-fat milk having more nutritional value. Macchiatos are made using whole cream or full milk. 

Iced lattes may contain foamed milk or could be made of plain coffee and milk. Moreover, an iced macchiato would typically include whipped cream and syrups on top.

Since now you have all the information you need to decide which one you would like to drink. Let me help you out.

Below, I’ve included recipes for both types of coffee so you can make them yourself and decide which one suits you the most.

How to make an iced latte?

For making an iced latte, You’ll need some ingredients that are likely to be already in your kitchen, and that’s fantastic.

• 3/4 Cup (0.18 1 l) of fat-free milk
• Espresso shot
• Ice cubes
• Vanilla extracts, cinnamon (optional)
• Foamed milk (optional)

As you can observe from the ingredients mentioned above, there’s not anything you’ll need to prepare a delicious iced coffee at home. Let me walk you through the coffee recipe step by step:

• In a blender with a powerful motor, blend your milk cubes and ice, and sweetener.
• Blend until well-mixed but not entirely smooth, as you’ll need some chunks of Iced Latte to get that authentic coffeehouse flavor!
• Pour your espresso in a glass tall. Then add the milk
• If you are going to add honey, you also need to add vanilla extract. If you use coconut palm sugar, then add cinnamon or both.
• You can top it all off with foamed milk.

That’s it! Now you can make an iced latte at home. Since when you combine the espresso shot with the cold milk prior to including ice in the mix, it appears premixed.

This is the main distinction between these two coffees. Let me demonstrate how to make an iced macchiato.

How to make an iced macchiato?

The macchiato iced is made using whole milk. In addition, if you would like to make it more flavorful, an additional Espresso shot would make it different than the Iced Latte.

Moreover, it requires less milk in comparison to the traditional latte. This results in a more potent drink. It requires the following ingredients for making it yourself:

• Whole milk 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) of
• Two espresso shot
• Whipped cream
• Ice cubes
• Flavored syrup

If you’re aware of what ingredients go into the macchiato iced and the ingredients used, you can prepare this incredible iced macchiato yourself by following these steps:

The espresso coffee slowly swirls through the whole milk to produce a stunning-looking iced-coffee drink.

As you can see, the iced macchiato color differences appear way more attractive. This is the effect that layering of coffee can accomplish, so people rather have an iced macchiato instead of an iced latté any day just based on the look alone.

Is a macchiato stronger than a latte?

Macchiato coffees are more robust in flavor because of an additional espresso shot. Also, it uses real milk rather than the low-fat one that is usually used to make a latte. This results in an even more rich and textured coffee taste.

Espresso shots are an essential component of iced coffees in most cases. However, they also provide a distinct difference in the taste of these two types of coffees.

If you’re hoping to experience it to its fullest, be sure to use the various kinds of milk you will need for your recipe.

The difference in milk enhances the overall taste and creates a distinct flavor, making discerning the differences between these coffees more straightforward.

Iced Latte vs. Iced Macchiato

Based on the recipes and information, you’ll likely already see the significant differences between these drinks!

Let’s dissect them:

• The iced latte contains only one espresso shot; thus, it is not strong compared to the iced macchiato. Moreover, iced macchiato has more caffeine in it and a more intense flavor than an iced latte.
• The macchiato with ice is visually appealing than the iced latte because it comes with many layers, including espresso and milk, flavored sauce, and whip cream.
• Iced latte isn’t nearly as sweet and sour as iced macchiato because it’s not made with syrups or other sauces. Of course, you can include some sweetener, if you want. However, the iced macchiato has more calories and isn’t as healthy as the Iced Latte.
• The two drinks also have different textures too. When you serve iced lattes, you will experience the thick texture of a milkshake because the milk is blended. This is not the case with an iced macchiato.

What are the similarities between Iced Lattes and Iced Macchiatos?

The drinks are surprisingly alike, despite the differences. Both are based on espresso instead of regular coffee. In addition, both have a base of espresso and milk, which can be paired with a variety of different flavors. 

