The great thing about the Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato drink is that it is near effortless to make. This caramel and vanilla-based bold espresso drink is a great way to add a sweet quick pick-me-up to your day (especially if you like strong coffee).
What is a Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato drink?
Originating in Italy, a macchiato is a coffee with a bit of milk in it. It’s like an espresso, but with a little bit of milk added to lighten the color and add a touch of sweetness. The name macchiato comes from Italian, meaning marked, stained, or spotted. This description relates to the milk’s mark when you add it to the dark, rich espresso.
The Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato is a cold variation on this classic drink beverage. Since it’s from an American company, however (insert sarcasm), it’s larger and, of course, MUCH sweeter. But it is also delicious and habit-forming from the first sip.
What You Need For An Iced Caramel Macchiato
To make a Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato at home, you will need the following:
Espresso. Of course, if you’re going to make an espresso-based drink, espresso will be #1 on your list of ingredients. A concentrated form of coffee, espresso is typically made when you force hot water through finely-ground coffee beans. This also has to happen under high pressure.
Ultimately, this is how you get that rich (and intense!) coffee flavor. If you don’t have a machine at home to make fresh espresso, you can totally use instant espresso. We are not here to judge 😉
Milk. The Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato is usually made with 2% milk. But if you’re making it at home, there is no hard-and-fast rule. Whether dairy-free or vegan, you can easily use almond, hemp, oat, or soy milk. On the other end, want an even more indulgent treat? Go for whole milk.
Vanilla syrup. To truly make this taste like one of Starbucks’ best and greatest. You can also use sugar-free or low-sugar vanilla syrup if you’re looking to reduce your sugar or calorie intake. Any sort of flavored simple syrup will do.
Caramel sauce. What’s the point of anything in life if it doesn’t have whipped cream and caramel drizzle? If you’re looking to mix it up, however, go for some chocolate sauce!
Whipped cream. This is totally optional, but if you want the whole experience, we highly recommend it come directly from a can.
How to make Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato Recipe
A caramel macchiato is an espresso-based beverage that typically includes steamed milk and caramel syrup. The espresso in a caramel macchiato can make it stronger than a regular coffee, but the overall strength can depend on the amount of milk and syrup added.
Ingredients
- 1 oz vanilla syrup ​
- 3/4 cup 2% milk
- 2 shots Starbucks® Espresso Roast​
- Enough ice cubes to fill glass
- Whipped cream
- Caramel sauce
Instructions
- Place vanilla syrup in a tall glass.
- Add cold milk (or your preferred non-dairy milk)
- Fill the glass with ice to one inch below the rim
- Slowly pour the espresso shots over the ice (Starbucks obviously is recommending their own signature espresso coffee, but any quality espresso shot will do). Give it a bit of stirring.
- Top with whipped cream and caramel syrup.
There you have it. A delicious, simple iced coffee drink that you can make at home.
Recipe Notes
Iced coffee is usually brewed coffee that is cooled and served over ice. The strength of iced coffee can vary depending on the type of coffee used, the brewing method, and the amount of water used to dilute the coffee.
So, it ultimately depends on the amount of espresso used in the caramel macchiato and the strength of the iced coffee. In general, a caramel macchiato is likely to have a stronger coffee flavor than a regular iced coffee, but the overall strength can vary.
Learning how to replicate Starbucks’ Iced Caramel Macchiato drink is not too difficult. Starbucks has actually posted this recipe on its website. However, we suggest following the below iced coffee recipe since the instructions that Starbucks’ provides are not detailed enough (probably because they want you to stop by one of their stores).
Note: While having an espresso machine is nice to have, you do not need one for this recipe. Feel free to leverage a French Press, a Moka Pot, or an Aero Press. If you don’t have any of these, you can use Medium ground coffee with hot water (brew your coffee for about 5 mins, then use a mesh strainer to remove the sludge).
Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato
Ingredients
- 1 oz Vanilla Syrup
- 3/4 cup 2% milk (Can also use non-dairy based milk)
- 2 shots Starbucks® Espresso Roast​ (Any quality espresso coffee will do)
- Enough ice cubes to fill glass
- Whipped cream
- Caramel Sauce
Instructions
- Brew 2 shots of espresso.
- Place vanilla syrup in a tall glass.
- Add cold milk (or your preferred non-dairy milk).
- Fill the glass with ice to one inch below the rim.
- Slowly pour the espresso shots over the ice (Starbucks obviously is recommending their own signature espresso coffee, but any quality espresso shot will do). Give it a bit of stirring.
- Top with whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel syrup.
Nutrition
Iced Caramel Macchiato FAQs
How many calories are in iced caramel macchiato?
The calorie count in a Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato highly depends on substitutions. Such as the milk used (2% versus skim) or if you’re using a dairy-free milk alternative (soy milk, almond milk, or oat milk).
