What is a flat white coffee?
The flat white is the new kid on the block when it comes to coffee. Originating from Australia or New Zealand, depending on who you talk to, it is now filling menus in coffee shops around the world – but what makes a flat white a flat white?! What is a flat white coffee?
Does flat white coffee have foam when steamed?
The flat white coffee is the only coffee type in its category that doesn’t make use of the foam when milk is steamed and aerated. As we mentioned before, the foam is disregarded to make sure that the espresso crema will stay intact on your drink. But what difference does it really make when it comes to the taste of your coffee?
What is the difference between flat white Latte and cappuccino?
Although the flat white, latte and cappuccino are all milk based, when prepared and served properly they are very different drinks. All three are combined with double shots of espresso in their traditional serving style, which we now see being anywhere from 30-60ml in size. The size of an espresso often changes.
What is a ‘regular’ cup of coffee?
Variations in size are common, but in UK speciality coffee shops we see the range 8-12oz most often as a ‘regular’ size. Please note that the style and type of coffee used is often a dictating factor in overall drink sizes offered. Generally speaking, the proportions of a traditional latte take the ratio 1:4:1...
What is a flat white coffee?
The flat white coffee is an espresso-based coffee drink accompanied with steamed milk and microfoam. This microfoam is made up of steamed milk which is gently infused with air. This results in silky, textured milk containing tiny air bubbles. Air bubbles should be barely visible to the coffee drinker when perfectly made.
Flat White Vs Latte Vs Cappuccino
Although the flat white, latte and cappuccino are all milk based, when prepared and served properly they are very different drinks. All three are combined with double shots of espresso in their traditional serving style, which we now see being anywhere from 30-60ml in size. The size of an espresso often changes.
How to Make a Flat White at Home (Step by Step)
Make a quality espresso shot. Ensure to weigh your coffee dose, the yield of espresso and the overall time taken to brew it. These are key factors to consider in creating a flat white of the correct proportions. Picture 1 & 2 below…
What is a Flat White Coffee & How to Make it?
This favorite Australian drink has been taking the International coffee scene by storm and is now practically a coffee shop standard.
What is Flat White?
Flat white coffee is an Australian and New Zealander favorite. For you to be more familiar with the flat white, we’re taking this in comparison approach.
Foam or No Foam? The Rationale Behind Flat White Coffee
The flat white coffee is the only coffee type in its category that doesn’t make use of the foam when milk is steamed and aerated.
How to Make Flat White Coffee
Like other types of coffee, the flat white also starts with a shot of espresso.
Tips on Making the Perfect Flat White Coffee
The flat white relies on the heated milk to have that velvety texture. To achieve this every time you make your cup, keep the temperature of the milk between 55 to 62 degrees Celsius.
What is the Difference Between Flat White and Latte?
Given the fact that the smooth, velvety and strong flat white is everywhere nowadays, it’s unavoidable to compare it to the humble Latte.
Is Flat White Stronger Than Cappuccino?
The flat white coffee is always likened to a cup of cappuccino but without the foam. But there are also other things that these two differ.
Origin Of The Flat White
Some say the flat white originated in Australia. Others say New Zealand. And many say both.
Flat White vs. Cappuccino
Whether the flat white was initially a failed cappuccino or a creative coffee drinker’s take on a cappuccino, we know there are some apparent similarities between the two.
Difference Between A Flat White And A Latte
So now that we know what’s in a flat white coffee let’s take a look at the difference between a flat white and a latte.
Flat White vs. Cortado
For every time someone asks the question “what’s a flat white coffee,” someone else is simultaneously asking “what’s a cortado?” This lesser-known espresso beverage is often compared to the flat white.
How To Make A Flat White Coffee
We can’t answer the question “what’s a flat white coffee?” without giving you a quick tutorial on making one at home.
Final Thoughts
What’s a flat white coffee? In short, our favorite drink made with espresso and steamed milk.
What Is a Flat White Coffee?
A flat white is an espresso-based coffee drink that has a glossy, velvety consistency of steamed milk with fine bubbles on top that make the most amazing microfoam. The milk that makes a flat white goes through a frothing and foaming process that helps to create a meniscus.
Origins of the Flat White
Not many people know about flat white coffee unless they are specialty coffee lovers, or they may have joined the Starbucks effect that continues to make flat white coffee popular.
Who Drinks a Flat White?