Because they’re easy to make, they are very popular drink choices for summer and can be easily made at home.

Both are different from hot versions because a key component has been changed. For the lattes, the milk doesn’t get steamed. For macchiatos, there’s more milk overall. However, It doesn’t affect their primary flavor.

The drinks are likely to be comparable in taste, other than the intensity in terms of flavor. If they are made using the same ingredients like syrups and coffee (as they typically are), there is only one difference: the intensity.

The Confusing Latte Macchiato

Hang on! If macchiatos and lattes are two completely different drinks, then what’s a macchiato latte? Good question!

A macchiato latte is a steamed glass of milk with an espresso stain. It’s basically an inverted espresso macchiato that focuses on the milk and not the actual coffee. 

It’s usually a layering drink, with liquid at the bottom and followed by a layer of strong espresso shot and foam on top.

A macchiato latte is less flavorful than a standard latte due to the fact that it’s mostly milk, with an espresso shot in it. It’s still made from whole milk hence, has more of a richer flavor. Iced milk doesn’t generally contain foam.

If you want to encounter the best of both worlds, a Macchiato latte could be the ideal option. You can enjoy all the flavor of traditional latte and the delicate layering of macchiato.

The best coffee beans to make iced espresso based drinks

If you’re looking to make the best-iced coffee, you should not make espresso with the cheapest version of beans.

Since coffee plays a significant role in the flavoring of iced tea, You should use the highest quality espresso coffee beans.

Medium-roasted coffee beans offer sufficient flavor to stand out from the various add-ins that coffee recipes use, whereas dark-roasted beans provide the obvious winner when it comes to rich coffee flavor.

Dark-roasted coffee beans tend to be too strong for pour-over techniques and should be employed to make strong espresso. It also tends to have various health benefits.

However, if you don’t want a potent espresso shot, you can also use medium roasted beans for that espresso shot. I would suggest using a dark roast coffee bean to produce espresso. 

FAQs

How much caffeine is there in the latte?

Small or medium lattes usually have about 80mg of caffeine. Larger ones contain around 120mg. Although this is similar to macchiatos, it’s essential to keep in mind that your latte gets an even bigger drink with lots of milk.

Is a Latte Macchiato similar to the word “latte”?

It’s not true that a macchiato latte is the same drink as the latte, though they may have similar flavors.

Latte macchiato is prepared using steaming milk, placed in a glass, and topped off with two espresso shots.

A latte is only one shot of espresso and is decorated with steamed milk and the addition of micro-foam.

What is a Macchiato?

A macchiato is an even stronger beverage than a latte, providing more intense flavor and high levels of caffeine.

In Italian macchiato, the word means “spotted.” This refers to the usual spot on the surface of the beverage.

It results from the barista pouring espresso directly into a small portion of milk that has been steamed, leaving an espresso spot over the milk.

What is a Latte?

In Italian, a latte, also called the Caffe Latte (meaning “milk coffee”), is a much more creamy drink of coffee, unlike macchiato, a more traditional drink.

It’s espresso-based and topped with steamed or boiled milk and often topped with foamed or frothed milk.

Although traditional macchiatos are espresso-based in taste, lattes are typically more milk-like than anything else. That is why there are numerous varieties of lattes sold at cafes.

Which is better? Iced lattes or iced coffee?

Iced latte really is a type of iced coffee. Therefore, you cannot really compare the two.

However, numerous types of iced coffees differ from Iced lattes, and knowing the differences can aid you in determining which is best for you.

Iced Latte Vs Iced Macchiato: Which is Better?

An iced macchiato is best when you’re a lover of more potent iced drinks. If you want your iced drink to taste strong but be a little more balanced, thanks to only one shot of espresso, the best option is to order (or create) an Iced Latte.

These iced coffees differ a little, but they can make a significant difference if you have preferences regarding the strength of the coffee.

You’ve now got the complete specifics of these tasty iced coffee drinks and have probably made a decision of which one you prefer.