Latte vs flat white: know the difference between these two popular coffee drinks and get your order right every time!
It’s time to point the spotlight on this Aussie favourite coffee – now so popular worldwide that even Starbucks has it on their menu!
Is a Flat White a Latte in disguise? No!
Isn’t it just a small Latte? No!
Then cut to the chase, what is this Flat White you speak of?!
So what exactly is a Flat White?
There’s no one standard definition of a Flat White coffee, though it is generally agreed it is a strong, white espresso drink. It is served with steamed milk and only a tiny layer of micro foam on top – approximately 5 to 6 ounces in size.
What is a Latte?
A Latte, or correctly a Caffe Latte (caffè e latte) of Italian origin literally means “coffee and milk”, made with espresso and steamed milk, finished with a thick layer of creamy foam. It can be made with one or two shots of espresso, layered with steamed milk then layered with about a 1/2 inch of foam.
The creaminess of Lattes goes great for mixing with other flavours, and the foamy layers work brilliantly for creating coveted “coffee art”.
Lattes are great for when you want to sit back with a big cuppa that’s not too intense in flavour.
Note a Latte in Italy is quite different to elsewhere in the world. In Italy you’ll want to order a “Latte Macchiato” if this is your preferred drink.
Latte vs Flat White
It’s easy to see from the outside why you might assume the Flat White is similar to a Latte but there are several subtle differences.
What is the difference between a Flat White and a Latte?
Both are milky coffee drinks made with espresso and steamed milk, but the ratios of milk to coffee are different as well as the texture of the finish.
Whilst there’s no absolute ratios to follow, top baristas believe that the Flat White gives more opportunity for the coffee itself to be the start of the show as it’s not as diluted with milk.