Built upside down on purpose
Starbucks Caramel Macchiato
Why it is built with the espresso on top, what “upside down” changes, the hot and iced versions size by size, and how to layer one at home, with the official Starbucks at Home video.
Quick answer. A Caramel Macchiato is vanilla syrup and milk, “marked” with espresso poured on top, then finished with a crosshatch of caramel sauce. A Grande, hot or iced, has 3 pumps of vanilla and 2 shots of espresso: 250 calories and about 150 mg of caffeine, for about $7.09 hot or $7.05 iced on average in the US.
- Size in this answer: Grande
- Calories: 250
- Caffeine: 150 mg
- Average US price: $7.09
Checked October 2026. Prices are average US prices and vary by store.
Read It From the Bottom Up
The drink is all about the order of its layers. Starbucks describes it as freshly steamed milk with vanilla-flavored syrup marked with espresso and topped with a caramel drizzle. Here is what is in the cup, bottom to top:
- Vanilla syrup (the sweetener; there is no caramel syrup inside)
- Milk: steamed with a little foam for hot, cold over ice for iced
- Espresso, poured last so it floats in a dark layer (the “mark,” or macchiato)
- Caramel sauce in a crosshatch pattern plus a ring around the edge
Because the espresso is on top, your first sip is bold and coffee-forward and the drink gets sweeter as you go. Stir it and it tastes like a vanilla latte with caramel. That is also the answer to “what caramel does Starbucks use”: a thick caramel sauce made with sugar, corn syrup, butter and cream.
So is it really a macchiato?
Not in the Italian sense. A traditional caffè macchiato is a shot of espresso marked with a spoon of foam; Starbucks sells that as the Espresso Macchiato (15 calories, Doppio). The Caramel Macchiato borrows the idea of “marking” milk with espresso, which is closer to an Italian latte macchiato. For more on the latte family, see the caffè latte page.
Hot vs. Iced, Size by Size
| Hot Caramel Macchiato | Vanilla pumps | Shots | Calories | Sugar | Caffeine | Avg. price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short (8 oz) | 1 | 1 | 120 | 15 g | 75 mg | — |
| Tall (12 oz) | 2 | 1 | 190 | 25 g | 75 mg | $6.49 |
| Grande (16 oz) | 3 | 2 | 250 | 33 g | 150 mg | $7.09 |
| Venti (20 oz) | 4 | 2 | 310 | 42 g | 150 mg | $7.57 |
| Iced Caramel Macchiato | Vanilla pumps | Shots | Calories | Sugar | Caffeine | Avg. price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tall (12 oz) | 2 | 1 | 180 | 24 g | 75 mg | $6.48 |
| Grande (16 oz) | 3 | 2 | 250 | 34 g | 150 mg | $7.05 |
| Venti (24 oz) | 5 | 3 | 350 | 49 g | 225 mg | $7.89 |
The iced Venti is the best value for caffeine: it is a bigger 24 oz cup and gets a third shot (225 mg) and a fifth pump of vanilla, while the hot Venti stays at 2 shots. More on cup sizes in our Starbucks sizes page.
Ways to Customize It
| Order | What changes |
|---|---|
| Upside down | Espresso goes in first, so it is mixed like a latte from the first sip |
| Skinny-style (lighter) | Nonfat milk, sugar-free vanilla syrup, light caramel drizzle |
| Extra caramel | Extra drizzle, or a pump of caramel syrup added to the milk |
| Blonde | Smoother, sweeter Blonde espresso |
| Oat, almond or soy | Dairy-free milk (the caramel drizzle still contains dairy) |
| Extra shot | Stronger coffee flavor and about 75 mg more caffeine |
| With cold foam (iced) | Vanilla sweet cream cold foam on top for a creamier finish |
Other caramel drinks to compare: the blended Caramel Frappuccino (Grande 380 calories, 90 mg) and the chocolate-based Caffè Mocha. Browse the full hot drinks and cold drinks menus.
