Are you supposed to mix a macchiato, and what are the new ones?

Starbucks China launched Lime Macchiato and Coconut Macchiato in October 2024, alongside the brand's first macchiato-themed exhibition at the Starbucks Reserve Sinnan Mansions store in Shanghai, held from October 1 to November 2. The caramel macchiato dates to 1996, when partners hand-drew caramel sauce over a latte macchiato.

Between 2021 and 2023, Starbucks stores globally sold over 570 million cups of caramel macchiato, so the format carries a large following. Many drinkers ask are you supposed to mix a macchiato, since the layered look hides the espresso. The exhibition addressed that with hand-drawn marks and ordering tips, while the two new drinks show how far the americano's coffee base can be reworked.

The word macchiato always brings to mind the sweet, rich classic flavor of caramel macchiato. Since Starbucks first created the caramel macchiato in 1996, this drink has become a favorite of countless coffee lovers. In October 2024, Starbucks China not only held its first macchiato-themed exhibition but also launched two new products: Lime Macchiato and Coconut Macchiato. This article takes you through the glorious history of the caramel macchiato, explores the highlights of the themed exhibition, and offers first-hand interpretation of the flavor performance and consumer feedback of the two new products, providing a reference for your next order.

When it comes to macchiato, the first name that comes to many people's minds is caramel macchiato. Mix vanilla syrup into espresso, pour in steamed and frothed milk, and then draw a beautiful caramel pattern on the delicate milk foam — this latte-style drink, combining aroma, sweetness, and richness, has long been the top choice for many coffee lovers and carries the initial coffee memories of many people regarding Starbucks.

In 1996, Starbucks store partners first tried to hand-draw patterns with silky caramel sauce on the surface of a latte macchiato, combining the dots formed by the coffee liquid on the milk foam with the unique "seven horizontal and seven vertical lines with two circles" cross-hatch grid, and thus the Starbucks caramel macchiato was born.

This caramel macchiato with its iconic mark has accumulated a massive fan base worldwide. Data shows that between 2021 and 2023, Starbucks stores globally sold over 570 million cups of caramel macchiato cumulatively.

Twenty-eight years later, from October 1 to November 2, 2024, Starbucks China held the brand's first macchiato-themed exhibition at the Starbucks Reserve Sinnan Mansions store in Shanghai.

Through classic grid marks, giant paper cup installations, and an immersive macchiato space, the exhibition systematically presented the global development trajectory of Starbucks macchiato. Visitors could not only check in on-site with the hidden ordering tips summarized by veteran caramel macchiato fans but also hand-draw their own macchiato marks or customize a "personalized" macchiato to their taste.

In addition, guests who visited the exhibition and participated in interactive sessions had the chance to receive limited-edition merchandise such as macchiato-themed fridge magnets and mark-printed canvas bags, attracting the attention of many merchandise collectors.

However, for caramel macchiato fans, the biggest attraction of this exhibition was the opportunity to taste in advance the new Starbucks macchiato series, which was officially launched on October 8.

On October 8, Starbucks China officially announced the launch of new caramel macchiato products, introducing two macchiato products this time: Lime Macchiato and Coconut Macchiato.

According to Starbucks brand promotion, Lime Macchiato is based on the newly launched Golden Roast Espresso this year, paired with salted lemon flavor sauce made from Eureka lemons, presenting a bright acidity and refreshing citrus tone overall, with a light and transparent mouthfeel, as if置身于秋日清晨。 (Note: The Chinese phrase "仿佛置身秋日清晨" was not translated; a corrected version would be: "as if you are in an autumn morning.")

Coconut Macchiato, on the other hand, uses classic espresso and incorporates two Southeast Asian elements, coconut sugar and palm sugar, in its flavor. It has a mellow and smooth taste, also bringing a different macchiato experience — one sip is like traveling to a coconut grove beach in late autumn.

The launch of new products in the classic series naturally sparked strong curiosity among caramel macchiato lovers. Following the caramel aroma, everyone rushed to order and taste, drinking two large cups at a time.

From feedback on social media, the coffee flavor of Lime Macchiato is not prominent, and the sweetness of the lemon syrup is more obvious. Some people lamented that Starbucks seems to be following the trend and moving toward milk tea-style coffee.

It is worth noting that many consumers reported that Lime Macchiato is on the sweet side. It is recommended that anyone planning to try this drink reduce the sweetness by half based on their usual sugar level; for those with a lighter taste, just 1 pump of sugar is sweet enough.

Compared with Lime Macchiato, Coconut Macchiato has relatively lower calories. Those with fat-loss needs can choose an iced medium cup; with the default three pumps of sugar and milk, 251 kcal is within an acceptable range. However, from a taste perspective, many people recommend the hot version, because you can smell the roasted coconut aroma as soon as you open the lid, and it tastes smoother and better.

When young, I didn't know the fragrance of Caramel Macchiato, and mistakenly treated Americano as a treasure. With Starbucks' new macchiato series this time, who knows how many caramel macchiato lovers will be reminded of their past coffee moments.

Image source: Internet

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.