Latte macchiato is a coffee beverage; the name means
stained or marked milk, which refers to the espresso stain on the milk used. It is a play on “espresso macchiato,” an espresso with a dollop or two of milk or cream.
Latte macchiato differs from caffè latte in several ways. First, in a latte macchiato, espresso is added to milk, rather than milk to espresso. Second, a latte macchiato features more foam rather than simply hot milk. A latte macchiato often uses only half an espresso shot or less. Finally, a latte macchiato is often a layered drink, rather than being mixed.
In a caffè latte the emphasis is on the coffee, while in a latte macchiato it is on the milk.
The macchia (Italian, "spot") is the small stain of brown espresso foam, known as crema, left on top of the milk showing where the espresso shot was poured. Its presence visually distinguishes the latte macchiato from a caffè latte, as in a caffè latte the espresso is added to the cup first before the milk is mixed in.