What is a Flat White?

– A Complete Guide –

Which coffee drink do you like the most?

Maybe the Flat White is not your coffee radar, yet.

But it will probably only be a matter of time. Until your local coffee shop will also start offering one of the hottest coffee trends.

The Flat White is not particularly a new coffee drink invention. It has been around for a while already, especially in the Asian Pacific region.

This latest Aussie invasion has nothing to do with beers, bands or crocodiles. But it does have a strong connection to a traditional Australian breakfast.

It is the Austalian answer to the well-established Latte drink.

Over the past few years, this new coffee sensation went from completely unknown to being the next big thing.

But, what exactly is a Flat White? How do we make it?

And, what is the difference between a Flat White and a Latte?

Let’s find out the answers together.

Here is everything you need to know about the Flat White.

What is a Flat White?

In very short terms, a Flat White is an espresso-based drink.

It additionally contains steamed milk. That much is probably already obvious to most coffee consumers.

The Flat White traditionally comes with a strong taste of coffee. Typically, it is made with a small amount of steamed milk. And, a thin layer of microfoam is resting on top.

If you strongly want to taste an espresso. The Flat White is the right choice for you to go with.

Indeed, you will have a strong espresso flavor experience. And on top, it will provide you with a creamy mouthfeel sensation of steamed milk.

This already sounds delicious to me and worth to be further explored.

Where Does it Come From?

Actually, the answer depends on who you are asking.

There is some debate going on about the Flate White’s origin for decades already.

And, it exposes centuries-old culinary rivalries between the neighbors of Australia and New Zealand.

Both proudly claim ownership of the drink.

Some say, it originates from Sydney in the early 1980s. However, others argue that it goes back until Melbourne in the 1970s.

Whereas, New Zealanders argue that the drink was developed into its modern form in the coffee shops of the nation’s capital, Wellington, in the later 1980s.

Possibly, the safest answer is to say both countries helped to create the great Flat White.

Since its early years, the Flat White steadily continued to grow in popularity.

It began popping up on menus in the US and UK, in particular. From there, it quickly spread all over Europe and all of the Americas.

Nowadays, coffee experts consider the Flat White to be specialty café standard.

The Rise of Flat White

According to coffee market analysts, many coffee consumers wanted to transition from instant coffee. Their desire and interest lay more on espresso-based coffee drinks.

They wanted to have something familiar but not exactly a cappuccino instead.

At the time, cappuccinos literally had mountainous milk-foam peaks on top of their cups. For some consumers, it was simply too much milk foam.

So, they asked for it to be ‘flat’.

Consequently, the drink evolved to be ‘flatter’ than a cappuccino. Eventually, it has further been scaled back to more delicious micro-foam over the years.

When big coffee chains like Starbucks began serving Flat White as alternative to the Latte.

It became clear that the drink had ultimately entered the mainstream.

Cappuccino and Latte

So, what did we learn about the Flat White so far?

It is an espresso with steamed milk and little foam on top.

But, isn’t that a latte? Or, does that not actually sound like a cappuccino as well?

What is a Latte

The term ‘latte’ started to be used in English in the 1980s. However, the concept of having a coffee with warm milk has been around for much longer.

In fact, people have been mixing coffee with milk for centuries already. You can especially find many historical traces in Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Austria.

The Café Latte was one of many traditional breakfast drinks.

Especially in Italy, the Café Latte is usually a very milky breakfast drink. Traditionally, you make it with a shot of coffee from a stovetop espresso maker.

Its modern and shorter term,’ Latte’, originates and became popular in the US.

How to Make a Latte

Typically, coffee makers prepare a Café Latte in a 240 ml (8oz) glass or cup.

First, they are using 1 standard shot of espresso. This espresso can either eventually consist of a single shot (30ml or 1oz) or a double shot (60ml or 2oz).

Second, you are filling your cup with steamed milk.

Third and last, you are topping everything with a layer of foamed milk. This layer is approximately 12 mm (1/2 inch) thick on top.

Sometimes, people also prepare a Café Latte with stronger coffee, instead of the usual espresso.

What is a Cappuccino

The today’s name of this coffee type first emerged in the 1950s. Since then, people call it Cappuccino.

This was actually already long after the Cappuccino’s original birth.

Its very first and original name was kapuziner. Innovative people created this coffee version in Vienna in the 1800s.

Historically, it was a small drink consisting of brewed coffee mixed either with milk or cream. The final look and especially drink’s color reminded the first coffee makers of the monks’ Capuchin robes.

If you reached the exact same color. It indicated that enough milk had been added.

How to Make Cappuccino

The perfect cup of Cappuccino will be the product of equal unity and balance.

Typically, a Cappuccino contains equal parts of espresso, steamed and milk froth. Compared to a Latte, the coffee cup for a Cappuccino is smaller. It is usually between 150 to 180 ml.

A Cappuccino’s milk foam can be dry or velvety. Either consisting of large, airy bubbles and lots of volume. Or much smaller bubbles that are barely visible.

