English Reference

Word

macchiato

Phoneticsmac·chi·a·to

US/ˌmɑːkiˈɑːtoʊ/

UK/ˌmækiˈɑːtəʊ/

Definition

n. a small coffee drink made with one shot of espresso and a tiny spoonful of warm milk foam on top to add color

n. an espresso-based beverage characterized by a small amount of foamed milk added to the top of the coffee to indicate its presence or 'stain' the surface.

Examples

“I would like to order one macchiato and a small cookie, please.”

“If you want the strong taste of espresso without the harshness, a macchiato is the perfect middle ground.”

“The barista meticulously dolloped a cloud-like portion of microfoam onto the crema, resulting in a textbook macchiato that balanced acidity with creamy sweetness.”

Examples

simple

“I would like to order one macchiato and a small cookie, please.”

contextual

“If you want the strong taste of espresso without the harshness, a macchiato is the perfect middle ground.”

complex

“The barista meticulously dolloped a cloud-like portion of microfoam onto the crema, resulting in a textbook macchiato that balanced acidity with creamy sweetness.”

Real-World Examples

“Some patrons may opt for a macchiato, which includes a spoonful of milk foam.”
The Guardian · 17 Feb 2016
“Usually, a nice espresso or a macchiato, which is espresso with a touch of milk.”
The Guardian · 14 Jul 2009

Etymology

Derived from the Italian word 'macchiato,' meaning 'stained' or 'spotted.' The term describes the way the espresso is marked by a small amount of milk.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
A2 · Elementary
Updated

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