Flat whites are now popular in coffee shops around the world, but do you really know what they are? What is the difference between them and latte or cappuccino? Let's take a look.

What is a Flat White?

There are many versions of Flat White in China. Starbucks calls it: Flat White, COST calls it: Pure White, Luckin Coffee calls it: Flat White, and there are also names like: Small White Coffee, Australian White Coffee, Flat White Coffee, White Coffee (easy to confuse, a kind of instant coffee in Malaysia is also called white coffee)... In fact, they are all the same thing. The Flat White from Starbucks has the greatest influence, so we will translate them all as Flat White later.

According to the definition from Wikipedia: A flat white is a coffee drink consisting of espresso (a single shot (AU) or double ristretto shot (NZ) of espresso) with microfoam (steamed milk with small, fine bubbles and a glossy or velvety consistency).

Flat white is a coffee drink made by mixing a shot of espresso or a double shot of Ristretto with micro-foamed milk (whipped milk with small, fine bubbles, velvety smooth). At first glance, it looks similar to latte and cappuccino, but there are actually differences in the proportions and ingredients used, which I will explain in detail later.

The origin of Flat White

During World War II, Italians brought espresso to Australia, and after local improvements, they invented the flat white. There has always been controversy about whether the flat white originated in Australia or New Zealand, but it is from Australia. Later, it appeared on the menus of coffee shops in the United States, the United Kingdom and other places, and gradually became a standard in major coffee shops.

In addition, the popularity of flat white is inseparable from the credit of Starbucks. Starbucks officially started selling flat white in 2010. With its vigorous promotion, it has gradually become mainstream as a "new" alternative to latte.

Understanding Cappuccino and Latte

So we know that a flat white is made from espresso, steamed milk, and a small amount of milk foam. Doesn't it look like a latte? Or cappuccino?

The Italian word "Latte" came into use in English in the 1980s, but the concept of adding warm milk to coffee has been around for a long time. In Italy, a latte is typically a milky breakfast drink made with espresso from a moka pot.

To avoid confusion with a cappuccino, the general rule is that a cappuccino is a smaller, stronger coffee drink with more milk foam, made with a shot of espresso, steamed milk, and a thick layer of milk foam. A latte is traditionally larger, milkier, with only a thin layer of milk foam on top.

What is the difference between a flat white, latte or cappuccino?

Ben told me, “In Australia, lattes are usually served in 200ml glasses and flat whites in 180ml ceramic cups, so it’s a smaller quantity and there’s slightly more foam in a latte (around 1cm) than a flat white (around 0.5cm).”

1. On espresso

New Zealanders like to use Double Ristretto, Australians use Single Espresso, and the more common practice is to use Double Ristretto (Ristretto originally means narrow, and the extended meaning is strong and concentrated, and stretto means tight and narrow. Ri is a prefix indicating repetition, and together it means double tight, also translated as super concentrated or short-extracted concentrated, which is to shorten the concentrated extraction time to about 15-20 seconds, and the taste is more intense and mellow), while cappuccino and latte can be made with one or two espressos;

2. On milk

The milk temperature is slightly lower (around 60°C), and the proportion of milk is smaller than in latte;

3. On the milk foam

0.5 cm thick, which requires to be relatively dense, latte requires about 1 cm, and cappuccino requires more;

4. In terms of cup volume

The output is about 160 ml, so a 5-6 ounce coffee cup is usually used;

5. In terms of taste

Flat white is smooth, fragrant, and has a velvety texture. Every sip offers a perfect blend of milk foam and the coffee milk underneath. Cappuccino is fluffy, latte has a stronger milk flavor, and flat white has a stronger coffee flavor.

Different Understandings of Flat White

How a flat white is made also depends on where you are and the barista you meet, Jonathan told me:

"The difference between a latte and a flat white is the ratio of milk to coffee. In my shop, flat whites are served in 5-ounce cups and lattes are served in 8-ounce cups, both with double espresso. If the cup is larger than 6 ounces, I don't think you can still call it a flat white - then it's a latte."

“A flat white is 5-6 ounces, double espresso, very thin foam, and a latte is usually 7-9 ounces, even 10 ounces, and has foam somewhere between a flat white and a cappuccino,” Ceiran said.

Flat white vs. latte, which one tastes better?

The size of the cups, as well as the ratio of coffee to milk, may vary between the two, but the general consensus is that a flat white has less volume than a latte and usually contains a stronger cup of coffee.

If you want to savor the specific flavors of your coffee, a flat white may be a better choice than a latte because it contains less milk, allowing you to experience the coffee's sensory characteristics more fully.

But is a flat white objectively better than a latte? Not really, it all depends on personal preference.

Is a flat white stronger than a latte? A flat white is a stronger coffee drink that has a stronger coffee flavor than milk due to the use of two ristrettos.

Now that you know what a flat white is, you can order it with confidence next time you’re in a coffee shop. But if you pay special attention to details and are not familiar with the coffee shop, you can chat with the guy or girl who makes the coffee in advance!