Can’t live without your Starbucks Caramel Macchiato? Here’s how to make an iced or hot Caramel Macchiato at home, in under two minutes, for a fraction of the price. We’ve even included tips to adapt the recipe for low-calorie, low-fat, vegan, or keto diets.
Do you live for a Starbucks Caramel Macchiato? Believe me, we get it! You’ll be happy to hear that this irresistible blend of milk, espresso, vanilla syrup, and caramel is easy to make at home in less than two minutes!
A homemade Hot or Iced Caramel Macchiato costs a fraction of the price of the Starbucks version, and it tastes at least as good, if not better. Best of all, you can whip up these recipes in your jammies on Sunday morning, so you don’t even have to leave the house to get your Caramel Macchiato fix!
Secrets to Making a Café Quality Iced or Hot Caramel Macchiato at Home
For the most authentic tasting hot Caramel Macchiato at home, you’ll need to know how to pull a decent shot of espresso. Don’t worry! It’s not hard, once you’ve got the hang of it. We have a step by step tutorial here.
If you don’t already have an espresso machine, they’re definitely worth the investment if you plan on making espresso drinks at home regularly. Our espresso machine reviews can help you find the best one in your price range.
If you want to make a hot Caramel Macchiato, but you don’t have an espresso machine, you can substitute extra strong coffee from your coffee Keurig or use a Nespresso machine to make espresso without the fuss.
A hot Caramel Macchiato calls for steaming and frothing the milk, which can be done using your espresso machine. Or, you can easily heat up the milk in your microwave or in a saucepan on the stove and use a handheld milk frother like this one or a French Press to get that delicious milk foam we all love.
How to Make a Caramel Macchiato at Home Just the Way You Like It: Low Calorie, Low Fat, Vegan, or Keto-Friendly
Prefer a low fat, low calorie, vegan, or keto-friendly Caramel Macchiato? No problem! When you make a caramel macchiato at home, you are in control of the fat, calories, and the type of milk you use. Simply adjust the recipe to suit your needs.
I’ve linked to a delicious sugar-free vanilla syrup and caramel sauce in the recipe, and you can use whatever low-fat or vegan milk alternative you prefer. For vegans, I really love this recipe when it’s made with unsweetened vanilla almond milk. If you’re on keto, go ahead and whip up this recipe using organic, grass-fed heavy cream.
No matter how you create your Caramel Macchiato at home, make sure your coffee beans are fresh and grind them right before you make your coffee. My favorite beans for espresso drinks are the Espresso Dark Roast from Volcanica Coffee. Stale, pre-ground coffee off the shelf at your grocery is going to be a poor substitute for the taste you expect at Starbucks or your favorite coffee shop.
Okay, let’s dive into the Hot and Iced Caramel Macchiato copycat recipes!
How to Make a Hot Starbucks Copycat Caramel Macchiato at Home
Recipe Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon regular or sugar-free vanilla syrup
- 2 shots of espresso or ¼ cup of extra strong coffee
- ½ cup of steamed milk with foam (you can use regular milk or your favorite milk alternative)
- 2 tablespoons regular or sugar-free caramel sauce.
Making your Hot Caramel Macchiato at Home:
Put the vanilla syrup into the bottom of a coffee mug. Pour your espresso or coffee over top and stir well to combine. Add the steamed milk (reserving the foam) and stir. Now, top it off with the milk foam. Drizzle on the caramel sauce and serve.
How to Make a Starbucks Copycat Iced Caramel Macchiato at Home
Recipe Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons of regular or sugar-free vanilla syrup
- 1 cup of ice cubes
- 1 cup of ice-cold milk (regular or whatever milk alternative you prefer)
- 2 shots of espresso or ¼ cup extra strong coffee or 1/4 cup cold brew coffee concentrate
- 2 tablespoons regular or sugar-free caramel sauce
Making your Iced Caramel Macchiato at Home:
In your Ninja personal blender, combine the vanilla syrup, ice-cold milk, and espresso or coffee and blend well. Pour over ice in your serving glass. Drizzle the caramel sauce over the top and serve.
Wrapping It Up
It doesn’t get much easier than that! Not only can you save money and time by making a Caramel Macchiato at home, but you can also make it your way with simple adjustments to the recipe and ingredients.
Here are some other Starbucks Copycat Recipes you might enjoy:
- How to Make a Hot or Iced Matcha Green Tea Latte at Home
- Medicine Ball Tea Recipe | Copycat Cold Buster Starbucks Tea Ingredients
- How to Make a Peppermint Mocha (Hot, Iced, or Frappuccino)
- Vanilla Latte: Make it Hot or Iced, Just Like Your Favorite Coffee Shop
- Caffe Mocha: An Irresistible Combination of Espresso and Chocolate
If you decide to try our recipes, please share a pic on Instagram and tag @Be_Your_Own_Barista so we can see how it came out! And, don’t forget to follow us on Facebook so you never miss out when a new recipe or gear review is posted. You can request your favorite coffee shop recipes there too!
