This article aims to answer one of the most unanswered questions in the coffee world: What is a flat white? With so many definitions floating around the internet, and a lot of confusion in coffee shops, it's difficult to answer.
Once we've answered that, I'll show you how to make a flat white. This drink is similar to a latte, but it has less milk and less foam. We also use a double shot of espresso, so it's always a little stronger. Let's take a deeper plunge into the world of flat whites.
The Origin of the Flat White
The Flat White is a relatively new coffee beverage, and it's popularity in the USA has only just come about. There is an ongoing dispute about where the flat white was invented. Australia and New Zealand both claim to be responsible!
Here are the two arguments for its origin.
Australia's Argument on Flat White
The Flat White began in Australia in the 1980's, so it really is the "baby" of espresso-based drinks! Alan Preston from Sydney insists "I'm telling you I was the first one to name it".
Mr. Preston claims that he has solid proof that the drink began in his shop. He has a photo of a menu from 1985, showing the Flat White option.
New Zealand's Argument on Flat White
Fraser McInnes from New Zealand also claims that he invented the drink.
Fraser says that he "accidentally" made the Flat White in 1989 after failing to make a cappuccino. According to him, the milk didn't have enough fat to make a cappuccino, so he just went with it and said to his customer, "Sorry, it's a flat white."
So, Which Country was it?
It's difficult to prove which country really coined the term "flat white". In the 1980's, both Australia and New Zealand were going through similar cultural changes. Both countries were also introducing many Italian coffee shops into the market, so would have been experimenting a lot with new drinks.
It's likely that both Fraser and Alan had customers in their shops that required a drink with less froth than a cappuccino and less milky than a latte. The flat white gives this balance.
The dispute may never end between Australia and New Zealand! Both countries claim to be the inventor of this beverage. As long as you know how to make a flat white to perfection, does it really matter who made up the name?
What Makes a Flat White Different?
There have been many debates over what a flat white should look like. Is it just a small latte? Or is it just a cappuccino with less froth? There are some characteristics of a flat white that make it stand out from some other drinks:
- It is topped with velvet micro foam instead of thick, stiff froth
- It should be bigger than a mocha but smaller than a latte
- Use a double shot instead of a single shot for a stronger punch
- There's no layer separation between the milk, foam, and coffee. It all blends in together by folding the foam through the drink by free pouring
How to Make a Flat White to perfection
This flat white recipe is a clear, step-by-step guide so you know how to make a flat white. Whether you're making it at home, or in a busy cafe, this drink is all about balance! The flat white had humble beginnings. It began as an effort to re-create the traditional builder's mug of plunger coffee, additionally mixed with a dash of milk.
It's now in coffee shops all over the world! It should be served in a smaller cup and be more frothy comparing to a simple "white coffee". The key is in the way you steam the milk. Here's how you make it with the perfect micro foam.
You will need:
- Full-fat milk (one cup)
- Two shots of espresso
- Steaming jug
- Steaming machine
- Cup
- Thermometer
The Method |
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Prepare the machine. Pour as much milk as you need into the jug (one cup for one cup of coffee.) Purge the steaming wand by turning it on for a couple of seconds. This pushes any old, excess water out of the system. |
Get the perfect velvety microfoam. Begin by positioning the steam wand just below the surface of the milk, at a 15-degree angle. Turn on the steamer. Stretch the milk by moving the steam wand around its surface and you'll notice it begin to thicken. When the volume has increased by about two-thirds, submerge the tip below the surface of the milk. This is where you'll create a spinning motion. The milk should be ready at 67 degrees C. |
Finish off the milk. By now, you should have mixed in all the fine air bubbles with the spinning motion. Once you take the jug away from the steaming wand, knock it against your surface. This should remove any large bubbles and leave you with glossy micro foam. |
Pull the espresso. Pull a double shot of espresso into the cup. Then pour your milk straight after, close to the surface of the espresso. Tip your wrist to create some art. This might require some practice! |
Nutritional Information
A flat white is a good option for the coffee lover. Because you drink a double shot of coffee in a smaller mug, the caffeine will be at a high concentration. How much caffeine in a flat white? You're probably looking at 9.10 mg of caffeine per fluid oz. An average sized cup should contain around 150 mg of caffeine.
For further information about flat white nutrition, see the table below. This table is based on a flat white made with whole milk. You can use skimmed milk to reduce the calories.
Calories | 119 |
Total fat | 6g |
Cholesterol | 18mg |
Sodium | 73mg |
Potassium | 0mg |
Total carbs | 11mg |
Sugars | 9g |
Protein | 7g |
The Bottom Line
The flat white was only unleashed in American coffee shops in the last few years. For this reason, some consumers are still trying to figure out what a flat white is and what differences it has to offer.
Whether it was first created by the Aussies or the Kiwis, it doesn't really matter to us! What matters is that we know how to build the drink with the perfect micro foam. I hope you enjoy this controversial character in the coffee world!
