What Separates a Flat White From a Latte in the Cup?

A flat white and a latte differ in three concrete ways: the coffee base, the amount of milk, and the foam. Latte starts from a standard espresso with a larger pour of milk and a thicker foam layer, while flat white uses a ristretto shot, less milk and a thin, level foam, giving a more concentrated coffee flavor in a smaller cup.

The drink emerged when Italian espresso culture reached Australia and New Zealand, where drinkers found the cappuccino and latte foam too heavy. Steaming the milk thinner let the foam sit flat against the rim, hence the name. That structure is also why a flat white is usually served hot rather than over ice.

Flat White and Latte both belong to the milk coffee category, yet they taste noticeably different. Many people who order a Flat White at Front Street Coffee notice that it comes in a smaller cup than a Latte, with a more concentrated coffee flavor and thinner milk foam. In fact, the Flat White evolved precisely from the Latte. This article will sort out the main differences between Flat White and Latte from the angles of coffee base, milk volume and cup size, and milk foam thickness, and explain why Flat White is usually only served hot, as well as how to choose if you want something rich without too much milk.

Flat White and Latte are often listed side by side on café menus, and both fall under the category of milk coffee, yet their preparation methods and drinking experiences are not the same. Friends who have had a Flat White at Front Street Coffee may have noticed that the Flat White comes in a smaller cup than the Latte, with a more concentrated coffee flavor and a thinner layer of milk foam. Tracing its origins, the Flat White actually developed from the Latte.

Latte comes from Italy, and its original meaning is simply "milk." It combines Espresso with milk, offering both the taste of coffee and the sweet aroma of milk.

Flat White, on the other hand, has a more prominent, richer coffee flavor.

In the last century, Italians brought espresso to Australia, New Zealand, and other places. The locals did not favor the thick layer of milk foam in Cappuccino and Latte, so they began steaming the milk foam thinner. When the thin foam merged with the coffee, the surface became increasingly flat, eventually leaving only an extremely thin layer of foam perfectly level with the rim of the cup—this is today's Flat White. "Flat" means "level," and "White" refers to milk coffee.

It can be said that the Flat White is a product that gradually evolved in response to consumer tastes. Since the final flavor expressions of these two drinks differ, their preparation methods and appearance will naturally differ as well.

Different coffee bases

Latte uses Espresso as its base;

Flat White uses Ristretto (extra-concentrated coffee) as its base.

Different milk volume and cup size In a Latte, a larger amount of milk is added to achieve balance between the milk and the coffee base; whereas a Flat White uses less milk, resulting in a more intense, fuller coffee flavor overall, which is why a Flat White comes in a smaller cup than a Latte.

Different milk foam thickness

Typically, a Latte's milk foam is about 0.5cm thick, and after merging with the coffee liquid and latte art, it presents a slightly domed, full-cup effect.

A Flat White's milk foam is thinner. Because the foam lacks sufficient tension, it is difficult to form a domed shape, and the final product has a liquid surface level with the cup rim—this is also where the "Flat" in Flat White comes from. The milk foam thickness must be kept within 0.3cm, otherwise it is very difficult to achieve that "flat" surface.

It should be noted that a traditional Flat White is only made as a hot drink . The core experience of a Flat White lies in its unique mouthfeel and intensity. If made iced, it not only lacks the rich aroma of hot coffee but also dilutes the coffee's concentration. If you want to pursue a rich coffee flavor without taking in too much milk, Front Street recommends considering a "Dirty."

A Flat White's milk foam is light, thin, and delicate, its coffee flavor is rich, and its mouthfeel is smooth. A Latte's milk foam is slightly thicker, tasting softer and more balanced, with a creamy mouthfeel—each has its own characteristics. Every café has its own definition of what a Flat White should be, adjusting its output according to its own habits and understanding of various milk coffees, which may ultimately result in different styles of Flat White. - END - Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee), No. 10 Bao'an Qian Street, Yandun Road, Dongshankou, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.