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

Have you ever had a latte or cappuccino, but do you know what a flat white is? Simply put, a flat white is a coffee beverage with less milk and more coffee. It's prepared with 2 parts espresso combined with micro foam, making it a variation that sits between a latte and a cappuccino.

So what exactly are the differences? Let's continue exploring.

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

Speaking of the origin of flat white, it's said that during World War II, many Italians fled from Europe to two neutral countries—Australia and New Zealand—and espresso culture was thus introduced to these regions.

As for whether Australia or New Zealand had it first? The two countries still debate this to this day. Some say it appeared in Sydney in the 1980s, others claim it emerged in Melbourne in the 1970s. New Zealanders even protested, believing that the flat white as we know it today was developed in Wellington in the late 1980s.

The differences between latte, cappuccino, and flat white lie in the amount of coffee, milk quantity, and foam texture. It's not just difficult for customers to distinguish—even baristas might find it challenging to master these nuances.

In terms of milk-to-coffee ratio, flat white is very similar to cappuccino, but slightly stronger than a latte in concentration. The only difference lies in the "foam"—cappuccino foam is "dry foam," while flat white uses micro foam, making its texture more similar to a latte.

A coffee ratio chart created by Taiwanese coffee enthusiasts, but note that the "white coffee" shown has no foam. This coffee ratio chart was created by Taiwanese coffee enthusiasts, but the "white coffee" depicted has no foam.

In January 2015, Starbucks in the United States began selling flat white, offering it in different sizes. Following this, in September of the same year, Starbucks in mainland China also introduced flat white, giving it an elegant Chinese name "Fù Ruì Bái." Starbucks Shanghai's official website explains 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 flat white to their menu, they also removed the classic Italian espresso "cappuccino" from their offerings. Prior to this, cappuccino had been sold at Starbucks in America for over 30 years. Currently, many shops in Taiwan simply call flat white "fresh milk espresso" or "white coffee." If 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 using their 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 characteristics of the red cherry, create a rich and smooth cup. FrontStreet Coffee maintains the traditional characteristics of flat white: small serving size, thin foam layer, and double ristretto espresso as the base.

Since most espresso-based coffees in the shop use espresso as the base, FrontStreet Coffee's baristas use standard espresso extraction as reference before opening. Each coffee bean has slightly different extraction parameters, which are adjusted daily by the barista based on the Sunshine Blend used in the shop. FrontStreet Coffee's espresso extraction recipe: 20g of coffee grounds to extract 40g of liquid espresso, taking 28-30 seconds. For ristretto, without changing grind size or dose, use the same 20g of coffee grounds to extract 27g of liquid, taking 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 temperature best controlled 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's smooth, mellow, and rich on the palate, with an exceptionally long-lasting aftertaste.

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473