The Difference Between Flat White and Latte: Ratios, Flavor Characteristics and Introduction to Australian-Style Flat White Coffee

Regarding the pronunciation of Flat White, this espresso-based coffee beverage, coffee enthusiasts often mispronounce it. Some accidentally call it "Fuyubai" (Fu Yu Bai) or "Aoruibai" (Ao Rui Bai), but what is the correct pronunciation? What kind of charm does its flavor hold? In this article, FrontStreet Coffee will share some knowledge about Flat White coffee.

What is Flat White Coffee?

Flat White is a coffee beverage that originated in Australia, thus also known as Australian White Coffee. However, some people argue that Australian White Coffee actually originated in New Zealand. Beyond the dispute over its origin, the preparation method of Australian White Coffee also varies. Flat White is a milk coffee beverage with a stronger coffee flavor, less milk, and thinner foam. In the choice of espresso base, New Zealanders prefer to use Double Ristretto to make Flat White, while Australian baristas prefer to use Single Espresso.

Furthermore, according to FrontStreet Coffee's understanding, in Australia, people only make Flat White hot because once ice cubes are added, it becomes a Flat White that has lost its soul. This is because ice cubes dilute the overall concentration, so it can also be understood that a cold Flat White is essentially a latte.

How to Distinguish Between Flat White and Latte?

So how do you distinguish between Flat White and Latte? This comes down to their espresso ratios, because actually every coffee shop's Flat White and Latte ratios will differ. Taking FrontStreet Coffee's preparation as an example:

Latte Coffee

FrontStreet Coffee's Latte standard: Uses a 300ml ceramic coffee cup, with 40g espresso base, and 260ml milk plus foam. The foam thickness is about 1cm (foam texture: 5 parts milk whipped to 7 parts foam). Additionally, there's another latte variety using less espresso and more milk—Piccolo Latte.

Flat White Coffee

FrontStreet Coffee's Flat White standard: Uses a 220ml glass cup, with 30g ristretto espresso, and 190ml milk plus foam. The foam thickness is about 0.5cm (foam texture: 5 parts milk whipped to 5.5-6 parts foam).

Differences

From the perspective of cup size, Latte is larger than Flat White. In appearance, Latte's foam is slightly thicker with a slight protrusion, while Flat White's foam is thinner and appears flat. In terms of flavor, Latte has a more intense milk flavor, while Flat White has a more prominent coffee flavor. Therefore, Australians jokingly say that Latte is coffee-flavored milk (meaning it's essentially milk), while Flat White is milk-flavored coffee (meaning it's essentially coffee).

Dirty Coffee

Additionally, there's another espresso coffee flavor that is completely different from Flat White which can only be served hot, and that is Dirty Coffee.

What is Dirty Coffee? What's the difference between Dirty Coffee and Flat White?

This espresso beverage, like Flat White, is actually one of the hidden menu items at FrontStreet Coffee. When FrontStreet Coffee makes Dirty, the coffee cup used must be pre-chilled in the refrigerator. Then chilled fresh milk is placed in the cup first, followed by pouring espresso. Visually, the coffee appears to stain the white fresh milk, and when tasting, the fusion of hot on top and cold below creates a unique layered texture.

The biggest difference between it and Flat White is that normal Dirty Coffee can only be made iced. Hot espresso poured into cold milk creates layering. When tasting, you first experience the warm, rich coffee flavor, then transition to the cold milk flavor. Multiple experiences can be obtained from one beverage. Additionally, traditional Flat White can only be made hot—it's a milk coffee with thin foam, and because it has less milk than Latte, it tastes rich in coffee flavor with a delicate texture.

How to Make Flat White Coffee?

In the previous article, FrontStreet Coffee briefly mentioned the milk-to-coffee ratio for Flat White. Next, FrontStreet Coffee will share the specific parameters for making Flat White Coffee.

FrontStreet Coffee's Extraction Parameters:

Pressure: 9 bar
Temperature: 90.5~96°C
Time: 20~30 sec
Coffee-to-water ratio: 1:1.7~1:2
Coffee dose: 12g (single shot espresso) 20g (double shot espresso)
Extraction yield: 20ml (single) 40ml (double)

Recommended Milk to Coffee Ratio for Flat White

Milk: Whole fresh milk (Frontsteet uses Kowloon Dairy fresh milk)
Milk frothing temperature: 50-60°C (too low temperature cannot bring out the lactose in milk, too high temperature will destroy the protein in milk, creating a gritty texture)
Foam thickness: 5mm (1cm foam is for making Latte, 1.5cm thick foam is for making Cappuccino)
Espresso content: 40ml
Milk content: 140ml

The above are the parameters for making Flat White Coffee compiled by FrontStreet Coffee. In the previous article, FrontStreet Coffee also mentioned multiple pronunciations of Flat White Coffee. So how many correct pronunciations are there for Flat White Coffee? FrontStreet Coffee will tell you now!

Correct Pronunciation of Flat White Coffee

As mentioned by FrontStreet Coffee above, Flat White Coffee originated from Australia, thus also known as Australian White, with English pronunciation "flat white." The pronunciation "Furuibai" (Fu Rui Bai) is also derived from English. Additionally, McDonald's also launched a Flat White Coffee named "Aozhenbai" (Ao Zhen Bai). Therefore, if you hear these names for coffee in coffee shops, they all refer to Flat White Coffee—these are all correct pronunciations. However, FrontStreet Coffee wants to emphasize that pronunciations like "Fuyubai" (Fu Yu Bai) and "Aoruibai" (Ao Rui Bai) are not correct pronunciations.

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473