With my BarBri bar review class starting tomorrow (I better get to bed!) I need to prepare for a new chapter in my coffee shop patronage. Coffee shops and I have developed a symbiotic relationship these past few years: coffee shops provide me an escape from the dreaded internet (such a distraction!) and other perils of working at home and I provide them with money. Lots and lots of money.
In the winter months, my drinks vary from the mystical snap of Chai Tea to the creamy indulgent kick of a white chocolate mocha. Usually these drinks get me where I need to be got in order to get some work done. But in these summer months, something else must do.
Which is why I present to you my newest drink of choice: The Iced Caramel Macchiato.
Imagine it. Pungent espresso shots meet rich sticky caramel in a bath of cool, comforting milk. All the elements fuse together to create a small cup of deliciousness. My favorite part is the glops of caramel you suck up in the straw. And the whole thing lasts a while.
Iced Caramel Macchiato. It’s the drink of champions!
[NOTE: THE AMATEUR GOURMET WAS NOT PAID A LUCRATIVE SUM TO ENDORSE THE ICED CARAMEL MACCHIATO. STARBUCKS AND THE AMATEUR GOURMET HAVE A PURELY PLATONIC RELATIONSHIP AND ANY ENDORSEMENTS THAT MAY ENSURE ARE SIMPLY THE RESULT OF GENUINE AFFECTION, NOT MONETARY REWARDS. AND SO WHAT IF STARBUCKS, SOMEDAY, MAYBE TUESDAY, SHOWS UP AT MY DOOR WITH A BRAND NEW BMW RACER? WHO CARES IF I AM FLOWN ROUND TRIP TO PARIS, ALL EXPENSES PAID? THIS DOES NOT COMPROMISE MY JOURNALISTIC INTEGRITY. IT IS SIMPLY THE PERKS OF A HEALTHY SOCIAL–I REPEAT SOCIAL–RELATIONSHIP. SO ALL YOU CONSPIRACY THEORISTS AND WHISTLE BLOWERS CAN TAKE A HIKE. THE AMATEUR GOURMET IS THE REAL DEAL FO SHIZZLE. AND HE LOVES STARBUCKS’ NEW COMPILATION CD—“MUSIC FOR COFFEE DRINKERS.” AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL STARBUCKS NOW!]
Fo Shizzle? Lol! You need to move to Seattle! A Starbucks in every corner. Later today I’ll be having one of these babies in your honor. Thanks for the heads up! ;-)
as someone who has worked many a coffeeshop job that funded my art school education [an oxymoron at its finest], i get nitpicky about coffee. and i stopped drinking caffinated products a while ago!
to paraphrase, a macchiato is “a shot of espresso with a dab of steamed or foamed milk on top.”
so then, to “bathe” a shot of espresso, that sounds like a lot of milk has been poured into the cup, which would mean its more of a cappucino or most likely, a latte.
OK, thought i would share. ill go back to reading your totally awesome blog. keep up the good work!
This is my wife’s drink of choice as well. I bit too sweet for me however. I prefer the Iced Chai Latte with Soy milk.
An excellent drink, regardless of the season. Another person with a Starbucks-funded education here, the reason they can say macchiato is because essentially you’re pouring the espresso shot over the milk. It doesn’t mix well with the cold milk at first. An iced latte is espresso in the bottom of the cup, with milk poured over it. It mixes easier, so the espresso/ milk mixture is way more consistent. Either way, it’s all good. Yay. I’ll have to agree with Thomas, though: my drink of choice is the iced soy chai.
At first, like most people, I started out with the Frappuccino. I then decided it just was not doing it for me. Then I tried the Caramel Macchiato. Mmm, It tasted great, and it gave me some energy and woke me up, that’s what I loved about it. However, spending about $4 a day on this was… expensive. So I found another drink that tastes about the same, with more caffeine and about a buck less. Now, I get the Venti Iced Caffe Americano w/ a shot of Caramel Syrup and room. I fill the rest of the cup up with whole milk (provided by Starbucks) and two Equal sugars; then add a pinch of nutmeg. Tastes great for the morning.
When I worked at Starbucks, I became a big fan of this one: an Grande Iced Coffee with Caramel *sauce* (not syrup!) with a little bit of room (maybe a half an inch). Then add a splash or two of half and half (it will taste better than using reg. milk).
Try it!!!
I’m curious… i’m thinking about opening a coffee shop (not in States) and I wondered about what people expect in a good cafeteria… I’m sure I’ve found the good ones. People in my country do not know about those delices.. Help me to help them!!!! :D