Every now and then, new coffee drinks are trendy. For some time now, the Flat White has managed to become a trend and make its way onto the menus of cafés. In this article, we explain where the Flat White comes from and how the Flat White recipe looks.
1. What is a Flat White?
The Flat White is often equated with a Cappuccino. However, this is not correct, even though they look somewhat similar. The Flat White consists of a Ristretto Doppio (a double Ristretto) and finely frothed milk. But what does that actually mean? A Ristretto is essentially a shortened espresso. This means that even less coffee is extracted from the machine. Consequently, a Ristretto contains less liquid and is therefore even stronger than an espresso.
Finely frothed milk is also crucial. To achieve this, milk must be frothed with less air. As a result, the milk remains almost liquid, and the Flat White only gets a thin milk foam layer. Additionally, the Flat White is often decorated with Latte Art and frequently served in a glass. The exact Flat White recipe, i.e., how to prepare a Flat White, is explained further below.
2. Where does the Flat White come from?
In recent years, the Flat White has gradually spread across Europe. More and more cafés and coffee shops have included the Flat White on their menus. Since 2010, Starbucks has also offered the Flat White. But where does it come from, and who invented it? As with so many drinks, it’s difficult to say who exactly invented or first prepared it. What is clear, however, is that the Flat White originally comes from New Zealand and Australia. It was already being prepared there in the 1980s.
How exactly the Flat White recipe came about is not entirely clear. The fact is that many Italians emigrated to Australia after World War II, bringing their coffee culture with them. As a result, cafés and espresso drinks were established locally. Some reports suggest that the Flat White initially resulted from a failed Cappuccino due to unsuccessful milk frothing. This might have occurred because the milk was not frothed properly or did not have the right properties. To achieve good milk foam and a proper milk foam crown, the milk should ideally contain sufficient fat and protein.
3. What do you need for a Flat White?
As mentioned above, a Flat White requires a Ristretto and finely frothed milk. How the Ristretto is prepared depends on the equipment. Ideally, you have access to a portafilter machine with a steam nozzle. Alternatively, or depending on preference, an espresso can also be prepared. To froth the milk, it’s best to use a milk pitcher and, of course, milk. The milk should be whole milk to ensure enough fat content for creating fine-pored milk foam.
4. The Flat White Recipe
So how can you prepare a Flat White? It’s actually quite simple. First, prepare the Ristretto Doppio or, if necessary, a double espresso. It is recommended to use freshly ground espresso beans. Then froth the milk, trying to incorporate as little air as possible so that the milk foam remains fine-pored. This may not work right away, but practice makes perfect. It’s important not to froth the milk for too long. It should remain almost liquid. Now add the milk to the Ristretto and take the opportunity to practice Latte Art.
The Flat White Recipe summarized:
- Prepare Ristretto Doppio (freshly ground espresso beans are best).
- Froth 100 to 150 ml milk finely (should still be almost liquid).
- Add milk to the Ristretto and practice Latte Art.
- Enjoy your Flat White!
5. Flat White vs Cappuccino
As previously mentioned, these two coffee drinks are often equated. However, there are a few differences between a Flat White and a Cappuccino. For one, the Cappuccino consists of an espresso, whereas the Flat White includes a Ristretto Doppio. Additionally, the milk in a Cappuccino contains more air, resulting in a thicker milk foam. Hence, the Cappuccino has a proper milk foam crown, while the Flat White only has a thin milk foam layer.
6. Flat White vs. Latte Macchiato
The difference between a Flat White and a Latte Macchiato is even more pronounced than with a Cappuccino. The Latte Macchiato also consists of an espresso instead of a Ristretto Doppio. The milk foam contains more air and is therefore not as fine-pored as in a Flat White. Additionally, the Latte Macchiato contains significantly more milk than the Flat White.