This is how you should make it.

Pour 1/3 of steamed milk at the bottom of your cup. Then add 1/3 of espresso. Carefully pour it in. Last then comes the milk froth by 1/3. Put it on top with a spoon.

This creates the right layering in tastes and textures.

Flat White vs Latte – What’s the Difference?

Especially these two coffee drink versions cause a lot of confusion.

Because, they are very much similar. And, they even tend to further move towards each other than drift apart.

Commonly, the Latte is served in a 200ml glass. This is in Australia, the presumably birthplace of the Flat White.

Here, coffee makers typically use a 180ml ceramic cup for a Flat White. So, it is a little less dilute, meaning thinner or weaker.

In addition, the Latte usually has slightly more foam (1cm layer) than the Flat White (0.5cm layer).

However, during the last few years, this difference in foam has increasingly been discarded. Nowadays, both drinks are more or less served the same way.

Overall, it is important that there are no distinct rules or guidelines anymore.

Every coffee shop serves the Flat White slightly differently, today. Some versions might be closer to other coffee drink such as the Latte.

And, other baristas may want to highlight specific differences more. Therefore, it’s easy to see why there is general confusion is emerging.

Cappuccinos and Lattes can be made with one or two shots of espresso. But a Flat White typically contains two shots.

But again, even this original preparation method has become optional.

In fact, things can even get more complicated. Some baristas like to use a double Ristretto, now.

A Ristretto is a ‘short shot’ of a more highly concentrated espresso coffee. Normally, it is made with the same amount of ground coffee.

But the eventual shot is extracted with a finer grind. You would only be using half as much water as for a usual espresso.

This is to create a stronger coffee flavor.

Interpretations of the Flat White

As we found out already, the way of preparation can literally depend on where you are.

In different regions and by individual baristas. The potentially served Flat White can greatly vary in its outcome.

For example, British coffee producers and experts have another interpretation. Here, the difference between a Latte and a Flat White is usually the milk to coffee ratio.

Generally, the texture of the milk is very similar in both drinks. Typically, there is enough aeration to pour and create latte art. But it is not too much yet, that it might become frothy.

Aeration itself is the process that allows air to act on something. In regards of coffee, it describes the introduction of air into a material such as milk.

Concerning the ratio, baristas serve Flat Whites in 5oz (150ml) cups. And, Lattes usually come in 8oz (240ml) cups of glasses.

Additionally, both commonly contain double shots of espresso.

If a Flat White is larger than 6oz (180ml). Many people think that it would already become a Latte then.

Eventually, both the Flat White and Latte have good selling points. That’s why both drinks are already popular in the first place.

Generally, the Latte is a best-selling drink at second wave coffee shops. And, the Flat White is appreciated by many customers at third wave coffee shops.

Both are very marketable in their own rights.

Nowadays, it actually depends more on individual coffee shops and their interpretations.

How do they envision preparing either of them according to their own mood and skills?

Which One is Better? – Flat White vs. Latte

Overall, the specific size of cup and ratio of coffee may vary.

However, the general agreement is that a Flat White is smaller. And, it usually contains more espresso than a Latte as well.

In case you like the nuanced flavors of specialty coffee. And, you want something more dairy-based. The Flat White could be the better option than a Latte.

It simply has less milk. This will increasingly highlight the sensorial flavor profile of the used beans.

But, does that make the Flat White better?

Not really, to be honest. There are many ways to experience specialty coffee.

And, of course, each one of us has its own personal preferences. When it comes to taste and our own desired coffee experience.

Is a Flat White stronger as a Latte though?

Yes, it can.

Typically, a Flat White is a more concentrated drink. It will have a stronger taste of coffee than milk. The Latte usually tastes a bit more milkier.

Essentially, this can also make a Flat White appear stronger. Also in terms of the actual caffeine content, since it mostly uses two espresso shots.

In summary, the Flat White combines the flavor and intensity of an espresso. Together with the rich mouthfeel of a dairy-based drink.

Final Thoughts

The Flat White is definitely an interesting drink to further explore.

In some parts of the world, it feels like its journey to success has only become. Whereas, at other places, the coffee sensation is already a household name.

Although, it might cause confusion with all its various interpretations. This little powerful coffee drink is not going anywhere soon.

If not yet, you can surely also find it on your local coffee shop’s menu soon.

To me, this is what makes coffee so great. It never stops evolving and reinventing itself. Each one of use has plenty of space to fully explore and express our own coffee desires.

That’s the entire beauty of our coffee universe, I would say.

Besides, coffee of course tastes delicious in all of its colorful forms. And on top, the dark liquid also comes with many great health benefits.

Many coffee enthusiasts even say that it makes us happier and live longer.

How about you?

Have you tried the Flat White yet? Is it maybe one of your favorite and regular coffee drinks already? In which way do you prefer to drink it?

Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences with us.

Until then, stay safe, healthy and properly caffeinated.

Cheers!