Apparently, Caravan in Exmouth Market is training baristas (in cafes that use their beans) that: You must live in London or New Yawk. Seattle lattes are specified a little differently to lattes in the rest of the US, let alone the rest of the world, so you have to try it and see what works for you. Never mind if they think it’s an aussie inventions. Should I be annoyed, or is there not a huge difference? They have been part of the normal repertoire in decent cafes for decades. It’s been like this for many years. It is nothing like a Latte (which is a shot in a lot of milk in a big cup). I personally think that, even before the microfoam, the balance between the milk and the coffee is the most important characteristic, though everyone will have a slightly different take on that. Having lived and trained in Australia, I have been drinking Flat Whites there for well over a decade. It is a luxury beverage which sould always look as good as it tastes. I’ve been debating this very point for years now, whether from the point of veiw of training, as a barista or roaster. – Joseph Hoye from Electric Coffee Bean, A flat white is a coffee beverage prepared by pouring microfoam (steamed milk from the bottom of a pitcher) over a single or double shot of espresso. Many data processing operations are only possible with your express consent. Please be aware that in this case, you may not be able to make full use of all the features of this website. For me the latte and cappuccino are the same apart from the milk texture and traditionally in Italy a cappuccino is drunk only in the morning. But then everybody has a different taste and some like it more or less milky. “A flat white is just a cappuccino with less froth isn’t it?” I overheard a slightly confused Hungarian cafe owner say to a Kiwi customer. A latte is the milk free poured into to a glass with some froth on top followed by the coffee shot. Its usually just your normal crappy, watery, milky cappuccino with less froth or its 2 incredibly bitter shots with lots of milk to compensate. And because the Australian’s couldn’t take strong black coffee and didn’t like foreign names he coined the phrase ‘Flat white’. Other data can be used to analyze how visitors use the site. Part of the data is collected to ensure the proper functioning of the website. Adam The milk should be ever-so-slightly creamy, and consistently so all the way through the drink. All of the coffees we know come from one drink – espresso. It was stronger than a flat white but pretty good and replicable. Tried Starbuck next – for 4.25 they gave me a small latte. You may revoke your consent at any time with future effect. And there you have North America’s Starbucks’ version of the “flat white”. In Italy, the flat white is a “latte macchiato” (spotted milk) and the cappuccino is served in a slightly smaller cup. I just encountered my first flat white in Istanbul at a lovely South African coffee shop behind the Spice Market, created by a barista from New Zealand. ?, yes apparently he couldn’t stand coffee in Australia so got one from Italy. Perhaps I will ask tomorrow when he is not around. Searching For Official Definitions of a Flat White. Just too much disappointment. BTW, people love to bash the commercial chains (Starbucks, Costa, Nero) but I have found that while Starbucks are atrocious and Costa has been allowing its coffee quality to slide hopelessly over the last 15 years in the UK, Caffe Nero (or my local ones anyway) are really producing very good quality espresso-based drinks. Enjoyed your post. The website provider automatically collects and stores information that your browser automatically transmits to us in "server log files". Flat White vs Cappuccino. What is most important is the wonderful good taste of the drink and the feelings it conveys…. macchiato? Real coffee is made with water and coffe. But yes, here, flat white and latte are totally different things. In a gourmet coffee place, they wouldn’t serve the type of horrendous latte a big chain would serve anyway, and the distinction would be more about coffee/milk ratio and texture. But as always, commercialism has stepped in and damaged the FW. A stronger fairtrade but I understand also Richard Harris (someone please confirm). “It’s flatter.”). Others say you can order a Super Flat white – (this normally gives a 1.3 cm layer of micro foam). Personally I find Lattes way too milky. Aka small dble shot latte. It’s a glorified white coffee, all else is pretentious shit. Genius. So if you like it, then it’s the right drink for you, whatever it’s called. The Duaneiac has it right. I have noticed in most coffee shops the apparent glazed looks of all coffee purchasers who are intensive drinkers. Creamy, smooth, sweet without sugar, and rich taste and no milk-moustache! In my opinion, it’s always a single. I get excited every time I make Flat White.