What Does the Flat White Definition Debate Mean for Milk Drinks?

A flat white is a small milk coffee built on a concentrated espresso base with a thin layer of microfoam, but its exact definition varies by region and barista. Some stress the smaller cup, some the thin foam texture, and others a double ristretto shot. That flexibility, not a single fixed recipe, explains why the term is contested.

Compared with a latte, the flat white uses less milk and finer foam, so the coffee's sweetness and acidity stay more present. The same milk question shapes cappuccino, whose name and proportions have also shifted over time. Bean choice matters too: a specialty blend with nutty, chocolate and caramel notes holds up differently than a commercial blend.

Flat White is now a regular on specialty coffee shop menus, but its definition varies widely depending on region and individual barista interpretation. Some emphasize the small cup size, some stress the thin microfoam, and others insist on a double ristretto. This article sorts out the debate over Flat White's origins, its specific differences from latte and cappuccino in cup size, foam thickness, and coffee-to-milk ratio, and cites the actual practices of professionals in Australia, the UK, Ecuador, and elsewhere. It also introduces the flavor performance of two coffee beans—Front Street Specialty Blend and Front Street Commercial Blend—when used to make milk coffee, helping coffee lovers be clearer about what they want when ordering or making it themselves.

Flat White, commonly known as "xiaobai," has been firmly established on the menu in many specialty coffee shops for quite a while. But what exactly is it? And how is it different from a latte?

Front Street's view is that the reason Flat White emerged and continues to evolve lies in people's pursuit of the flavor and mouthfeel of specialty coffee beans. Therefore, its preparation is not singular—it is influenced both by the coffee beans used and by how the barista understands Flat White. Generally speaking, baristas approach it from several directions—a smaller cup size, thinner milk foam, and a ristretto-based espresso—to present the distinctive mouthfeel of a Flat White.

To make a Flat White, you can use Front Street Specialty Blend coffee beans, which are suitable for home / office and specialty community coffee shops. Colombian washed coffee beans + Brazilian semi-dry-process coffee beans have nutty, dark chocolate, and caramel flavor notes, and also provide a pleasant bittersweet taste. Paired with milk to make a latte, it goes down smooth, latte art holds steady, and the roasted aroma is rich. When making a Dirty, it not only creates a beautiful layered look, but the surface of the coffee also retains a dark brown "tiger stripe."

If you want to make a taste just like a coffee shop, or want to become a shop owner, then Front Street Commercial Blend is your first choice. Compared with other espresso coffees, Front Street Commercial Blend uses the classic combination of Brazil and Colombia, then adds a small amount of Robusta to enhance the original flavor layers. The coffee shows complex nutty aromas such as almond, apricot kernel, and walnut, with good crema flow, a low-acid and full-bodied taste, and a price advantage—undoubtedly the optimal choice for opening a shop.

Next, let us talk about Flat White from the perspectives of its history, its preparation method, and how it differs from latte and cappuccino.

What is a Flat White?

Simply put, a Flat White is made with espresso as the base, then combined with steamed milk. For those who like a rich coffee taste but also want a small amount of steamed milk and a layer of thin foam, a Flat White is a good choice. If you want a drink that is primarily about coffee flavor while retaining the full mouthfeel of milk, then a Flat White is very suitable—except, how exactly do you distinguish it from a latte?

The Origins of Flat White

There has always been controversy over whether Flat White originated in Australia or New Zealand. But what is certain is that it appeared around 1980 and afterward gradually entered specialty coffee shops in the United States, the United Kingdom, and other regions. Ben Bicknell, strategy manager at Melbourne's Five Senses Coffee, once said: "Without a deep understanding of Australian and New Zealand history, I would think Flat White evolved naturally in both places at the same time."

"In the transition from instant coffee to espresso, consumers wanted to find something they were familiar with, not a cappuccino. At that time, milk coffees here all came with a lot of foam, so people asked for a more 'flat' drink. In fact, the amount of foam in a Flat White later evolved to be less than in a cappuccino, yet finer and more delicious." When Starbucks in the United States began boldly offering Flat White in place of latte, it meant this drink had gradually moved into the mainstream.

What is the difference between cappuccino and latte?