With the Original version of 2% milk, a tall (12 fl oz) Iced Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks has 160 calories. A grande (16 fl oz) has 210 calories, and a venti (24 fl oz) has 280 calories.
Calories in an Iced Caramel Macchiato (Including Popular Vegan Milk Variations)
| Type | Size | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Caramel Macchiato (Original – 2% Milk) | Tall (12 oz.) | 160 |
| Caramel Macchiato (Original – 2% Milk) | Grande (16 oz.) | 210 |
| Caramel Macchiato (Original – 2% Milk) | Venti (24 oz.) | 280 |
| Caramel Macchiato (Skinny – Nonfat Milk) | Tall (12 oz.) | 105 |
| Caramel Macchiato (Skinny – Nonfat Milk) | Grande (16 oz.) | 140 |
| Caramel Macchiato (Skinny – Nonfat Milk) | Venti (24 oz.) | 210 |
| Caramel Macchiato (Almond Milk) | Tall (12 oz.) | 135 |
| Caramel Macchiato (Almond Milk) | Grande (16 oz.) | 180 |
| Caramel Macchiato (Almond Milk) | Venti (24 oz.) | 270 |
| Caramel Macchiato (Coconut Milk) | Tall (12 oz.) | 140 |
| Caramel Macchiato (Coconut Milk) | Grande (16 oz.) | 210 |
| Caramel Macchiato (Coconut Milk) | Venti (24 oz.) | 290 |
| Caramel Macchiato (Oat Milk) | Tall (12 oz.) | 206 |
| Caramel Macchiato (Oat Milk) | Grande (16 oz.) | 275 |
| Caramel Macchiato (Oat Milk) | Tall (12 oz.) | 343 |
| Caramel Macchiato (Soy Milk) | Tall (12 oz.) | 188 |
| Caramel Macchiato (Soy Milk) | Grande (16 oz.) | 250 |
| Caramel Macchiato (Soy Milk) | Venti (24 oz.) | 375 |
How much is an iced caramel macchiato at Starbucks?
The prices of Starbucks iced coffee change based on the region and geography that the Starbucks store is located in. However, in the United States, A tall (12 fl oz) Iced Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks costs approx. $3.75, while a grande (16 fl oz) costs approx. $4.25 (Note: these numbers are from Real Menu Prices as of June of 2022).
Starbucks Ice Caramel Macchiato Pricing
| Caramel Macchiato | Tall | $3.75 |
| Caramel Macchiato | Grande | $4.45 |
| Caramel Macchiato | Venti | $4.75 |
Is a caramel macchiato stronger than iced coffee?
It really depends. Mostly on how strong your iced coffee is. With that said, caramel macchiato and iced coffee are two different beverages with entirely different ingredients. So it’s hard to give a straight answer on this one.
When it comes down to it, it really depends on how many shots of espresso are in your caramel macchiato. In a venti caramel macchiato, there are three shots. So, in this case, yes, it would be more potent than a cup of iced coffee. Cold brew coffee will be stronger, however, than regular iced coffee.
If you want a drink with less caffeine but still want the same size, you can always ask the barista for fewer espresso shots. It will taste slightly different, with fewer coffee flavors and sweeter.
Are iced caramel macchiatos sweet?
Yes! They are actually quite sweet. That is especially true if you add whipped cream to yours. Regardless of their sweetness, the layers of delicious flavors in this drink are worth every gram of sugar.
What sizes does Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato come in?
Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiatos come in the typical Starbucks sizes: tall (12 fl oz), grande (16 fl oz), and venti (24 fl oz).
What other Starbucks drinks are good?
This question is hard to answer, especially from a die-hard Starbucks fan. But a few that you can never go wrong with include:
- Pumpkin Spice Latte (Hot)
- Iced Vanilla Latte (with a drizzle of caramel)
- Sugar-Free Vanilla Latte (Hot)
- Plain Iced Macchiato
- Skinny Iced Latte with a shake of cinnamon on top of the drink
more Starbucks Recipes
Below are some other delicious Starbucks copycat drinks and recipes that you can make at home:
Copycat Starbucks Keto Pink Drink
When you are not in the mood for an iced or hot coffee, this keto passion fruit tea is incredibly refreshing.
Starbucks Bacon Gruyere Egg Bites Recipe
Whether you have made this macchiato recipe or just stuck with a simple cold brew, this egg bite recipe pairs well with many of Starbucks drinks.
Are you looking for more recipes from famous restaurants? We’ve got just that! Here’s our roundup of favorite copycat recipes from places like Texas Roadhouse to the Olive Garden.
Have questions or suggestions about this recipe for Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato? Leave them in the comments below.
The calories for the real drink! I was shocked. Tried this at home instead and felt so much better to know I wasn’t killing my diet and had more control over what went into me. Thanks!
Doesn’t it make a huge difference when you know what the ingredients are in a drink? And making it yourself is so much more rewarding. Not mention easier on your wallet 🙂
So yummy! Worth making it at home. So $$$$