How Much Caffeine Is in a Macchiato? | Caffeine Content

Macchiato sounds elegant on a café menu, but the name means “stained” or “marked” in Italian — referring to a small dollop of milk foam on top of espresso. That tiny cup leads many people to underestimate how much caffeine is actually packed inside.

The honest answer is that a macchiato’s caffeine content is simply the total from its espresso shots, with only a trace of milk. A single shot adds about 75–85 mg, and a double shot pushes that to 150 mg or more depending on the coffee shop. Your total comes down to one thing: how many shots the barista pulls.

What Exactly Is a Macchiato?

A traditional macchiato is an espresso-based drink made by pulling one or two shots of espresso and “marking” the top with a small amount of steamed milk foam. The foam is mostly air, so the drink stays intensely concentrated — more like a straight espresso than a milk-heavy latte.

The two most common versions are the Espresso Macchiato (espresso with a foam mark) and the Latte Macchiato (warm milk with a shot of espresso poured on top). The caffeine content for both is essentially the same as the espresso shots inside them, since the milk volume is minimal or, in the case of the latte version, mostly milk with just a small hit of espresso.

At Starbucks, a solo (single-shot) Espresso Macchiato delivers about 75 mg of caffeine, while a doppio (double-shot) version gives you 150 mg. Many coffee shops default to a double shot for macchiatos, so checking with your barista is worth it if you’re watching your intake.

Why Size and Shots Matter More Than You Think

People often assume a macchiato has less caffeine than a latte because the cup is tiny. Ounce for ounce, a macchiato is the most concentrated espresso drink you can order — but its small size means the total caffeine is still determined by shot count, not cup volume.

• Single shot vs double shot: A solo macchiato (one shot) contains roughly 75–85 mg of caffeine. A doppio (two shots) gives you 150–170 mg. Most coffee shops automatically use a double shot for any macchiato unless you request a single.
• Café versus chain: Starbucks uses standardized shot sizes (about 75 mg per shot), but independent shops may pull ristretto (shorter, more concentrated) or lungo (longer, slightly more caffeine) shots. Ask your barista about the specific shot pull.
• Branded variations: A Starbucks Grande Caramel Macchiato (16 oz) contains 150 mg of caffeine — the same as a doppio espresso — because the milk and syrup don’t add caffeine. The difference is mostly milk volume and sweetness, not caffeine.
• Homemade macchiatos: If you make a macchiato at home with a standard single espresso shot (7–9 grams of coffee), you’ll get around 63–75 mg of caffeine. Using a double shot doubles that, just like at the café.

The takeaway: a macchiato’s caffeine is equal to the espresso it contains. Whether you’re ordering a 2-ounce traditional version or a 16‑ounce layered drink, the milligrams come from the shots alone.

Caffeine Content by Type and Size

Different macchiato styles and serving sizes produce predictable caffeine ranges. The table below breaks down the most common options using data from major coffee chains and the Healthline review of traditional macchiato definitions. All values are per serving unless noted.

Macchiato Type	Serving Size	Caffeine (mg)
Traditional (single shot)	2 fl oz (60 ml)	~85
Traditional (double shot)	2.5 fl oz (75 ml)	~170
Starbucks Solo Espresso Macchiato	1.6 fl oz	75
Starbucks Doppio Espresso Macchiato	1.6 fl oz	150
Starbucks Grande Caramel Macchiato	16 fl oz	150
Foxtail Coffee Caffè Macchiato	2.25 fl oz	120–150

The 120–150 mg range at some independent shops reflects varying shot strengths and bean blends. Regardless, you can roughly estimate 75 mg per standard espresso shot as a general rule of thumb.

How It Compares to Other Coffee Drinks

A macchiato’s caffeine punch is all about concentration, not total milligrams. Here’s how it stacks up against common coffee drinks by the numbers.

1. Vs. latte: A 2‑ounce macchiato (~85 mg) has about half the caffeine of a 2‑ounce latte (~173 mg), because a latte contains two shots of espresso in a small size. But the latte is usually served much larger (8–16 oz), so a full latte can have 150–300 mg total compared to the macchiato’s fixed shot count.
2. Vs. cappuccino: A cappuccino and a macchiato both use one or two shots, but the cappuccino has more milk foam. Caffeine content is nearly identical if the same number of shots is used — the difference is texture and milk volume.
3. Vs. Americano: An Americano is espresso diluted with hot water. A macchiato is stronger and more concentrated ounce for ounce. A 16‑oz Americano with two shots has about 150 mg — the same as a doppio macchiato, but in a much larger volume.
4. Vs. drip coffee: An 8‑oz cup of brewed coffee contains 95–200 mg of caffeine, depending on the roast and brew method. A single‑shot macchiato (75–85 mg) has less total caffeine, but a double‑shot macchiato (150 mg) is within the typical range of one cup of drip coffee.

The 2024 study in PMC noted that 42.4% of coffee samples held 75–200 mg of caffeine per serving, confirming that single‑shot macchiatos fall on the lower end of the spectrum and double‑shots sit comfortably in the middle.

Can You Customize the Caffeine?

One of the biggest advantages of a macchiato is how easily you can tailor its caffeine level. The barista uses espresso shots as the base, and you control the count. Most coffee chains let you order a solo (one shot) or doppio (two shots), and some will even add a third shot if you ask.

Starbucks’ barista drink guide — available through customizing macchiato caffeine resources — confirms that the caffeine content shifts directly with shot count. For a Caramel Macchiato, requesting an extra shot raises the total from 150 mg to 150 mg. The same logic applies to any latte-style macchiato.

Customization	Caffeine Change
Single shot → double shot	+75 mg (approximately)
Double shot → triple shot	+75 mg (approximately)
Decaf espresso shot (any count)	~3–7 mg per shot
Ristretto shot (less water, more concentrated)	Similar caffeine, slightly less volume

Keep in mind that decaf espresso still contains a small amount of caffeine. If you’re extremely sensitive or avoiding caffeine entirely, a traditional decaf macchiato may still deliver a few milligrams.

The Bottom Line

A macchiato’s caffeine content is simple once you know the shot count: roughly 75 mg per single espresso shot. A traditional 2‑ounce macchiato with one shot sits around 85 mg, while a double‑shot version and most chain‑size caramel macchiatos come in at 150 mg. The milk and foam add negligible caffeine, so the number of shots is the only variable that matters.

If you’re ordering a macchiato for its caffeine, don’t guess by the cup size — just ask your barista how many shots are in the drink. Your local coffee shop or the Starbucks barista guide can confirm the exact shot count for any size, so you get the caffeine you expect without surprises.