We have initially learned that a Flat White is a drink based on espresso, paired with steamed milk and a small amount of foam. So how is it different from a latte or cappuccino? The word latte first entered English in the 1980s, but the concept of adding coffee to warm milk has actually existed for a long time. In Italy, caffè latte is actually a milk-based breakfast drink, often made with coffee brewed in a stovetop moka pot.

Elsewhere, the name usually refers to a shot of espresso topped with steamed milk and a layer of foam. To clarify the difference from cappuccino: a cappuccino is usually smaller in cup size and has a stronger coffee taste, using one shot of espresso with a thick layer of foam. A traditional latte, by contrast, is larger in cup size, has a higher coffee-to-milk ratio with a milder taste, and a smaller proportion of foam.

What is the difference between Flat White and latte?

Ben said: "In Australia, a latte is usually served in a 200 ml glass, while a Flat White is served in a 180 ml ceramic cup, so it is less likely to be diluted. In the past, a latte's foam layer might have been thicker, about one centimeter, while a Flat White's was thinner, about 0.5 centimeter. However, in recent years, the tiny difference in foam has basically been abandoned, and now both present roughly the same amount of foam."

But Ben's experience may not apply to all regions. Every coffee shop may present a slightly different Flat White, making it easy for consumers to get confused. Cappuccino and latte may be made with one or two shots of espresso, but a Flat White traditionally uses two. Yet even as Flat White becomes more and more popular, some baristas may still use two ristretto shots to create a stronger coffee flavor, which makes the definition of this drink even more confusing.

Different Definitions of Flat White

The definition of Flat White may differ slightly depending on the country you are in and the barista. Jonathan Prestidge, operations manager at Repack Espresso in the UK, said that the difference between latte and Flat White mainly lies in the coffee-to-milk ratio.

The milk texture of the two drinks is very similar, and both have enough room in the cup for latte art. In terms of ratio, the author's shop uses a 5-ounce (about 140 g) cup for Flat White and an 8-ounce (about 225 ml) cup for latte. Both use two shots of espresso. If the capacity is greater than 6 ounces (about 170 ml), the author believes it is not a Flat White but a latte.

Felipe Cisneros, owner of Traviesa Coffee in Ecuador, believes that the difference in Flat White is also related to the barista's personal preference. He said: "Latte is the best-selling drink in second-wave coffee shops, while Flat White is one of the most popular coffee drinks in third-wave coffee shops. Depending on the barista's mood and skill, both drinks can create marketing topics and have their own recipes."

Ceiran Trigg, director of Ancestors Coffee in the UK, said: "A Flat White is a 5-6 ounce (140-170 ml) drink made with a double shot of espresso, with a very thin milk texture and a relatively small proportion. A latte is a 7-9 ounce (200-250 ml) drink by liquid volume, and can reach 10 ounces (280 ml), with a milk texture between that of a Flat White and a cappuccino."

Which is better, Flat White or latte?

The specific cup size and the coffee-to-milk ratio may vary, but the general consensus is that a Flat White is smaller than a latte and has a higher proportion of espresso. If you like the delicate flavors of specialty coffee but also want to drink sweet milk, then a Flat White may suit you better than a latte, because with its lower milk proportion, a Flat White lets you more fully experience the flavor characteristics of the coffee beans. But is it better? Not necessarily. There are many ways to experience specialty coffee, and each of us has personal preferences.

Is the taste of a Flat White stronger than a latte? A Flat White is a drink with a higher perceived coffee intensity, and its coffee flavor is stronger than the milk. Since both are made with two shots of espresso, its coffee intensity may be stronger than a latte. A Flat White combines the substantial mouthfeel and flavor of espresso with the full mouthfeel of milk. For friends who are lactose intolerant, the plant-based milk used as a substitute foams more easily than dairy milk and can also be applied very well to the integration of a Flat White.

When we order at a coffee shop, understanding what a Flat White is can help you choose, but if you care a lot about details such as ratios and are unfamiliar with how that shop does things, you might ask the barista how they make their Flat White. But Ben says the definition of Flat White itself is less important than other issues; the more important question is whether the coffee drinker can taste the essence of specialty coffee through a latte or a Flat White, and is willing to keep coming back to the shop to taste it.

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