Flat White
Flat White is a popular coffee beverage originating from Australia and New Zealand, known for its perfectly balanced combination of rich espresso and steamed milk topped with fine, velvety microfoam. It contains a higher ratio of coffee to milk than a latte, yet has a thinner and smoother layer of foam compared to a cappuccinoresulting in a drink thats bold yet silky-smooth.
The Origins of the Flat White
The exact origin of the Flat White is still debated between Australia and New Zealand, with both countries claiming to have invented it.
The Australian Story:
One theory suggests that the Flat White originated in Sydney during the 1980s. According to this account, a café customer used to order a White Coffee Flat, referring to coffee with hot milk and minimal froth. Eventually, the café owner decided to make it an official menu item, naming it Flat White to describe its smooth, flat layer of foamdistinguishing it from other milk-based coffees.
The New Zealand Story:
Another story traces its roots to Auckland, New Zealand, in the late 1980s. At a café called DKD, a barista named McInnes was preparing a cappuccino when he realized the low-fat milk he used wouldnt froth properly. Instead of starting over, he served the drink as it was and jokingly called it a Flat White, apologizing to the customer with the words, Sorry, this ones a flat white. The name stuckand a new coffee style was born.
What Makes Flat White Unique
What sets the Flat White apart from other milk-based coffees is its harmony between espresso intensity and milk smoothness. The drink typically consists of one or two shots of espresso topped with microfoamsteamed milk with an ultra-fine, silky texture approximately 0.51 centimeter thick.
Compared to a Latte: The Flat White has a higher coffee-to-milk ratio, giving it a stronger coffee flavor.
Compared to a Cappuccino: The Flat White has thinner, smoother foam and no thick, airy froth on top.
Global Expansion
After gaining immense popularity in Australia and New Zealand, the Flat White began spreading worldwide. A major turning point came when Starbucks officially added the drink to its menufirst in Australia in 2009, then in the United Kingdom in 2010.
In 2015, Starbucks launched the Flat White across North America, introducing it to millions of coffee lovers in the United States and Canada. This move played a key role in making the Flat White a globally recognized beverage.
Although some coffee purists argue that Starbucks recipe differs from the traditional version, the companys adoption of the drink confirmed its growing global appeal and accessibility.
Flat White Today
Today, the Flat White has become a staple in coffee shops across the worldfrom Europe and North America to Asia, including Thailand. Its popularity continues to rise, particularly among specialty coffee enthusiasts who appreciate high-quality espresso and precise milk texture.
Balancing strength and smoothness, the Flat White represents more than just a coffee drinkits a reflection of the refined yet relaxed coffee culture of Australia and New Zealand.
