Are you tired of waiting in the Starbucks drive-thru lines and spending way more money than you should for your favorite caramel macchiato? I know I am! Plus, who wants to change out of their jammies if they don’t have to?

Well, you don’t have to! With the Ninja Dual Brew or Ninja Coffee Bar System, you can make a delicious Iced Caramel Macchiato in minutes without ever leaving your home. I’ll show you how!

Don’t worry if you haven’t purchased a Ninja coffee maker yet. We have thoroughly reviewed all the best Ninja coffee makers available. Go check out the article, and you’ll be an at-home barista in no time!

Then head right back here for my delicious Iced Caramel Macchiato recipe.

What is a macchiato?

It’s more than just a fun word to say! Macchiato means “marked” or “stained” in Italian, originating in Italy. Traditionally, you top a shot of espresso with a dash of steamed milk and nothing else.

But we know coffee doesn’t come with rules! And if you’re like me, you’ll want it sweet. Caramel and vanilla make the perfect addition for your morning addiction, hot or cold. 

So if you’re ready to turn your kitchen counter into your favorite coffee house, let’s gather our essential ingredients and make a homemade Iced Caramel Macchiato.

What You’ll Need

Ingredients

• 3-4 Ninja Single-Serve Scoops of your favorite ground coffee
• 3/4 cup of milk or milk substitute
• 1 tablespoon of caramel sauce
• 1 tablespoon of vanilla syrup
• ice
• whipped topping (optional)

Hardware

• your Ninja DualBrew or Ninja Coffee Bar System
• a 24-ounce heat-safe serving glass, plus a separate heat-safe brewing vessel
• the Ninja Built-In, Foldaway milk frother, or Ninja Easy Frother (optional)

The Process

Step 1:

Whether I’m making black coffee, cold brew, or specialty drinks, I always start by getting my Ninja Coffee Machine ready to brew. First, make sure the coffee maker is plugged in and powered on. Then, be sure to fill the water reservoir. 

Add 3-4 Ninja Single-Serve Scoops of ground coffee right into the brew basket.

Did you know? With the Ninja DualBrew, you have the option to use coffee pods or coffee grounds. So if you want to use a k-cup instead, be my guest!

Step 2:

Let’s make it sweet.

Traditionally, a macchiato wouldn’t have any added flavors or sweeteners, but who cares about tradition when we have caramel and vanilla?

I’m choosing to add a tablespoon of vanilla syrup and caramel sauce, with a little extra to drizzle on top. But don’t let me hold you back from any combination of caramel and vanilla! The sweet, indulgent flavors of caramel and vanilla complement the rich espresso perfectly.

Step 3:

Fill it up with ice.

Add about a cup of ice to the 24-ounce serving glass, leaving room for the coffee, 3/4 cup of milk, sauces and optional foam. Do not fill it to the brim.

Use a separate heat-safe vessel on the single-cup platform to catch the coffee. Follow your model’s Over Ice instructions, including any ice required in that brewing vessel.

QUICK TIP:

Freeze any leftover coffee from the day before and use that to avoid watering down your cold brew.

Ready, set…brew!

DUALBREW: With nine brew sizes, the Ninja DualBrew is precise! Turn the dial to select 8 ounces of coffee.

COFFEE BAR: Turn the dial to ‘Cup’ for our purposes. But go ahead and set it to travel mug if you’re doubling up the recipe.

Press Over Ice Brew and wait for the coffee to finish dispensing. Brew-size labels and actual output vary by model. Pour the brewed coffee into the serving glass only as far as leaves room for the milk and toppings; reserve any extra rather than overflowing the glass.

Step 4:

Create the layers in your coffee with cream.

One of the traits of a macchiato is the dash of steamed milk that “stains” the espresso and creates gorgeous layers. Of course, we’re using cold milk today, but we can recreate that effect.

If you’re planning to froth your milk, now is the time.

DUALBREW: Hold your cup of milk under the built-in, foldaway milk frother and submerge the whisk just below the surface. Press and hold the top button for 30-45 seconds.

COFFEE BAR: Pour the milk into the Easy Frother and press the hand-pump frother about 15 times.

You can also use a handheld milk frother to achieve the same results.

Pour your cold or frothy milk directly over your iced coffee. 

Optional Steps:

• For a sweet, creamy dessert-like coffee, top it off with a dollop of whipped cream.
• Drizzle some caramel sauce over the top for an extra indulgent flavor.

Want to truly elevate your drink? Sprinkle a pinch of sea salt over the top. The salty, sweet goodness will make your macchiato mind-blowing. And don’t forget to tip your barista!

Happy Caffeinating!

Iced Caramel Macchiato In A Ninja Coffee Maker

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Additional Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

When the cup of regular iced coffee just won’t cut it, let the iced caramel macchiato make your morning a bit more interesting. It’s got all the strong coffee you need to get going, plus a bit of vanilla syrup and caramel sauce to make your taste buds happy.

4.6 Stars (40 Reviews)

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Ingredients

• 3-4 Ninja Single-Serve Scoops of your favorite ground coffee
• 3/4 cup of milk or milk substitute
• 1 tablespoon of caramel sauce
• 1 tablespoon of vanilla syrup
• Ice
• Whipped topping (optional)

Instructions

1. Add the ground coffee to your Ninja brewer according to its instructions.
2. Add 1 tablespoon each of vanilla syrup and caramel sauce to a 24-ounce heat-safe serving glass.
3. Add about a cup of ice, leaving room for the coffee, milk and optional toppings.
4. Brew using the article’s Over Ice setting into a separate heat-safe vessel, following your model’s instructions for ice and brew size.
5. Pour the brewed coffee into the serving glass, leaving room for 3/4 cup cold or frothed milk. Reserve any excess coffee rather than overflowing the glass.
6. Add the milk and optional toppings, then serve.

Notes

This drink uses brewed coffee rather than espresso. Brew-size labels and actual output vary by Ninja model. Use a large serving glass and leave room for ice, milk and toppings.