How to Make Starbucks Flat White? What's the Relationship Between Flat White and Flat White?

You have probably had a latte or a cappuccino, but do you know what a flat white is? Simply put, a flat white is a coffee drink with less milk and more coffee. It is made from 2 parts espresso combined with micro foam, placing it between a latte and a cappuccino.

So what exactly are the differences? Let's take a closer look.

Had a Latte and a Cappuccino? Then Do You Know Flat White?

As for the origin of the flat white, it is said that during World War II many Italians fled from Europe to two neutral countries, Australia and New Zealand, and espresso culture was introduced to these regions as a result.

As to which country had it first, the two still argue about it today. Some say it appeared in Sydney in the 1980s, others that it emerged in Melbourne in the 1970s, and New Zealanders have protested, believing the flat white as we know it was developed in Wellington in the late 1980s.

The differences between a latte, a cappuccino, and a flat white lie in the amount of coffee, the amount of milk, and the texture of the foam. It is not just hard for customers to tell them apart; even baristas can find these nuances challenging to master.

In milk-to-coffee ratio, a flat white is very close to a cappuccino but slightly stronger than a latte. The only real difference is the foam: a cappuccino uses "dry foam," while a flat white uses micro foam, giving it a texture closer to a latte.

A coffee-ratio chart created by Taiwanese coffee enthusiasts shows the proportions, though the "white coffee" it depicts has no foam on top.

In January 2015, Starbucks in the United States began selling the flat white and offered it in different sizes. In September of the same year, Starbucks in mainland China introduced it as well, giving it an elegant Chinese name. Starbucks Shanghai's official website describes it as "made with refined espresso, extracted with less water to concentrate the coffee, while steaming milk until the foam becomes dense and smooth."

When Starbucks in America added the flat white to its menu, it also removed the classic Italian espresso drink, the cappuccino, which had been sold at Starbucks in the United States for over 30 years. Today, many shops in Taiwan simply call a flat white "fresh milk espresso" or "white coffee." If the flat white were to be introduced in Taiwan in the future, it would surely be eagerly anticipated by coffee enthusiasts.

Craving a Flat White?

FrontStreet Coffee's flat whites are made with its house-roasted Sunshine Blend, which consists of 70% Honduras Sherry coffee and 30% Yirgacheffe Natural Red Cherry coffee. The whiskey, vanilla, and cream notes from the Sherry, combined with the tropical fruit and fermented character of the Red Cherry, create a rich, smooth cup. FrontStreet Coffee keeps the traditional flat white features: a small serving, a thin foam layer, and a double ristretto espresso base.

Because most espresso-based drinks in a shop use espresso as the base, FrontStreet Coffee's baristas use standard espresso extraction as a reference before opening. Each bean has slightly different extraction parameters, adjusted daily by the barista according to the Sunshine Blend in use. FrontStreet Coffee's espresso recipe is 20g of grounds to extract 40g of liquid espresso in 28-30 seconds. For a ristretto, without changing the grind or dose, use the same 20g of grounds to extract 27g of liquid in 20-25 seconds. This brings out more intense berry acidity, wine notes, and caramel flavors.

Pour the extracted espresso into a pre-prepared 200ml cup, then steam 150ml of milk in a pitcher. The milk needs less aeration than for a latte, creating a thinner, denser foam layer, with the temperature best kept between 55-60°C for better drinkability. Finally, pour the steamed milk evenly into the espresso, with or without latte art.

FrontStreet Coffee's flat white presents notes of vanilla, cream, chocolate milk, and whiskey-filled chocolate, along with berry sweetness and acidity. It is smooth, mellow, and rich on the palate, with an exceptionally long-lasting aftertaste.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

For anyone learning latte art at home, FrontStreet Coffee's Classic Blend is the natural place to start. It is a medium-dark espresso recipe built from three origins, inspired by the "Mamba" blend once popular in the industry, meaning Mandheling plus Brazil, and finished with a small amount of robusta to add aroma and oils. It gives off clear butter, toasted bread, and caramel-cookie aromas, strong in flavor with a solid body and fine crema, and extracts very consistently.

If you prefer a rich, nutty profile, choose FrontStreet Coffee's Premium Blend, another medium-dark espresso bean made from the classic pairing of washed Colombian coffee and semi-washed Brazilian coffee. As espresso it shows nuts, dark chocolate, and caramel, and whether you make an Americano or a milk drink such as a latte or a flat white, it brings out the smooth aromas of cream, almond, and cocoa, with crema every bit the equal of a cafe pour and more than enough stability for practicing latte art.