What is a flat white coffee?
The flat white is still relatively new to the UK and USA, but contrary to popular opinion, a flat white is not just a small latte.
In fact, it’s in some ways very different. Especially different if you happen to be a barista!
Firs, we need to discuss where the coffee even came from and how it came to be. So strap in for a quick history lesson in this imported coffee creation.
The flat white coffee emerged from the cafes of Australia and New Zealand and although its precise origins are up for debate it is largely believed to have been forged in the 1980s.
Origins of the Flat White
Some report that the name “flat white” was coined in Sydney during the early 1980s. But Melbourne has also attempted to claim the name, stating it was actually being made earlier, in the 1970s.
And New Zealand has also weighed in, stating that the modern form of the drink was developed in Wellington during the late 1980s.
We’d argue that both nations have had a hand in developing the identity of the drink, with flat whites eventually taking hold in the UK during the mid-noughties. Where a number of independent firms began to offer flat white coffee, with one or two shops even taking it as its name.
As for this intricate little coffee itself; the process of producing a flat white coffee is relatively simple — and involves steaming milk and pouring the resultant microfoam over a single or double espresso.
Many would argue that to be considered a flat white, you must serve the micro-foamed milk over a double espresso, but with many coffee shops and cafes offering single shot espresso versions, it’s abundantly clear that on average the coffee in the flat white’s is not what separates it from a latte or cappuccino.
The result is very much like a latte or a cappuccino and some even contest the question of whether there is even any difference between these types of drink.
All about the cup
In actuality, the major defining factor of a flat white coffee is the container or cup in which it is served.
For the majority of cafés, the flat white coffee will be smaller than a latte. Again, this still doesn’t mean that the flat white is a small latte, size doesn’t change the fact that this is a different drink.
The flat white is distinct because of its presentation in a ceramic cup and it is designed to consist of the same 160 to 170ml of liquid as an average small latte (we’ll allow up to 200ml of flat white goodness in most cases though).
Since the flat white has become a popular hot beverage option, a number of coffee makers and chains have been attempting to preserve its flavour and structure whilst still allowing customers to buy a takeaway flat white in a cardboard cup – not exactly the best way to enjoy any barista-made hot drink.
Regardless of who coined the term, or helped invent the drink, the flat white offers a creamy and intensely caffeinated alternative to cappuccino and latte drinkers who want one of the best tasting milky coffees now available.
Luckily, the drink is slowly becoming a mainstay on coffee menus up and down the country, and indeed, around the globe.
Right, we’ve bored you enough with the facts, how do you make one of the Southern Hemisphere’s best-caffeinated beverages?
How to make a flat white
You’ll need
- 165ml ceramic capacity cup – the tulip shape is favoured by flat white purists
- Double espresso (doppio) – 60ml strong coffee if made at home
- 100ml Foamed milk – enough to fill the cup after espresso is added. We recommend using whole milk as it does create the best milk foam.
Method
- Prepare your double espresso as normal, remembering to ensure a nice even tamp for a smooth, pure extraction.
- Foam your milk before you pour the espresso, remembering that for a quality finish we need a nice smooth microfoam, not stiff dry foam, during the latter stages of your milk foaming, pour the espresso.
- Gently tap the bottom of the milk jug to remove any unwanted bubbles that might have accrued.
- Finally, gently pour the milk into the espresso, creating a floating crema on top of the milk.
- Latte art is completely optional!
Now we’ve given you a simple rundown of how to achieve this superb Aussie coffee sensation, it’s high time you got out there and gave it a go!
But, before you go, it would be rude not to recommend a nice, well-rounded coffee bean to help you make stellar flat whites, our Super Crema blend has been crafted with popular milky coffee drinks in mind, so why not give it a go and let us know how you got on!
Photo by: russelljsmith