Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato Recipe UK — £1.50 at Home
The authentic Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato recipe with UK ingredients. Same taste, £3+ saved per drink, 5 minutes to make.
A homemade Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato costs about £1.50 per glass — compared to £4.75 for a Grande at UK Starbucks. You need 5 ingredients: espresso, milk, vanilla syrup, ice, and caramel sauce. Total time is 5 minutes.
What Is the Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato?
The Iced Caramel Macchiato is a layered drink: cold milk and ice at the bottom, 2 shots of espresso poured over the top (the “mark”), vanilla syrup mixed through, and a caramel drizzle on top. The layers stay separate until you stir — that is the visual appeal. It launched in 1996 and is one of the most ordered Starbucks drinks globally.
A Grande (473ml) Iced Caramel Macchiato with semi-skimmed milk has 250 calories and 33g of sugar. Caffeine content is 150mg from the 2 espresso shots. The drink is NOT vegan by default — it uses dairy caramel. Swap to oat milk and ask for a vegan caramel (not available at all UK stores) for a fully plant-based version.
Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato UK Prices (2026)
| Size | Volume | Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tall | 354ml / 12oz | £4.25 | 190 kcal |
| Grande | 473ml / 16oz | £4.75 | 250 kcal |
| Venti | 710ml / 24oz | £5.25 | 340 kcal |
| Homemade | ~473ml | £1.50 | ~225 kcal |
Making it at home saves £3+ per drink. Two drinks a week for a year saves £312. Price varies slightly between UK stores — see the full Starbucks UK menu prices list.
Ingredients You Need
Iced Caramel Macchiato — Full Ingredient List
2 shots (60ml) — Nespresso, moka pot, or espresso machine. Brewed strong filter coffee (100ml) also works
240ml — whole, semi-skimmed, or oat milk. Cold from the fridge
3 pumps (3 tbsp) — Monin or Torani vanilla syrup from Amazon UK (around £5, lasts 40+ drinks)
A full tall glass of ice cubes. Crushed ice works too but melts faster
2 tablespoons — Monin, Torani, or Tesco Finest caramel sauce. Not the same as caramel syrup — you want the thick sauce for the drizzle
Step-by-Step Recipe
Nutrition — Homemade vs Starbucks
| Nutrient | Starbucks Grande | Homemade (same size) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 250 kcal (semi-skimmed) | ~225 kcal |
| Sugar | 33g | ~28g |
| Fat | 7g | ~5g |
| Caffeine | 150mg | ~150mg |
| Protein | 10g | ~9g |
You can cut calories further by using 2 pumps of vanilla syrup instead of 3 (saves about 30 kcal), or using skim milk (saves about 40 kcal). See our full Starbucks UK calories guide.
5 Ways to Customise Your Iced Caramel Macchiato
1. Extra caramel. Add caramel syrup (not sauce) to the milk, not just on top. Gives 3 layers of caramel flavour. Ask for a “Caramel Macchiato with extra caramel” at Starbucks.
2. Vanilla swap. Replace vanilla syrup with hazelnut, toffee nut, or cinnamon syrup for a different flavour profile. Toffee nut is the autumn favourite.
3. Hot version. Skip the ice. Heat and froth the milk, pour over vanilla syrup, then add espresso on top. A Hot Caramel Macchiato is Starbucks original — they added the iced version later.
4. Vegan macchiato. Use oat milk and ask for the Starbucks vegan caramel sauce (available at most UK stores). The taste is 95% the same.
5. Blonde shots. Use blonde espresso for a smoother, less bitter drink. Many UK Starbucks stores offer blonde at no extra cost — ask specifically.
Where to Buy the Ingredients in the UK
| Ingredient | Where | Price | Makes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monin Vanilla Syrup (700ml) | Amazon UK, Waitrose | £5.00 | ~40 drinks |
| Caramel Sauce (500g) | Amazon UK, Tesco | £4.50 | ~25 drinks |
| Nespresso capsules (10-pack) | Tesco, supermarket | £3.50 | 5 drinks (2 shots) |
| Instant ice maker (optional) | Amazon UK | £80 | many drinks |
Total first-time cost is about £13 (excluding espresso maker). Each drink works out to £1.50. A Grande at Starbucks UK is £4.75, so you save £3.25 every time.
Storage and Batch Prep
You can pre-mix the milk and vanilla syrup and keep it in the fridge for 3 days. Add ice and fresh espresso when you want a drink. Do not pre-add the ice — it will melt and dilute the drink.
How Does It Compare to the Real Thing?
Flavour is about 90% identical. The main difference is Starbucks caramel sauce has a specific vanilla-caramel profile that supermarket versions approximate but do not match exactly. Monin caramel sauce is the closest. Visually, the homemade version can look identical if you pour the espresso gently.
Equipment Needed
You need: one tall glass (473ml), one long spoon, an ice tray, and an espresso source. A milk frother is NOT needed for the iced version. Nespresso machines are the easiest espresso source for home use — about £90 for a basic model on Amazon UK.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato in the UK?
A Tall Iced Caramel Macchiato costs £4.25, a Grande is £4.75, and a Venti is £5.25 at UK Starbucks in 2026. Making it at home costs about £1.50 per serving.
How many calories are in an Iced Caramel Macchiato UK?
A Grande Iced Caramel Macchiato with semi-skimmed milk has 250 calories. Whole milk is 280 kcal, skimmed milk is 220 kcal, oat milk is 260 kcal. A Tall has 190 kcal and a Venti has 340 kcal.
Is the Iced Caramel Macchiato strong?
A Grande has 150mg of caffeine (2 espresso shots), which is stronger than most Starbucks iced drinks. That is about the same as a cup of strong filter coffee. A Venti has the same 150mg caffeine (Starbucks does not add more shots to Venti iced drinks by default).
Why is it called a macchiato?
Macchiato means “marked” in Italian. The drink is “marked” by the espresso pour on top of the milk, creating the layered look. Traditional Italian macchiato is espresso marked with milk foam — Starbucks version is the opposite (milk marked with espresso).
Is the Iced Caramel Macchiato vegan?
Not by default — it uses dairy milk and dairy caramel sauce. To make it vegan at Starbucks UK, ask for oat or soy milk AND the vegan caramel sauce (available at most stores). Confirm vegan caramel availability with your barista.
Can I make the recipe without an espresso machine?
Yes. Use 100ml of strong filter coffee, French press coffee, or AeroPress coffee in place of 2 espresso shots. The drink will be slightly less intense but still tastes similar.
What caramel sauce does Starbucks UK use?
Starbucks uses their own branded caramel sauce — thick, buttery, with vanilla notes. Monin Caramel Sauce is the closest supermarket equivalent and is available at Amazon UK for about £4.50 per bottle.
How long does a homemade Iced Caramel Macchiato last?
Drink it immediately for best taste. The ice will dilute the drink within 15 minutes. You can prep the milk-vanilla base in advance and store in the fridge for 3 days, then assemble fresh when wanted.
Is hot or iced Caramel Macchiato better?
Both have similar taste profiles. The hot version has a thicker, creamier texture due to steamed milk. The iced version is more refreshing and lets the espresso flavour stand out more. Hot is original, iced is more popular in the UK.
How do I get that crosshatch caramel pattern on top?
Squeeze the caramel sauce bottle while moving your hand in a diagonal line across the glass, then perpendicular. Two diagonal lines + two perpendicular = the classic Starbucks crosshatch. Takes practice but looks great.