Ever since flat white found its way in the Starbucks coffee brewing machines, the question could well go like this-who is not drinking a flat white? The drink has seen its fair share of devotees ever since it hit the small cups. In Australia and New Zealand, a flat white is a favorite for both the young and older generation.
What Is The Difference Between A Flat White & Cappuccino and a Latte?
Coffee has gone through many changes of brewing over the years. New techniques and aesthetics have replaced the classical coffee brewing methods of yesteryears to an emergence of new specialties. The most interesting part of the changes is that the new specialties all have a combination of coffee and milk.
Flat White Coffee Calories
Numerous research findings over the years show that drinking coffee comes with several health benefits. However, coffee has seen many changes, and today, many people prefer specialty blends that come with a combination of coffee, milk, and sugar. The health benefits come from caffeine and not milk or sugar.
FAQS
A flat white is an espresso-based coffee drink served with steamed frothy milk on top. The get the milk to be foamy and frothy, you need a steamer and espresso needs a special machine to give the coffee its specialty.
Wrapping it up
No other coffee blend has so much mystery surrounding its origin than flat white does. The velvety smooth drink caught the world by storm with everyone wanting a sip of the mysterious drink.
What is a flat white?
When we talk about the semantics of specialty coffees like a flat white, we tend to have preconceived notions of what they are based on how they were introduced to us. There are also a lot of claims and guides about flat whites online.
The Conflict Between Australia and New Zealand
The origin of flat whites is still disputed to this day. Australians have claimed this specialty coffee as theirs around the same time when a barista from New Zealand said he invented it by accident. For many decades, flat whites have become a war between Australia and New Zealand.
Why is it called flat white?
It is high-likely that the term flat white was coined by the Australians. Aussies call their regular espresso short black. They also made a larger espresso by adding hot water and call it long black.
What is the difference between a latte and a flat white?
Traditionally speaking, in Australia, they serve a latte using a 200 ml glass while their specialty flat whites are served in a 180 ml ceramic cup to lessen its diluteness. Lattes are slightly foamy with 1 -centimeter foam than flat whites with 0.5-centimeter foams.
Is a latte stronger than a flat white?
If you are the type of coffee drinker that enjoys the sensorial profile of your coffee beans then you must opt to choose flat white.
Conclusion
How about you? What is your definition of flat white? Start making conversation by commenting down below and let us know your thoughts and suggestions about flat whites.
Types of coffee
There are a number of ways to have your morning cuppa, with a list of the different types of coffee in Australia listed below. Feel free to skip ahead to your desired choice, or keep scrolling to check out the whole bunch.
Coffee brewing styles
Just as there are different types of coffee, there are also different coffee brewing styles. Each style is designed to bring a specific flavour or strength to the drink, and often different drink types, like lattes or Americanos, will use their own brewing style to master their flavour. Some common coffee brewing types include:
Café Latte
A good option for those who aren’t a coffee connoisseur, lattes are made with foamed milk, aiding to hide the bitterness of coffee. Lattes contain one or more shots of espresso (depending on how strong you like it), with the milk poured over it, creating a frothy drink for you to enjoy.
Cappuccino
One of the more popular options when it comes to coffee, the cappuccino has multiple layers to it, giving it extra taste and texture. The first layer is made up of espresso, giving you the caffeine kick, followed by a shot of steamed milk to counter the bitter coffee taste, topped off with a layer of foamy milk to make it easy to drink.
Espresso
While the base for many other coffees, espressos can also be enjoyed by themselves, with the smaller, more concentrated caffeine hit a popular option at many cafés. No milk or extras are usually added to an espresso, making it an acquired taste for some, but the perfect hit for those who simply need to wake up.
Piccolo Latte
For those who haven’t yet acquired the taste of a straight espresso, the piccolo latte may be your new go-to option. Adding a small amount of foamed milk on top of an espresso shot, the piccolo latte is often considered the middle ground between the café latte and the espresso, making it ideal for those who like a bit of sweetness to their coffee.
Vienna
A perfect option for those who need a strong caffeine hit, as well as enjoy something sweet, the Vienna coffee is made up of two espresso shots, with whipped cream mixed in to the drink instead of the usual, traditional milk and sugar. Often topped with chocolate sprinkles, the Vienna is a good option regardless of the weather.
Flat White – What Coffee Is It?
Flat white is a 150 ml milk based coffee prepared from a combination of a double espresso and milk frothed in a special, very gentle way. Result? A coffee in which the intensity of espresso is perfectly balanced with the sweetness and delicacy of milk.
