Have you ever had an upside down caramel macchiato? It’s a delicious coffee drink that’s becoming more and more popular. But what is it, and how do you make it? Keep reading to find out.
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What is an upside down caramel macchiato?
Before we jump and start talking about what an upside down caramel macchiato is we probably need to talk a little bit about what a regular macchiato is.
A regular caramel macchiato is made by first pouring milk, vanilla syrup and ice and then pouring in the coffee and topping it with caramel syrup.
The upside down caramel macchiato has the same ingredients but the order in which the ingredients are added is reversed.
So an the caramel syrup goes first, then the coffee, milk and finally the ice.
This causes the layers (so the visual aspect of your coffee) to be very different from one another. Also the flavors are slightly different since you0ll get your syrup mixed with the hot coffee.
Upside down caramel macchiato vs regular
And which one is better?
If you want to know which one of the options is better, well let me just say both are just as good so it really depends on your personal preference.
The most distinct differences between both types of coffees is how they look when they are served.
A regular macchiato will have some clear layers. First white from the milk and then the coffee.
With the upside down version you’ll hav your layers more blended. At the bottom you’ll see the caramel syrup and then the rest of your coffee.
The mouth feel is also slightly different between the two versions.
With the traditional caramel macchiato the caramel is added at the top, and since it’s heavier will sink to the bottom and mix equally with all the drink. The caramel flavor will feel like an accent.
With the upside down version the caramel is at the bottom and how it integrates to the rest of the drink depends on a couple of factors: how hot the coffee was when poured and if you stir it or not
If the coffee was really hot when poured on top it will blend with the coffee and create a more uniform flavor profile. However if it’s not hot you’ll have a very sweet end of your drink or a very sweet start (depending if you sue a straw or not).
And what about stirring?
According to baristas you aren’t supposed to stir your Starbucks macchiato! The barista worked really well in creating the layers for you.
However I find that with the upside down caramel macchiato you kind of have to stir it in order to get the caramel flavor trough your drink and not just at the end.
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How do you order a caramel macchiato upside down
Depends on the coffee shop you are at!
If you are at Starbucks you can just order an upside down caramel macchiato and the barista will know how to prepare it. It’s a popular drink there, so much that even Starbucks tweeted about it.
If you are at another coffee shop, maybe something more regular you might need to explain to the barista how to make it.
Just request for the caramel to go first followed by coffee, milk and ice. It’s the same macchiato but with the order of the ingredients reversed.
How do you make an upside down caramel macchiato
You can also make an upside down caramel macchiato at home and it’s incredibly easy!
Ingredients
You’ll need a couple of easy to find ingredients:
- Caramel sauce: This is the star of the recipe so make sure you are getting one you love!
- Coffee: I like using the espresso roast from Starbucks. It’s the one that creates a more similar drink to the one you’ll get from their coffee shops so it’s a great way to create your copycat recipe.
- Milk: Use anyone you like. I usually go with 2% milk but you can also use skimmed and I ven tried it with oat milk and loved it too. SO there’s a way to make your drink vegan or plant based.
- Vanilla syrup: All caramel macchiato drinks from Starbucks’s are made with vanilla syrup so if you want to take it to the next level make sure to add it to the drink.
- Ice (optional): This depends if you want to make an iced upside down caramel macchiato or just a regular (aka: hot) one.
How to prepare it
Once you have all your ingredients on hand it’s time to start making your macchiato.
- Add the caramel syrup to the bottom of the glass.
- Then slowly pour the coffee. You want to do it slowly so you’ll get the clear layers that make macchiatos a popular drink.
- Add the ice if you are going for a cold drink. That way you’ll get the milk sitting on top.
- Finally pour the milk on top and drizzle with the vanilla syrup.
- That’s it, you just made your upside down caramel macchiato!
Upside Down Caramel Macchiato Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp caramel sauce
- 2 Shos espresso
- 3/4 Cup milk
- 1/2 Tbsp vanilla syrup
- Ice
Instructions
- Add the caramel syrup to the bottom of the glass.
- Then slowly pour the coffee. You want to do it slowly so you'll get the clear layers that make macchiatos a popular drink.
- Add the ice if you are going for a cold drink. That way you'll get the milk sitting on top.
- Finally pour the milk on top and drizzle with the vanilla syrup.
Frequently asked questions about the upside down caramel macchiato
It’s a different drink so it really depends on what you like! The upside down has a more strong caramel flavor at the start or the end while the regular one has a softer but more evenly distributed caramel twist.
It’s a regular latte that has reversed the order of the ingredients! Basically you pour first the milk and finish it with the coffee instead of the other way around.