For the people who take their coffee seriously, flat white coffee is the best go-to option. It has no extra cream or topping or any addition of any sort. Amidst all the variants of coffees you see and hear about these days, you can say that a flat white is probably the purest form of coffee.
It is the type of coffee drink that entails two of the basic elements that make up coffee – espresso and steamed milk with no foam. This is also why it is named a flat white coffee as hit has very fine bubbles and no froth. It has a velvety consistency that makes it appear a lot like a latte.
How is Flat White Coffee Different than a Latte?
Flat white coffee has a lesser amount of microfoam – steamed milk – and a higher proportion of coffee. The difference in the ratio of coffee to steamed milk is what results in a velvety consistency of this coffee. As compared to latte, wherein the flavor of steamed milk is overpowering, the real essence of coffee flavor takes the lead in a flat white coffee.
Flat White vs. Cappuccino
- In flat white, milk is blended in the espresso, while cappuccino has a thick layer of foam on top.
- If flat white is on one end of the continuum, then there is dry cappuccino on the other.
- As compared to flat white, a dry cappuccino has very less or no milk with thick foam on the top.
Origins
Though it has been around since the 1980s, its origin is debatable. It might be native to Australia or New Zealand, but it has now become a hugely popular part of the menus of almost all the cafes in the US, UK, and Europe.
About the origins, it is stated that flat white was requested by the consumers who were making themselves comfortable with the idea of an espresso-based coffee but never liked the foam on top. Wanting a break from the cappuccino’s foamy peak, the consumers started asking for an espresso-based coffee with less steamed milk and no froth at all. Hence, this flatter version of cappuccino evolved, and people loved it!
Nutritional Value
According to myfitnesspal, one cup of flat white coffee contains:
- 76 calories
- 5g carbs
- 4g fat
- 8g protein
- 6g sugar
- 38% calcium
Note: Percentages are based on a diet of 2000 calories a day.
How to Make a Flat White Coffee
- Pour an espresso shot from your espresso machine into a cup.
- Now free pour whole milk over the espresso and mix the two liquids till they intertwine entirely.
- The important step that sets flat white from cappuccino is to make microfoam or steamed milk using the steaming wand. The key is to create froth for a flat white with bubbles so tiny that they are hardly visible.
- Also, pouring this white microfoam is essential to creating the perfect flat white. Milk should not blend in with the bubbles, so the microfoam should be poured gently throughout the cup without mixing the coffee.
Health Benefits
- Antioxidants in it help fight the aging process.
- Prevents type 2 diabetes.
- Increases alertness.
- Prevents dizziness.
