Update 9/2/22: We also tried the Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato! Click here to read our review.
What is the Starbucks Apple Crisp Macchiato?
Move over, Pumpkin Spice Latter, there’s a new fall drink in town. Recently added to the menu is the Apple Crisp Macchiato, available either hot or iced. Espresso is added to milk, with a spiced apple drizzle on top. You’ll also find the flavor of an Apple Brown Sugar Syrup.
How is it?
Let me start with a story. I’ve always understood that you do not stir a macchiato. After the espresso is layered on the milk, you let it naturally settle as you sip. A year or so ago, I mobile ordered an Iced Caramel Macchiato and sent my husband in to get it while I stayed in the car with our infant son. I gave him the explicit instructions NOT to stir the drink. Five minutes later, he walks out, and what is he doing? You guessed it. Shaking the drink around like it’s his job. Lesson learned: I go in and get the drink myself. (And he doesn’t live it down!)
I share this story because it’s one of the reasons the Iced Apple Crisp Macchiato fell flat for me. When I got the drink, I could visibly see the Spiced Apple Drizzle and Apple Brown Sugar Syrup at the very bottom of the cup. And although that’s how macchiatos are constructed, unless I were to stir my iced beverage, there was no distribution of the flavor. I would have preferred the apple evenly distributed throughout the macchiato. I didn’t get a hint of apple until about 25% of the way through the drink. When I did get to taste the drizzle at the bottom, it was syrupy sweet. But overall, this really felt too similar in taste to the standard caramel version.
What I did like, though, was the hint of spice. It did make it feel like a fall drink that could be a nice alternative for folks who aren’t PSL fans. I’d like to try the Apple Brown Sugar Syrup in a regular iced caffe latte and see if that brings out more of the flavor.
Anything else you need to know?
Two other cons for me: The Iced Apple Crisp Macchiato has A LOT of sugar (hello, 36 grams in a tall) and was A LOT of money for a tall. Just be prepared that your waistline and wallet may not like you if you’re a fan of these.
Conclusion:
Just meh. Had higher hopes. I’m curious to see if the hot macchiato translates the same way… I’ll just have to add it to my list.
Purchased Price: $4.75
Size: Tall
Purchased at: Starbucks
Rating: 4 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 210 calories, 4 grams of total fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 15 milligrams of cholesterol, 190 milligrams of sodium, 37 grams of total carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 36 grams of total sugars, 7 grams of protein, and 75 milligrams of caffeine.
I found both the iced and hot versions to taste too chalky. Really despised the aftertaste. I think it was the brown sugar syrup.
I definitely had to stir my hot version (which I did based on others’ feedback). I was thinking maybe next time – if there is a next time – I’d order it “upside down” (which is how I order my caramel macchiatos) to help with the issue.
This sounded really good to me…until the OOF-factor of 36 grams of sugar in a Tall! Ack! Maybe I’m not so itching to try it, any longer.
lol, have you never looked at the sugar content of any of their other specialty drinks? Or for anywhere else, for that matter?
I actually haven’t. I try not to unduly upset myself, that way. haha
Starbucks should had served ACTUAL apple crisps in the pastry section. Why they just cannot do it?
I’m excited to try it since the syrup doesn’t have milk in it – I used to be a huge PSL fan (in store, I just make them at home now) before they switched the syrup so it will be fun to try a new fall drink for once!
thought the hot version had potential but too watery overall. Guess I’m just to much of a latte person. experimenting now with adding shots of the brown sugar syrup and drizzle topping to the pumpkin spice latte for a unique fall drink.
I ordered it today and loved it. I didn’t shake it but used a straw in the iced version. It was Apple and brown sugar flavor. A great addition to the fall lineup
You were too kind with a 4/10. There was no swirl (it looked like the barista stirred it trying to get the apple drizzle up) all the apple syrup was at the bottom, and there was no flavor throughout the drink. For the price and the hype, zero stars.