What is a Flat White and How Do You Brew the Perfect Cup?

With so many types of hot caffeinated drinks to choose from, your mind might be spinning in terms of what you want to try. If you’re now a proud owner of an exceptional coffee machine, we can understand why you’d want to explore a little bit. A flat white coffee is a popular option that millions of people around the world enjoy every day. If you’ve only seen it on a menu, or vaguely heard someone talking about it, we’ve got the dish on exactly what it is, as well as how to go about brewing the perfect cup at home right here. 

Flat White Coffee Explained

A flat white coffee isn’t very technical or complicated. This is perhaps why it is such a popular choice for people all over the world. In a nutshell, it refers to a blend of foamed milk, poured over a short or two of espresso. Steamed milk is the order of the day, in a bid to give it a smooth texture with a creamy taste not dissimilar to a well done cappuccino. Naturally, it’s possible to use different types of coffee beans at different strengths, which is where more versatility comes in. Explore a couple of different times to find the perfect balance for you. 

Isn’t it Just a Latte?

From the explanation, you might be drawing a natural conclusion: isn’t it just a latte? Good observation. The main difference between the two is that a latte has the foamed milk sitting on top as a layer. A flat white, is topped by a very thin (i.e flat, as the name suggests) layer of steamed milk. This makes a big difference in terms of taste, too. A flat white is meant to combine the zing of an espresso with the joys of adding dairy into a strong cuppa. Experiment with one or two shots to find what works for you, but don’t go too overboard as it might take away from the experience. 

A hand touching one of two coffee cups, ready to take a sip

A Tried and Tested Method

Brewing the perfect flat white requires some precise measurements along with following through on every step. Around 35ml of espresso is a good starting point, which you should pour into the base of your cup. The milk should be well steamed for around 1 to 2cm of foam. The steamer attachment or jug should be held roughly 4cm above the cup, with a steady flow into it to ensure the correct balance. Take special care here, as otherwise you may end up in latte territory. Not a bad place to be, but it kind of defeats the point of having a flat white to begin with. 

Nurturing Your Inner Barista

Armed with all the knowledge you need to make the perfect flat white coffee, the Aquaspresso team is here to encourage you to nurture the inner barista in you. A good flat white is easy enough to master to help you gain confidence to try other things too. If you want some advice on how to make incredible hot drinks, especially if you’ve recently bought a new machine, get in touch with us. We can also help with hooking you up with a rental for the office as well, so you can take your home skills into the workspace to the benefit of everyone who ends up using the space.