What Is A Flat White?
We’re officially flat white crazy!
Flat white’s have been around for longer than you think, but have now been fully embraced on coffee menus all over the world.
I was personally introduced to a flat white as a flatty in Australia.
The fashionable short milky coffee was the drink of choice for everyone from coffee drinking students to suits.
But where did this all come from and is it here to stay?
What is a Flat White?
Your morning cup of joe has a lot more options these days.
Filter, cappuccinos, espresso and lattes - make way for the new popular drink on the block - the flat white.
You may have seen this brew on your favourite coffee shop's menu and wondered: what is a flat white?
Flat whites, while gaining popularity across the world now, have already been around a while.
They were first seen in Australia and New Zealand back in the 1980s, although the two countries both claim credit for the drink's invention.
While each barista and coffee shop may have their interpretation of the drink, a flat white is generally 160 ml of coffee made with a double shot of espresso, a bit of steamed milk, and a thin layer of foam.
The minimal milk froth earned the drink its moniker as opposed to other coffee drinks, which boast tall frothy peaks and cream, the flat white bears just a flat and milk-white topping.
What is a Flat White vs. Latte?
A flat white and a latte are both made with espresso shots and minimal milk, but they aren’t the same drink. Know the difference between a flat white and a latte so you can order your preferred beverage.
Flat whites are smaller than lattes. Flat whites are usually about 160 ml, or five or six ounces, while lattes are typically larger, about 240 ml or 8 ounces.
Flat whites are a stronger coffee than lattes. Lattes are made with one shot of espresso, while flat whites usually have two.
Flat whites contain less milk than lattes.
Flat whites have no, or very minimal, frothed milk.
What Size is a Flat White?
The exact size of a flat white may vary between coffee houses and baristas.
However, the drink is generally smaller than a latte and is usually served in 160ml or 6-ounce servings.
What is in a Flat White?
All you need to make a flat white is a double shot of espresso coffee and steamed milk.
Find out which coffee beans our team of industry professionals loved the most.
The espresso, a rich, deep, concentrated coffee that is made by forcing water through finely-ground espresso coffee beans, is the foundation of a good-quality flat white.
Can You Make a Flat White at Home?
You can make a flat white cup of coffee yourself, but you will need either an espresso machine or a Moka pot.
A portable espresso machine will work as well. If you don’t have either, you can use a french press or Aeropress, though the results won’t be as genuine.
Recipe:
Grind about 18 grams of rich, quality coffee beans into a fine ground to make two shots of espresso. There is a huge variety of coffee beans, and the type you use will affect the flavour of your coffee. You may want to try different beans to find the taste and intensity that you like best.
Pour the two shots of espresso into a small mug, approximately 140 ml.
Steam ½ cup of milk in a steaming pitcher to about 60°c.
You can use whole milk, low-fat milk, or alternative milk such as soy, almond, rice, or oats. Whole milk will make the creamiest flat white.
Pour the steamed milk into the coffee. A flat white should have three times as much coffee as milk in it.
You can top it with minimal foam. Don’t add too much foam, or it won’t be flat anymore, nor worthy of its moniker.
If you’ve secretly dreamed of mastering coffee art, try practising on a flat white.
Savour your perfect morning companion.
Interest in this seemingly simple drink is growing, and as more and more people request it at their coffee shops, others are taking notice and asking what exactly is a flat white.
What is a Flat White in Australia?
Is a flat white different in Australia, where the drink is thought to have originated?
The concept is the same, but Australians may be more discerning and precise.
Baristas in Australia use a very strong espresso, ristretto, to make their flat whites.
They also serve the drinks in short, wide, ceramic cups as opposed to the taller glasses that are used for lattes.
Is a Flat White Healthy?
Flat whites can be healthy as they are made with just coffee and milk.
If you’re watching your coffee calories, you can use low-fat milk, and vegans can substitute cows' milk for a milk alternative.
Compare the calories in a flat white to other coffee varieties.
Why is it Called a Flat White?
Australians call coffee without milk a black coffee, coffee with milk, white coffee, and coffee with a distinctive high froth, Cappuccinos.
Some coffee fans weren’t happy with the amount of extra foam on top of the cappuccinos, and the flat white, a scaled-down version with just a flat, thin layer of foam, was born.
Is a Flat White Stronger than a Latte?
Yes, a flat white will have a stronger and more intense coffee flavour than a latte.
A flat white is made with a double espresso shot and is usually served in a smaller cup, while a latte contains just one espresso shot and gets further diluted in a larger glass.
How Many Shots are in a Flat White?
Baristas can adjust the measurements in each coffee variety they make, but a flat white will usually have a double espresso shot.
What Is The Difference Between a Flat White and a Macchiato?
A flat white is typically a double espresso served in a 6oz cup topped up with steamed milk with a small amount of micro foam (frothy) milk.
A macchiato on the other hand is either a single or double espresso topped with around a spoonful of micro foamed milk.
The Verdict
Have you tried a flat white yet? If you like your homemade latte and want to try its stronger, richer cousin, the flat white is calling your name. Indulge your senses with a double espresso shot, steamed milk, and a thin layer of frothy foam.
Why is flat white more expensive?
Flat whites usually cost around the same price as other milk based espresso drinks such as lattes or cappuccinos.
There is not a great deal of difference in the raw ingredients and the labour cost when it comes to making a flat white or a latte for instance.
However a flat white will be more expensive than a macchiato or an espresso as there is more milk and an added cost of pouring the milk into the cup.
Do you stir a flat white?
It is up to you if you stir a flat white.
You should just be able to consume the flat white in the coffee cup it is served in as soon as the barista hands it to you.
However some people prefer to stir their flat white to incorporate a little more of the textured milk or if they add sugar after the coffee has been made.
Is a flat white just a white coffee?
Well technically yes, a flat white could be classed as a white coffee.
However a white coffee can also mean an americano with milk in some countries.
A flat white consists of a double shot of espresso topped with slightly textured milk so it could certainly be classed as a white coffee.