Today, the flat white is an integral part of the coffee scene.

But what is the difference to cappuccino?
And then what is a latte macchiato?

The History of the Flat White

It is difficult to trace exactly where the flat white originated, but the flat white spread to Australia and New Zealand as early as the 1980s. During this time, the coffee craft also gained in importance due to the Third Wave Coffee movement, and the milk drinks were embellished with the help of professional pouring techniques. Latte Art was born and since then has adorned the Flat White with hearts, tulips, leaves or swans.
In the decades that followed, it began appearing more frequently on drink menus in the US, UK and elsewhere and is now a specialty café standard.
When Starbucks in the US started serving flat whites as a “bold” alternative to their latte macchiato, it became clear that the drink had gone mainstream.

So what exactly is a flat white?

Of course, there is no “set in stone” definition, but mostly a flat white is a double espresso combined with liquid foamed milk, served in a cappuccino cup. It’s a good option for those looking for a milk drink with a strong coffee flavor and a small amount of frothed milk. The Flat White is also ideal for people who consume little milk and for preparation with vegan milk alternatives, as it already contains less milk as standard and the coffee portion dominates.

What is the difference between flat white and cappuccino and latte macchiato?

The visual comparison provides clarity in the discussion.
From left to right, the coffee content decreases and the milk content increases.
So you can say that the Flat White is a strong milk drink, the Cappuccino has a slightly softer coffee taste and the Latte Macchiato, on the other hand, contains little espresso in relation to the milk.

In addition, the milk froth of the flat white is often a bit more liquid than that of the cappuccino, but since latte art has become the standard in coffee shops, the difference in the milk froth is not quite as pronounced.

Which coffee beans do you use for a flat white?

From our point of view, this is where it gets exciting!

For a cappuccino or latte macchiato, for example, we like to use an espresso that is slightly more roasted and contains traditional chocolate and nutty aromas. The reason for this is that these drinks contain a relatively large amount of milk and the espresso needs sufficient strength and intensity.

From our point of view, the modern flat white drink should also be a coffee with a pronounced sweetness and acidity. For this we often use lighter roasted, single-origin coffees which we extract longer. The combination of sweetness with a little milk makes the Flat White unique and you can distinguish it more clearly from a cappuccino.

Don’t know how to make a Flat White?

First, learn how to brew the perfect espresso!

Here’s how to prepare it:

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