Caramel macchiato outside Starbucks
Dunkin’, McDonald’s and coffee creamer brands (including Starbucks-branded and International Delight caramel macchiato creamers) use the same name for their own recipes. They are built and sweetened differently, so their nutrition does not match the café drink above.
How to make Caramel Macchiato (Hot or Iced)
Ingredients
- 1 ½ tablespoons (¾ oz / 22 ml) vanilla syrup
- 1 cup (8 oz / 240 ml) 2% milk
- 2 shots (2 oz / 60 ml) espresso, or ¼ cup very strong coffee
- 1 tablespoon thick caramel sauce, for drizzling
- For iced: 1 cup ice and ¾ cup cold milk instead of steamed
Instructions
- Vanilla first. Pump or pour the vanilla syrup into the bottom of a 16 oz mug (or a glass for iced).
- Add the milk. Hot: steam or heat the milk to 140–150°F (60–65°C) with a little foam and pour it over the syrup. Iced: add ¾ cup cold milk, then fill with ice.
- Mark it with espresso. Brew the espresso and pour it slowly over the top, through the foam or over the ice, so it sits on the milk in a layer. Do not stir.
- Crosshatch the caramel. Drizzle caramel sauce in a crosshatch, several lines one way and several the other, then once around the edge. Stir before you drink if you want it evenly sweet.
Tips, substitutions and storage
- Homemade vanilla syrup: simmer ½ cup sugar and ½ cup water until dissolved, cool and add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Keeps 2 weeks in the fridge.
- Use thick caramel sauce on top, not thin syrup, so the crosshatch holds its shape.
- For clean layers, pour the espresso slowly over the back of a spoon.
- Lighter version: nonfat or almond milk, sugar-free vanilla syrup and a thin drizzle.
- No espresso machine: use ¼ cup moka pot coffee or 2 teaspoons instant espresso in 2 oz hot water.
- Storage: make it fresh. Vanilla syrup and caramel sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated.
Watch: Iced Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks at Home
Caramel Macchiato FAQs
What is in a Starbucks Caramel Macchiato?
Vanilla syrup, steamed milk (2% by default), espresso and a caramel sauce drizzle. A Grande has 3 pumps of vanilla and 2 shots of espresso.
How many calories are in a Caramel Macchiato?
Hot, with 2% milk: 120 (Short), 190 (Tall), 250 (Grande) and 310 (Venti). Iced: 180 (Tall), 250 (Grande) and 350 (Venti).
How much caffeine is in a Caramel Macchiato?
About 75 mg in a Short or Tall, 150 mg in a Grande and hot Venti, and 225 mg in an iced Venti, which gets 3 shots.
Is a Caramel Macchiato a latte?
Almost. It uses the same espresso and milk as a vanilla latte, but the espresso is poured on top instead of at the bottom, and it is finished with caramel drizzle. Order it “upside down” and it is essentially a vanilla latte with caramel.
What does upside down mean for a Caramel Macchiato?
The barista builds it in latte order: espresso first, then milk, then caramel. The layers disappear and the drink tastes evenly mixed from the first sip.
Does a Caramel Macchiato have caramel syrup?
No. The flavor in the cup is vanilla syrup; the caramel is a thick caramel sauce drizzled on top. Ask for caramel syrup if you want more caramel flavor throughout.
What is the difference between a Caramel Macchiato and an Espresso Macchiato?
An Espresso Macchiato is a traditional espresso shot marked with a little foam (15 calories in a Doppio). The Caramel Macchiato is a large, sweet, layered milk drink.
Is a Starbucks caramel macchiato the same as Dunkin’ or McDonald’s?
No. Other chains and coffee creamers use the same name for their own recipes, which differ in build, sweetness and nutrition.
Nutrition, caffeine and ingredients are from starbucks.com (checked October 2026), made with 2% milk. Prices are average US prices and vary by store. starbukmenu.com is not affiliated with Starbucks Corporation.
