Quick Answer
The New York Times Mini crossword clue “___ macchiato (espresso drink)” is answered with “CAFFE”, a 5-letter Down entry.
Clue: “___ macchiato (espresso drink)”
Answer: CAFFE
Length: 5 letters
Clue number and direction: 2-Down
In the grid, you fill it as CAFFE.
Why CAFFE Is the Right NYT Answer
- “Caffè macchiato” is the original Italian name for the espresso drink we usually just call a macchiato, so the missing first word is caffè, rendered as CAFFE in crosswords without the accent.
- NYT-focused helper sites confirm that the February 2, 2026 Mini uses CAFFE as the 5-letter solution for this clue at 2D.
- The enumeration (five letters) rules out options like LATTE or ESPRESSO and fits the Italian spelling used in many coffee-related clues.
What CAFFE Macchiato Means in Plain English
- A caffè macchiato (often called an espresso macchiato) is an espresso “stained” or “marked” with a small amount of milk, usually foamed.
- In Italian, macchiato means “stained” or “spotted,” so the phrase literally translates to “stained coffee.”
- It’s a strong espresso-forward drink with just a touch of milk to soften the intensity, popular among people who want bold coffee flavor without a full latte’s milkiness.
Crossword-Specific Help: Pattern, Crossings, and Recurrence
- CAFFE appears regularly in NYT and other crosswords in Italian café or coffee contexts, often clued as “___ latte,” “Locale for a macchiato,” or simply “Coffee, in Italy.”
- In this puzzle, crossings from entries like ANNUL, ONFIRE, and SUFFIX make the double FF and final E easy to confirm once a few letters are in place.
- You’ll see similar constructions such as CAFFE LATTE and other Italian coffee terms pop up whenever a puzzle has a café or barista mini-theme.
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
- When you see macchiato, latte, or espresso in a clue, watch for Italian spellings like CAFFE (not “coffee”) and LATTE.
- A blank plus “macchiato” often wants the style of drink (CAFFE or LATTE), while clues like “Locale for a macchiato” might still yield CAFFE or CAFE depending on length.
For a 5-letter coffee-related answer with C- - F F E, CAFFE is the go-to fill; let crossings verify the vowels if you’re unsure.
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