For coffee aficionados out there, there are no better mornings than sipping a cup of your favorite coffee. It does warm us up to kickstart our day. For some, cold coffee is perfect. Others prefer it hot.
These days, among the most popular cold or iced coffees, are the iced latte and iced macchiato. They’re equally delicious in both worlds. But how is the iced latte different from the iced macchiato, and vice versa?
Made with a shot of espresso, and about 2% of low-fat milk, an iced latte is served and topped with ice cubes. As for iced macchiato, whole milk goes first on the glass, topped with ice, and poured with double shots of espresso. Several versions have also evolved such as adding whipped cream or flavored syrups on top.
If you go coffee bender and are on the lookout for tasty and easy-to-find iced coffees, you’re on the right page. Let’s find out more about these two famous iced drinks that many coffee lovers have been raving about.
Iced Latte
As an espresso-forward coffee drink, the iced latte has been very popular among adults and youngsters these days. It is said to have been invented in the United States where it’s usually a shot of espresso and chilled or cold milk poured on iced cubes.
Unlike the traditional hot coffee latte served with a light layer of steamed or frothed milk, the iced latte is simply plain milk and is often flavored with sugar or syrups. Other coffee benders though would love to have it with coffee and milk alone without syrups. Some prefer to have it served with blended ice and a little foamed milk.
Also, some coffee shops would pre-chill or freeze the espresso and milk before the iced latte is served so it doesn’t get warm. If you’d notice, the iced latte looks even in brownish coffee color and looks more mixed than the iced macchiato.
Iced Macchiato
Iced macchiato is usually topped with whipped cream or flavored syrup, and contains two shots of espresso. Unlike the iced latte that’s usually mixed evenly, the iced macchiato looks more layered like that of a marble effect.
It also contains two shots of espresso on top with chilled or cold milk poured over ice cubes. Others though would add a shot of espresso first before adding chilled milk, syrups, or whipped cream. The layered effect still shows the way it’s prepared, which is common in many coffee shops.
Compared to the iced latte, which has been around since commercial coffee spots became popular, the iced macchiato has just joined the bandwagon of iced coffee beverages in the last few years. It has then become a thing to most coffee lovers, or those who can’t live without espresso in their daily hustle.
What Makes Iced Latte And Iced Macchiato Similar?
The similarity between the iced latte and the iced macchiato is simple and obvious. Espresso! Yes, all hail to the espresso, which makes these iced beverages more famous and go-to drinks around the world.
Both would also taste almost the same except the intensity since the iced macchiato contains double shots of espresso while the iced latte only has a single shot.
What Is Espresso?
Espresso is a method of brewing coffee of Italian origin using an espresso machine. The finely ground coffee beans and high water pressure are used to create small, and higher concentrated shots. It’s also thicker than other brewing methods because of its pressurized process that creates oil droplets, suspended solids, and foam or gas bubbles.
These oil droplets help reserve the strong flavor in espresso, which makes it more intensified than regular coffee. Its caffeine content is also higher than coffee with around 65 mg per ounce while regular coffee only has between 12 and 15 mg in every ounce. However, since espresso is served in shots, it usually contains lower caffeine than regular coffee.
Espresso is a popular coffee base in many beverages such as iced latte, iced macchiato, cappuccino, caffè mocha, caffè latte, caffè macchiato, caffè Americano, flat white, among others.
What Goes Well With Iced Latte And Iced Macchiato?
For the seasoned coffee benders, pairing their cup of coffee with the best edible match on the side is anything but great. So it’s important to know that are the best pairs you can get when it’s time for the morning coffee breakfast for a headstart. Fruits, cakes, bread, and more are the best part of this coffee match.
Check out these 25 incredible side pairs for your favorite cup of coffee that we personally love to have too.
- French toast, or simply toast
- Cheese
- Crepes
- Coffee Cake
- Caramel
- Berries
- Chocolate
- Plain Butter Croissant
- Chai-Spiced Banana Bread
- Double Chocolate Biscotti
- Butterscotch Pecan Scones
- Raspberry Jam Bars
- Maple Muffins
- Chocolate Muffins
- Plums
- Apricots
- Peaches
- Fruit Tart
- Donut
- Bagel
- Tiramisu
- Peanut butter and Banana Sandwich
- Tapioca or Rice Pudding
- Grilled Cheese Panini
- Apple Fritter
How Healthy Is Coffee?
Coffee, for so many reasons, is something that we all love. Whether or not you’re going through a bad day, coffee makes you feel better. And with a perfect cup of your favorite espresso, there’s no reason not to go carte blanche. But how healthy is it?
In moderation, coffee is relatively healthy, according to a few studies and researches. Since it contains caffeine, which is a stimulant, coffee helps improve your energy levels, memory, mood, and mental function. Some would even drink a cup of coffee before hitting the gym as it also helps improve physical performance.
It can also help burn fat with the caffeine’s ability to boost your metabolic rate although it may not be effective for long-time coffee drinkers. Essential nutrients are also present in a cup of coffee. As per Nutrition Data, a cup of coffee provides 11% of the Reference Daily Intake or RDI of riboflavin or vitamin B2. It also contains 6% of pantothenic acid or vitamin B5, 3% of manganese and potassium, and 2% of magnesium and niacin or vitamin B3.
A few studies have also observed that people who drink coffee daily have a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes by 7%, which is a major health concern worldwide. Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease, which have no cure to this date, can also be prevented by drinking coffee. Studies show that those who drink coffee have about 60% to 65% of reduced risk of these diseases.
A liver condition called cirrhosis may also be prevented when you drink at least four cups of coffee daily with an 80% reduced risk. Additionally, drinking coffee can also help fight depression, protects against liver and colorectal cancer, lower the risk of strokes and heart disease.
Lastly, in the Western diet, coffee is a great source of antioxidants, and can also help you live longer, according to several large studies.
How To Make A Simple Homemade Iced Latte And Iced Macchiato
With the right ingredients, you can make your own iced latte and iced macchiato at home. We have prepared the best, tasty recipe for you so you can enjoy your own iced latte and iced macchiato. These ingredients even come in handy. So most probably, you already have these at home.
Homemade Iced Latte
For the iced latte, you’ll need a shot of espresso, which is available in bottles at the supermarket. You also need to have 3/4 cup of low-fat milk and some ice cubes. You may have to pre-chill the milk. Pretty handy, right?
Get a glass that you’re going to use, and pour the espresso shot. Add the chilled milk to your espresso. Once it’s mixed, add the ice cubes according to your liking. And you’re done!
Homemade Iced Macchiato
As for the iced macchiato, you need to have 1/4 cup of whole milk, double shots of espresso, and ice cubes. If you notice, it only needs 1/4 cup of milk with two shots of espresso, which means that the iced macchiato is stronger than the iced latte.
Grab a glass to use, and pour the milk. Add enough ice cubes and pour the double shot of espresso over. The espresso will then swirl into the whole milk slowly, which will create a layered effect like a marble. Some people prefer the iced macchiato when it comes to its looks as it’s more appealing and artsy.
If you love to put or add flavored syrups or whipped cream into your drink, you can get brands like Reddi-Wip, which is common and popular in the U.S. Other good whipped creams include Light Whipped Cream Topping, Cool Whip Original Frozen Whipped Topping, among others.
The Bottom Line
Both the iced latte and iced macchiato are great for all coffee lovers, especially the espresso benders out there. When consumed in moderation, coffee is healthy enough to keep you company throughout the day.
So don’t hesitate to pour yourself a glass of your favorite iced latte or iced macchiato and pair it with the special match on the side. Better yet, make it by yourself at home. Remember, homemade is sweeter and better!
