Americano vs macchiato: which is for you?

As a coffee lover, then you have probably heard of both americano and macchiato. These two popular espresso-based drinks are often confused with each other due to their similar Italian names and ingredients. But don’t be fooled – these two delicious coffee drinks are actually quite different! Today, I’m exploring americano vs macchiato so that you can decide which one is right for you. Whether it’s flavor or caffeine content that suits your taste buds best, this comparison will help guide your next home coffee-making experience!

What is americano

• Americano is an espresso-based coffee drink made by diluting a single shot of espresso with hot water.
• It usually has a strong flavor and robust aroma, but it is also smooth in taste.
• Unlike many other coffee drinks, a black Americano does not contain any milk or cream
• Americano is normally served black, then it is up to you whether you want to add sugar or other sweeteners.

Can’t wait to try an americano? Check out my super simple recipe to make your own americano at home.

What is a macchiato

• Macchiato (sometimes called an espresso macchiato or caffe macchiato) is also an espresso-based coffee drink with a small amount of foamed milk on top.
• You can personalise your macchiato any way you want. I sometimes add flavored syrups, my current favorite is salted caramel. But I also love adding mocha or vanilla vanilla syrup.
• Because it only has two ingredients – espresso and steamed milk – macchiatos are easy to make.
• Use non-dairy milk for a great dairy-free option if you prefer to avoid dairy.

If this leaves you wanting a macchiato right now, just click on my easy homemade how to make a macchiato recipe and fire up your coffee maker.

The taste test: macchiato vs americano

To help you choose I am going to tackle the big difference between macchiato and americano – flavor.

The taste of macchiato

• Because macchiato starts with a shot of espresso, it has a deep, intense even pleasantly bitter flavor.
• The layer of foamed milk on the top just manages to take the extreme bitterness. Allowing you to experience notes of chocolate and even caramel, depending on the coffee beans you use.
• It sounds odd to describe macchiato coffee as a subtle blend of strong coffee and milk froth, but somehow it works. The result is a coffee drink that will really kick-start your day.
• Do you want to take your macchiato up a notch, and personalise it to your taste? Just add some flavored syrup to create a unique coffee experience. Check out my list of the very best syrups for coffee that you can easily make at home.

The taste of americano

• Just like macchiato, americano starts with a shot of espresso. So you know its going to be intense bitter and acidic. Except, it isn’t. Somehow adding hot water to the espresso shot, calms everything down.
• So americano coffee tastes mellow and refreshing with flavors of the espresso coffee beans coming through that you would never notice in a regular shot of espresso.
• Depending on the beans you use, you will get tastes and smells of caramel, chocolate, citrus fruit and even spices.
• Do you want to take your americano up a notch, and personalise it to your taste? Just add some flavored syrup to create a unique coffee experience. Check out my list of the very best syrups for coffee that you can easily make at home.

Americano v macchiato: the pros and cons

Both offer a unique flavor and experience that you will love. However, they also have some distinct differences that can make them better suited for different times and places. To help you decide which one is right for you, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each.

The pros of americano

• Americanos are super simple to make and require only two ingredients: espresso and hot water.
• Without the need for milk or cream, you don’t have to worry if you have run out of milk at home.
• A single serving of americano contains only 3-10 calories. Obviously, if you prefer to drink americano with milk (to create a white americano), or like your americano with cream or sugar or other sweeteners the calorie count will rise.
• You can add coffee syrups to create your own personal flavored americano. Check out my list of the best syrups for coffee you can make at home.
• the caffeine in americano can give you an energy boost when you need one.

The cons of americano

• The caffeine in americanos means you have to limit how often you drink one.
• If you use a really strong dark-roast coffee your americano can taste bitter and acidic
• Similarly too little hot water will produce a bitter taste, while too much water ends up as a watery flavorless experience. if not prepared properly

The pros of macchiato

• Macchiato is easier to make than other coffees like lattes and cappuccinos.
• It is a short coffee, so you can drink it quickly if time is short and you need a quick caffeine-based energy boost.
• The foamed milk on top of an espresso macchiato makes a surprisingly big difference to the flavor. It reduces the sharp and bitter notes of the espresso.

The cons of macchiato

• Not all coffee shops offer macchiato. So if you want to enjoy one, check out my easy homemade macchiato recipe.
• While macchiatos are loved for their strong flavor and intensity, you may be tempted to add a lot of sugar or other sweeteners to calm down the bitterness of a dark-roast espresso.
• Macchiatos only contain about 15-25 calories, depending on the milk you use to make the foam. But if you add a lot of sugar or other sweeteners the number of calories will climb rapidly.

FAQs about the difference between americano and macchiato

Which one has the most caffeine?

If you make them both with 1 shot of the same coffee, then they will have the same amount of caffeine.

The americano will taste less strong but don’t be deceived, you are still consuming the same amount of caffeine.

If caffeine levels are a problem for you there are some great decaf coffees on the market now. I often prefer to enjoy a decaf americano. It enables me to carry on drinking coffee late into the evening.

Which one is better for different occasions

• Americano is a great choice when you want a strong coffee with a smooth flavor. But a short macchiato is more intense with deep and pleasantly bitter espresso notes.
• Macchiatos are short drinks, so they are great if you just want a quick morning or afternoon pick-me-up. Americano is a larger coffee. So when you want a coffee you can sip and savor americano is the better option.
• For me, the choice is how much time have I got and do I want a short sharp coffee to kick-start my morning or afternoon? If that’s what I want, this it has to be macchiato. But when I have the time to relax a bit – often with friends, I drink americano.

Macchiato vs. latte – what’s the difference?

It’s easy to be confused about the difference between a macchiato and a latte. While both contain espresso and milk, the amount and how to prepare the ingredients are different. A macchiato is made with two espresso shots and a tiny amount of steamed milk, while a latte is made with a single shot of espresso and steamed milk that makes up the majority of the drink.

The bottom line

Ultimately, the choice between a macchiato and an americano is yours to make. Both these coffees offer bold flavors that can be enjoyed as is or enhanced with extra ingredients like cream and sugar.

I find myself switching back and forth between both macchiato and americano. For me, it’s all about what I want to drink at any one time.

No matter which type of coffee you choose, make sure it’s fresh, made with high-quality beans, and served up just how you want it. How do you guarantee you will get your coffee your way? By making it yourself at home. That way you control all the ingredients and put them together how you enjoy them.

However you take your coffee, enjoy the experience!

Before you go…

Check out some of our other great coffee recipes:

Americano – it’s surprisingly simple to make and tastes great.

mocha – when you need some peace, or just whenever you want to enjoy coffee and chocolate

Cinnamon latte – so relaxing it should be on tap

Cortado – It’s strong and delicious.

If you haven’t seen the coffee you want, take a look at our coffee comparisons for more inspiration.

Some other great coffees compared

You are not alone if you struggle to decide which coffee to drink. I am forever changing my mind in mid brew. So I have put together some great coffee vs coffee posts to help you decide. Take a look at these for some inspiration:

• Americano vs long black coffee. Probably the toughest choice because these seem to be so similar. But are they really?
• Americano vs espresso. Yes americano is made with a shot of espresso, but you would never believe how different it tastes.
• Americano vs cappuccino. Two of the all time classics. I regularly make both and love them. But they are for very different occasions.
• Americano vs latte. Another classic pairing. Yes I love them both and so will you once you have checked out how easy they both are to make.