Both versions are “real” drinks of Italian origin. The problem is that you can’t expect to get the correct drink if you only use half of the drink’s name. It doesn’t help that most Europeans only know of one, and most Americans only know of the opposite one. The cafe macchiato (aka espresso macchiato) is coffee ‘marked’ with a little milk foam. A latte macchio is foamed milk ‘marked’ with a little coffee (and optionally also a bunch of sugar). If a menu (or a customer) just says macchiato without specifying which liquid has been marked, then it’s best to clarify up front what they mean. I use hand gestures to demonstrate their different sizes when asking. I agree that the cafe macchiatto is the superior beverage, but the ambiguity is the real issue.
Both versions are “real” drinks of Italian origin. The problem is that you can’t expect to get the correct drink if you only use half of the drink’s name. It doesn’t help that most Europeans only know of one, and most Americans only know of the opposite one. The cafe macchiato (aka espresso macchiato) is coffee ‘marked’ with a little milk foam. A latte macchio is foamed milk ‘marked’ with a little coffee (and optionally also a bunch of sugar). If a menu (or a customer) just says macchiato without specifying which liquid has been marked, then it’s best to clarify up front what they mean. I use hand gestures to demonstrate their different sizes when asking. I agree that the cafe macchiatto is the superior beverage, but the ambiguity is the real issue.