The Starbucks coffeehouse chain introduced “caramel macchiato” in 1996. “The caramel macchiato, for example, the latest novelty in coffee, has that soupçon of paint thinner, and the caramel does terrible things to the foam” was printed in the New York (NY) Times on October 27, 1996.
 
A caramel macchiato (sometimes misspelled “caramel machiatto” or “caramel machiato”) is made by adding the milk first, then an espresso shot, and then the caramel.
 
   
Wikipedia: Latte macchiato
Latte macchiato (Italian pronunciation: [ˈlatte makˈkjaːto]) is a coffee beverage; the name means stained or marked milk. Marked as in an espresso stain on the milk used. It is a play on “Espresso macchiato” which is an espresso with a drop or two of milk or cream.
 
Related drinks
Latte macchiato differs significantly from caffè latte in several ways. First, in a latte macchiato, espresso is added to milk, rather than milk to espresso as in a caffè latte. 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 as in a caffè latte.
 
Simply, in a caffè latte, the emphasis is on the coffee, while in a latte macchiato, the emphasis is on the milk.
     
27 October 1996, New York (NY) Times, “Half Caf, Half Decaf. . .: Pick a Starbucks, Any Starbucks. You’ll Find Coffee and Carbo, for a Price” by Fran Schumer, pg. NJ10, col. 4:
The caramel macchiato, for example, the latest novelty in coffee, has that soupçon of paint thinner, and the caramel does terrible things to the foam. It’s bad, but not as bad as last year’s notorious eggnog latte, soon to be resurrected.
 
25 January 1997, Richmond (BC) Review, “Good Living” by Brendon and Anne Mathews, pg. A14, cols. 1-2:
Best Coffee:
Still Starbucks. Next time splurge and try our new favorite, the “Caramel Macchiato”.
           
11 February 1997, Los Angeles (CA) Times, “Shortcuts; The Java Junkie’s Perks and Grinds,” pg. 3:
You’re minding your business when some condescending highway patrolman pulls you over and asks you if you know how fast you were going. “I have no idea officer; I am in a hurry. I’ve got to pick up my triple grande caramel macchiato before heading off to work, and I’m really going to be late now. . . .”
   
28 September 1997, New York (NY) Times, “These Are Some of My Favorites” by Linda Saslow, pg. LI16, col. 1:
Bernadette Castro
Commissioner, State Department of Parks and Recreation
I’m a Starbucks woman. My favorite stop for the best cup of coffee is the Starbucks in Glen Cove because it’s five minutes from my daughter’s home. Whenever I visit her, I stop to pick up coffee for both of us. My favorite summer treat is a frappacino, and sometimes a double shot of espresso as a mid-afternoon coffee snack. And in the winter I get a caramel machiatto with low-fat milk.
 
Google Groups: alt.books.outlander
Names We Like  
Patricia Castro
6/5/98
Isabella,
I am the Brittish guy’s Caramel Machiato JUNKIE!!!!!!
 
Google Groups: alt.tv.pretender
Coffee (was Re: About that comment…)
~Zoe~
1/28/99
I live in the American coffee region, the Northwest. Having companies like Starbucks and Seattle’s Best Coffee in the area, there’s no avoiding this liquid vice. I don’t drink alcohol, do *any* drugs,  nor do I smoke. But I GOTTA HAVE MY COFFEE!!!!! At least 1 cup of Starbucks Espresso blend every day to start, then later in the day, it’s a caramel machiatto for me.
 
8 April 1999, The Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ), “Take Five Cafe,” pg. 2EV, col. 1:
Hanging out in a coffee shop with your choice of mocha java, caramel machiatto, or simple cup of black brew is part of ‘90’s chic.
 
YouTube
How to make a caramel macchiato
Jul 9, 2010
mahalodotcom
Check out Bas Rutten’s Liver Shot on MMA Surge: http://bit.ly/MMASurgeEp1
Step 1: Milk
(...)
Step 2: Espresso
(...)
Step 3: Caramel
 
YouTube
HOW TO MAKE A STARBUCKS ICED CARAMEL MACCHIATO LATTE
Sep 29, 2012
pinkmacprincess
UPDATED VIDEO - https://youtu.be/z4Wda6JyE0k
 
OCLC WorldCat record
Caramel macchiato
Author: Iffah Ariqoh
Publisher: Yogyakarta : Bentang Belia, 2016.
Edition/Format:   Print book : Fiction : Indonesian : Cetakan ketiga