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Since the successful invention of the espresso machine, espresso culture has spread throughout the world. Anyone who has drunk coffee knows how important espresso is to coffee. Italy is the birthplace of espresso culture, and Italians' approach to making espresso has allowed their coffee culture to be well passed down, while espresso is also called the "soul of coffee." Making any espresso-based coffee must have espresso as its base; this never changes. Due to cultural differences among countries, different espresso cultures have developed, and in recent years the most popular espresso drink is none other than the Flat White.

Why is the Flat White able to attract people's attention? Let Front Street dig a little into the story behind it!

　　The origin of the Flat White

　　Flat White is the abbreviation, with the full name being "Australian-style white coffee." It originated in Melbourne, Australia, in 1980, and then quickly became popular between Australia and New Zealand, and even led the milk coffee trend in both places at the time. The Flat White actually does not differ much from cappuccino or latte in its ingredients, but because of the thickness of the milk foam, it falls between cappuccino and latte. The rapid popularity of this coffee was probably something no one could have predicted, because the Flat White only has a slightly thinner milk foam and highlights the aroma of the coffee. Perhaps at the time people were also more accepting of the appearance of a new product, which allowed the coffee to quickly become popular.

　　Compared with cappuccino, the milk foam of a Flat White has a lower air content, and when combined with espresso it presents a flat surface, hence the name Flat White. The quality of preparation is the key to whether a cup of coffee tastes good. Although the Flat White differs from cappuccino, it is not made casually either.

A good cup of Flat White must have fine but slight milk foam on top. At the same time, the distinctive crema of espresso must also be visible. Only in this way can you feel the richness and mellowness of the milk on the first sip, while the coffee aroma contained in the crema is also brought out. Blended together, it gives a smooth yet slightly viscous mouthfeel, sweet and fragrant without being greasy, forming Australia's own unique coffee culture and system. Although Starbucks brought milk coffee to the world, the Flat White is Australia's unique coffee calling card.

　　The difference between Flat White and dirty

　　Flat White:Espresso + milk + 0.5cm milk foam. The cup size of a Flat White is generally 180ml, and the milk foam is very thin, no more than 0.5cm, so it will not mask too much of the coffee flavor. It is a milk coffee in which you can taste the coffee.

　　dirty:Espresso + iced milk. The method for making dirty is also very simple: first add iced milk to the cup, then pour in espresso. It is just that simple and straightforward, with a cup size of about 150ml. The clash of iced milk and hot coffee gives a varied mouthfeel, smooth and layered.

The above is the coffee story about the Flat White. After telling the story, it is time to make a cup of the long-famous Flat White. The method for making a Flat White is similar to milk coffees such as cappuccino, but there are operational details to pay attention to, because they are not completely the same; otherwise, such a Flat White would be too soulless. So let's use Front Street's house-roasted classic espresso blend to make a cup of Flat White with rich chocolate notes!

　　Front Street classic espresso blend coffee beans

　　Region: Brazil, Indonesia, Vietnam

       Roast level: Dark roast　　

　　Processing method: semi-washed, wet-hulled, washed

　　Flat White preparation method

　　Coffee cup: 200ml glass Milk: 150ml Espresso: 40g Milk foam temperature: 55-60°C, thickness 3-5mm Dose: 20g Coffee liquid: 30g Extraction time: 22-25 seconds

Use a double-spout portafilter basket to fill 20g of coffee grounds, distribute the grounds, tamp, purge, lock on the handle, and press the button to start extraction. At 25 seconds, about 30g of coffee liquid is obtained. Pour in 150ml of milk to steam, controlling the air intake time to 1-2s, theninsert the steam wand intothe milk and begin heating, controlling the temperature at 55-60℃, with milk foam no more than 0.5cm. (This can be a little difficult to control. If it is easy to fail, Front Street suggests practicing a few times with drinking water first.)

The ratio of milk to coffee in a Flat White is generally 1:3 to 1:5. The thin milk foam clearly distinguishes it from cappuccino and latte. With less milk, it will not mask the flavor of the coffee and can better highlight the aroma of the beans themselves. Through tasting, it is found that a Flat White made with Front Street classic espresso blend has the toasty aroma of dark chocolate and butter cookies. When drinking it, you can clearly feel the nutty flavor. The blend of milk and espresso has a smooth mouthfeel, moderate body, and high sweetness.

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