How to Make Flat White Coffee: Preparation Methods, Flat White vs Cappuccino vs Latte, Milk Ratios, Recipes, and Flavor Differences

When it comes to rich, milk-based coffee, many people might first think of Starbucks' Flat White coffee, internationally known as Flat White. This beverage was actually quite obscure in China initially, but it gained recognition after Starbucks added it to their menu and eventually became one of the popular coffee choices.

What is Flat White Coffee?

Flat White coffee, known by its original name "Flat White," is more widely recognized, of course. Fu Rui Bai, Ao Rui Bai, Ping Bai Coffee, and Xiao Bai Coffee are all translations of "Flat White." Flat White coffee originates from Oceania (though there's debate whether it's from Australia or New Zealand). Flat White coffee can be considered the Australian version of latte coffee. It was initially only popular in the Australian region until Starbucks brought Australia's "Flat White" to China, giving it the elegant name "Fu Rui Bai," which naturally made it popular domestically as well.

Besides the debate over its origins, Flat White coffee preparation methods also vary. Flat White coffee is a milk-based coffee beverage with a stronger coffee flavor/less milk and thinner milk foam.

In terms of espresso base selection, New Zealanders prefer to use Double Ristretto to make Flat White coffee, while Australian baristas prefer using Single Espresso.

The History and Origins of Flat White

Regarding the invention of Flat White, Australians and New Zealanders each hold their own views, insisting that this beverage originated from their country, and the preparation methods used by baristas in both countries also differ. While we cannot definitively determine which country Flat White comes from, what's certain is that this beverage originated from everyone's pursuit of higher-quality coffee.

Before the 1970s, Australian coffee shops primarily used French presses, manual drip methods, etc., to brew black coffee. In the early 1970s, Italians brought espresso machines to Australia, officially launching a new wave of coffee culture. Compared to traditional lattes and cappuccinos, Australians pursued milk beverages with thinner foam and stronger coffee flavor. Thus, milk coffee began to be continuously "improved" in regions like Australia and New Zealand. As the foam on milk coffee became increasingly flat until it became a thin layer, completely level with the cup rim, it was named Flat White. "Flat" means "flat," and "White" refers to white coffee with milk added.

Starting in the 1980s, Australians wrote Flat White on their regular menus, and it soon spread to cafés in European and American countries. Flat White became a popular product in China after Starbucks introduced it in 2015 and named it "Fu Rui Bai" as one of their signature beverages, which meant this milk coffee had become mainstream.

Returning to the beverage itself, Flat White highlights the coffee flavor by adding milk, where coffee is the protagonist and milk is just auxiliary. Therefore, in terms of taste, the coffee flavor is more abundant and richer. Additionally, the thin upper foam layer ensures that every sip of concentrated coffee comes with a velvety, dense foam layer. The moderate temperature and smaller cup size allow it to be consumed quickly before the foam layers separate. Besides differences in cup size and milk foam thickness, some baristas replace the base with Double Ristretto to better express the coffee beans' aroma, incorporating foam with thickness similar to latte in a 150ml capacity cup.

FrontStreet Coffee Teaches You to Distinguish Between Latte, Cappuccino, and Flat White

To distinguish between latte coffee, cappuccino, and Flat White coffee, FrontStreet Coffee plans to compare them based on ingredient composition, cup size, foam thickness, and flavor profile.

First is cup size: according to FrontStreet Coffee's standards, latte coffee uses a 300ml wide-mouth ceramic cup, cappuccino uses a 180ml narrow-mouth ceramic cup, while Flat White coffee uses a 210ml glass cup. Next is distinguishing the components of these three coffees. Latte coffee consists of 2 shots of espresso (40g) plus 260ml of steamed milk with thin foam. Cappuccino coffee consists of 1 shot of espresso (20g) plus 160ml of steamed milk with thick foam. Flat White coffee consists of 2 shots of ristretto (30g) plus 180ml of steamed milk with thin foam. Ristretto is the early to middle portion of espresso extraction, offering richer and more intense flavor.

Latte Coffee

Foam thickness has always been an important characteristic for distinguishing latte coffee, cappuccino coffee, and Flat White coffee. Among these three, cappuccino has the thickest foam (about 1-1.5cm), with its most obvious feature being that cappuccino coffee can reach eleven-tenths full in the cup, meaning the foam is higher than the cup, presenting a prominent hamburger shape; Flat White coffee has the thinnest foam (about 0.3cm), and because Flat White coffee's foam is thin, the liquid surface is basically level with the cup rim, hence the name "flat white coffee"; while latte coffee's foam thickness is between these two (0.5cm), making it very suitable for latte art, which is one reason for choosing wide-mouth cups.

Flat White Coffee

In terms of flavor profile, latte coffee, because it has the most milk, is not dominated by the espresso flavor; the two complement each other, balanced and mutually masking; while Flat White coffee, because it uses ristretto with less milk, highlights the coffee's aroma without excessive bitterness. Cappuccino tends to emphasize the coffee flavor even more. In terms of texture, cappuccino coffee has the fullest mouthfeel, originating from its delicate, rich foam combined with coffee oils, making it exceptionally smooth and full. Next is Flat White coffee, and finally latte coffee.

Cappuccino Coffee

Finally, one more point to add: latte, cappuccino, and Flat White were all hot drinks initially, but over time, latte developed into an iced beverage preparation method, while cappuccino and Flat White remain only as hot drinks.

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473