Where Does the Flat White Come From?
The flat white is said to originate in Australia where it has been prepared since the 1980s. It owes its name to the Australian descriptions of coffees: espresso was called “short black”, extended espresso – “long black”, and espresso with milk – “flat white”.
The Flat White – How to Prepare It?
To prepare the flat white, you need an espresso machine, preferably a semi-automatic one, and a milk frother. First, prepare a double espresso in a 150 ml cup, such as Loveramics Egg Flat White. In the meantime, start frothing the milk – preferably, using the steam nozzle for manual milk frothing.
Where Did the Flat White Originate From?
There isn’t something concrete yet to prove the origin and this is still a debatable issue.
Is Flat White Coffee Sweet?
Yes, a flat white is sweet and it’s even sweeter than many regular coffee varieties.
How Much Milk Is In a Flat White?
The quantity of milk can be relative depending on the strength of the drink you’re desiring. Usually, 4 ounces of steamed milk are used to get a strong coffee taste.
Is Flat White Healthy?
Flat white is a healthy and tasty beverage that can convincingly be added to your diet.
How Many Calories Are in Flat White?
The calories will be depending on the number of espresso shots used along with the proportion of steamed milk.
How to Make a Homemade Flat White?
Preparing your coffee is one of the best things that you can do as part of your daily routine. It offers more flexibility in terms of the strength of the drink and the proportion of the contents added.
In Conclusion
A flat white is a thick, smooth, and velvety delight to your coffee buds. Since it is made from whole milk and richer expresso shots the mouthfeel taste of the drink is sweet and balanced.

Origin of The Flat White
- Some say the flat white originated in Australia. Others say New Zealand. And many say both. We’ll happily stay out of the debate and will just say that we’re thrilled the flat white exists, regardless of who invented it. So, what’s a flat white coffee? The flat white is a type of espresso drink thatemerged in the 1980sin Australia and New Zealand a...
Flat White vs. Cappuccino
- Whether the flat white was initially a failed cappuccino or a creative coffee drinker’s take on a cappuccino, we know there are some apparent similaritiesbetween the two. Both espresso drink types feature espresso, steamed milk, and foam. This much is obvious. They differ in the proportions and the type of espresso shotused (sometimes). Acappuccino is the strongestof th…
Difference Between A Flat White and A Latte
- So now that we know what’s in a flat white coffee let’s take a look at the difference between a flat white and a latte. For starters, aflat white is traditionally a smaller handcrafted espresso beverage. Flat whites are typically 6oz, while a latte is 8oz or larger. The flat white has amore concentrated espresso flavor, as there isless milk(and little to no foam) to dilute the espresso. Additionally, th…
Flat White vs. Cortado
- For every time someone asks the question “what’s a flat white coffee,” someone else is simultaneously asking “what’s a cortado?” This lesser-known espresso beverage is often compared to the flat white. The cortado, like the others, is a drink made with espresso and steamed milk. However, it most closely resembles a cappuccino (rather than a flat white) butwit…
How to Make A Flat White Coffee
- We can’t answer the question “what’s a flat white coffee?” without giving you a quick tutorialon making one at home. While pulling a ristretto shot at home requires a bit of finessing, don’t let this stop you from learning how to make a flat white coffee at home. The easiest way to pull a ristretto vs. lungo shot is to stop your extraction earlier than you usually would. You might also want to tr…
Final Thoughts
- What’s a flat white coffee? In short, our favorite drink made with espresso and steamed milk. Whether you prefer a flat white or latte or cappuccino, there’s reallyno wrong choicehere. But if you haven’t tried a flat white, give it a go the next time you’re at your local coffee shop. Or be brave andmake one at home. We’re not sure if we owe gratitude to the Aussies or the Kiwis for the inv…
FAQ’s
- What Is A Flat White At Starbucks?
As you may have guessed, a flat white at Starbucks is just like a flat white anywhere else. Withone exception. If you order a flat white at Starbucks, the cashier will ask youwhich size you prefer. The only way to ensure you’re getting a traditional flat white is to order a Tall. Starbucks will make a f… - How Much Caffeine Is In A Flat White?
A flat white features 2 shots of espresso; therefore, it will have thesame amount of caffeine as a latte or a cappuccino, which is about 154mg. The difference between a flat white and a latte lies in the amount of milk included, which has zero impact on the caffeine content. The flat white will h…