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How to Brew a Delicious Flat White? Starbucks Flat White Brewing Method and Flavor Characteristics

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Many coffee lovers have noticed that coffee shops have introduced Flat White coffee. What exactly is Flat White coffee? Originally named Flat White, it's a coffee beverage from Australia. Flat White consists of espresso combined with milk foam. Some might wonder, isn't this similar to a latte or cappuccino? The difference lies in the ratio and texture of espresso to milk foam. A Flat White typically contains less milk than a latte but more than a cappuccino, with a thinner, smoother layer of microfoam that creates a velvety texture. This distinctive Australian coffee has gained worldwide popularity, with major chains like Starbucks developing their own brewing methods to replicate its unique flavor profile.

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Many coffee enthusiasts have likely noticed that coffee shops of all sizes now offer a coffee product called "Flat White." Like latte, flat white is also a beverage composed of espresso + milk. Although the ingredients are the same, they differ in the ratio of coffee to milk used, the thickness of the milk foam, and the preparation technique.

The Difference Between Flat White and Latte

During FrontStreet Coffee's research into the origins of flat white, it was discovered that both Australia and New Zealand claim to be the birthplace of this coffee. What they agree on, however, is that flat white is an Italian-style milk coffee with rich coffee flavor, allowing you to taste the intensity of espresso while experiencing the unique flavor and texture that comes from the fusion of milk and coffee.

Overall, compared to latte, flat white uses less milk and has thinner foam, resulting in a richer flavor and a velvety smooth texture.

What Kind of Cup is Used for Flat White?

Flat white is recommended to be served in a smaller cup because its volume is much smaller than latte, and it would appear insufficient in a latte glass. A cup of about 200 milliliters would be more suitable. When FrontStreet Coffee serves flat white, they use a 200ml straight-walled cup.

Is There a Cold Version of Flat White?

Authentically, there is no cold version of flat white! Neither in Australia nor New Zealand is there mention of a cold version. However, many coffee shops have introduced cold versions to further meet customer demands and reduce explanation time. For example, Starbucks' Iced Fu Rui Bai coffee is actually a flat white. Using the phonetic translation of "flat white," it was translated to "Fu Rui Bai."

Use the same proportion of milk as hot flat white, then add ice cubes. Next, add the same amount and concentration of espresso. If stirred well before drinking, there might not be a significant difference from iced latte. Therefore, if you want to experience the unique character of flat white, FrontStreet Coffee recommends choosing the hot version.

How to Make Flat White?

For daily production of Italian-style coffee products, FrontStreet Coffee uses espresso extracted from "Sunflower Warm Sunshine" blend coffee beans, which consists of 30% sun-dried Yirgacheffe blended with 70% Honduras Sherry. Through FrontStreet Coffee's cupping, it was determined that this blend coffee bean exhibits fermented wine aroma, berry sweet and sour, roasted nut fragrance, and caramel sweetness.

Typically, 9-10 bar pressure and 94°C water temperature are used to extract coffee liquid with a ground-to-liquid ratio of about 1:2. Then, using 18-20g of coffee grounds, 35-40g of coffee liquid is extracted.

Prepare a 200ml straight-walled cup, add double espresso (35g), and pour hot milk with thin foam (0.5cm thick) from the center without dispersing the espresso. This technique creates a gradient flavor experience. The first sip delivers the rich fermented wine aroma of espresso, the second sip presents a strawberry milkshake flavor from the fusion of espresso and milk, and the third sip reveals roasted nut flavors from the blend of small amounts of coffee and milk.