The FLAT WHITE is a coffee drink that combines espresso with a special type of steamed milk called microfoam . Here's a breakdown of its key characteristics:
Flat white coffee
Ingredients: The core ingredients are espresso and microfoam. Microfoam is created by steaming milk to introduce tiny air bubbles, resulting in a smooth, velvety texture and a thin, glossy layer on top of the drink.
Coffee to Milk Ratio: Compared to other espresso-based drinks like lattes, flat whites have a higher proportion of espresso to milk. This translates to a stronger coffee flavor. A typical flat white uses a double shot of espresso (around 50ml) to roughly 130ml of microfoam.
Size: Flat whites are typically served in smaller cups (around 160-165ml) compared to lattes or cappuccinos. This contributes to the more intense coffee taste.
Origin: The exact origins of the flat white are debated, with cafes in Australia and New Zealand vying for credit for its invention in the 1980s.
Comparison to Other Coffee Drinks:
Latte: Flat whites have a stronger coffee taste due to the less-diluted espresso and smaller serving size compared to lattes.
Cappuccino: Flat whites have a thinner layer of microfoam compared to cappuccinos, which are known for their thick and frothy ミルク (gyūnyū, milk) top.
So, if you're looking for a coffee drink with a bold espresso flavor and a smooth, velvety texture, the flat white might be the perfect choice for you!