If you’re looking for another cold coffee recipe to make, this iced hazelnut macchiato is one to try.
It’s very simple to make and is all about the order of when you pour in the ingredients (which are just 4!)
Let’s discuss what a macchiato is, then show you how you can make a delicious iced hazelnut macchiato at home.
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What is a macchiato?
Macchiato means stained in Italian. A traditional macchiato is a shot of espresso with just a small amount of milk. It’s sort of like, as the name suggests, staining the espresso with milk.
Read More: A Guide to 20+ Popular Types of Coffee
This drink is oftentimes misunderstood because if you order a macchiato at cafes like Starbucks, you might get something different than what was just described.
That’s because those flavored macchiatos like the popular caramel macchiato and cloud macchiatos (topped with a layer of foam made from egg and caramel or chocolate sauce) from Starbucks are actually what is called a latte macchiato.
The traditional shot of espresso with milk is usually referred to as an espresso macchiato and the Starbucks type is a latte macchiato. Here’s more about the difference:
Espresso Macchiato vs Latte Macchiato
As described above, an espresso macchiato is a shot or two of espresso with a small amount of milk. This results in a small drink.
Since one shot of espresso is just one fluid ounce, the espresso macchiato is just around two fluid ounces.
Meanwhile, a latte macchiato has a lot more milk and is basically an upside down latte.
A latte is an espresso based coffee drink that consists of a shot or two of espresso, three times the amount of milk and a layer of milk foam on top. When making a latte, the espresso is added to the cup first, followed with the milk and milk foam.
With a latte macchiato, as you’ll see in this recipe below, milk is added first, then espresso. But you might be wondering, what difference does this make? The result is evident when you take the first sip. In that first sip, you’ll notice a strong taste of espresso.
If you don’t stir the latte macchiato, you can taste the espresso at its strongest with the first sip, then as the rest of the espresso trickles down, it gets mixed with the milk.
Pouring it in this order also creates a fun aesthetic of the espresso floating on top of the milk.
In summary, an espresso macchiato has a stronger coffee flavor and has less milk. A latte macchiato resembles a regular latte and has a lot more milk.
So now that we’ve cleared up the confusion, here’s how to make an iced hazelnut macchiato (which you’ll now know is really an iced hazelnut latte macchiato!)
Iced Hazelnut Macchiato Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon hazelnut syrup
- 2 shots (2 ounces) espresso
- 1 cup milk or milk alternative
- 6-8 coffee ice cubes
- Drizzle of chocolate or caramel sauce (optional)
Hazelnut syrup: For the hazelnut flavor, choose your favorite hazelnut coffee syrup. You can adjust the amount you put in based on how much of the hazelnut taste you like.
Also, if you choose to use a hazelnut flavored coffee, as we’ll discuss next, you may not need to use the syrup. When I use syrup, I choose Monin’s hazelnut syrup, which does not contain any artificial ingredients and tastes nutty with hints of caramel.
Read More: Best Coffee Syrups to Flavor Coffee
Espresso: I used a hazelnut flavored coffee for this recipe. If you also choose to use a coffee that has already been flavored, you can omit the hazelnut syrup, unless you prefer a very strong hazelnut taste.
I made the 2 shots of espresso using a stovetop moka pot.
If you do not have an espresso machine at home to make espresso, I find the moka pot to be the closest method for making espresso without the machine (here’s how to use a moka pot.) And if you don’t have a moka pot, you can also read our guide to making espresso with a French press.
Milk: You can use whole milk, skim milk or your favorite milk alternative. I chose oat milk for this recipe because I like the creaminess of the oat milk paired with the nutty hazelnut and slight bitterness of the coffee.
Ice cubes: You can use regular water ice cubes, but have you tried using coffee ice cubes? I always have a batch in the freezer to use for coffee instead of regular ice cubes because I’m not a fan of watered down coffee. Coffee ice cubes prevent that from happening. Here’s how to make coffee ice cubes, plus flavored ones too.
Chocolate/caramel sauce: An optional ingredient, you can add chocolate or caramel sauce on top of your iced hazelnut macchiato, like how Starbucks serves their latte macchiatos with the criss cross pattern made with the sauces. I used Torani’s dark chocolate sauce.
How to Make an Iced Hazelnut Macchiato
Step 1
Brew two shots of espresso. Set aside to cool.
If you don’t have an espresso machine, use a moka pot or French press to make your shots of espresso.
Step 2
Pour hazelnut syrup into a cup. Add milk and mix.
Step 3
Add ice. Pour in espresso shots over the milk and ice.
Make sure to let the espresso cool down before pouring over ice to avoid having the ice melt immediately.
Step 4
Optional, top with caramel or chocolate sauce.
Iced Hazelnut Macchiato Recipe
Iced Hazelnut Macchiato
Materials
- 1 teaspoon hazelnut syrup
- 2 shots (2 ounces) espresso
- 1 cup milk or milk alternative
- 6-8 coffee ice cubes
- Drizzle of chocolate or caramel sauce (optional)
Instructions
1. Brew two shots of espresso. Set aside to cool.
If you don’t have an espresso machine, use a moka pot or French press to make your shots of espresso.
2. Pour hazelnut syrup into a cup. Add milk and mix.
3. Add ice. Pour in espresso shots over the milk and ice.
Make sure to let the espresso cool down before pouring over ice to avoid having the ice melt immediately.
4. Optional, top with caramel or chocolate sauce.
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