This caramel macchiato is easy to make at home, iced or hot — the iced version uses cold brew concentrate, while the hot version works with strong coffee or instant espresso.

iced caramel macchiato in a plastic to go cup with a jar of caramel in the background

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To say I’m obsessed with Caramel Macchiatos is a bit of an understatement. It’s my go-to, the one that feels just fun enough and just serious enough. It’s the one thing at Starbucks that I still really like and is consistently good. Buttt, I am forever trying to drink more coffee at home to save money, be a bit healthier (I can control the sugar and quality of the ingredients) and I actually get a lot of pleasure out of making a fun coffee at home. Let’s do this!

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Ingredient notes

Cold brew concentrate / strong coffee / instant espresso. While not traditional, I like to use cold brew concentrate when I make an iced macchiato. It’s strong and won’t melt the ice. For hot versions, very strong brewed coffee or instant espresso both work well — no espresso machine required.

2% milk. This is my favorite choice for caramel macchiatos. It’s rich enough to feel creamy but still light enough to let the coffee and caramel shine.

Caramel sauce. I like using Trader Joe’s caramel here, its delicious and it has sea salt! I love the kiss of saltiness.

Vanilla syrup. I use my homemade vanilla bean syrup, but store-bought vanilla syrup works too!

Ice. Use lots of ice! It keeps the drink from getting watered down.

How I make it (iced or hot)

This could not be more simple! Iced coffee is my go-to, so I have step-by-step photos for an iced version. But making it hot is essentially the same. You’re just swapping the cold brew concentrate for extra strong coffee or espresso shots.

Here’s my process for an iced caramel macchiato:

vanilla bean syrup being added to the bottom of a cup — **Vanilla syrup (I like 1 tbsp)**

milk being added to cup for caramel macchiato — **Vanilla syrup (I like 1 tbsp)**

These to-go cups really give the feeling of a coffee-shop drink at home!

iced caramel macchiato in a plastic to go cup

Here’s how I make it hot:

Warm milk to desired temperature with vanilla syrup
Drizzle a little caramel in the bottom of a mug
Add 2 shots of espresso or 1/2 cup strong coffee to the mug
Use a milk frother to froth vanilla milk
Pour frothed milk over the coffee
Top with a little more caramel drizzle

Tried this recipe?

If you try this recipe, please leave a star rating below and let me know how it went. I’d love to hear from you! You can also find me on Pinterest!