I queried him on the difference and he replied thusly

I have been bitten by the flat white bug.  I had my first one 9 days ago.  I couldn't get it out of my mind.  Right then and there I decided my "one and done" for February would be a serious exploration of the flat white. 

After tasting my first one, I began roll over in my mind how it was unlike a latte and distinct from the cappuccino.  I decided to consult an expert.  In this case, my nephew James.  I queried him on the difference and he replied thusly:  "Cappuccino is a steamed milk process that is closely related to a latte.  Steamed milk is spooned or layered onto a shot or two of espresso.  A flat white uses a different roast of bean, two pulled shots with a froth and steamed milk base.  The resulting milk is more velvety and smooth than a typical steam only solution.  The milk is then slowly poured directly in the middle of the pulled shots.  It's a completely different roast and build process".

Can you read that and not want to go and get one yourself?  In the last 9 days since I had my first one I have consumed 3 more.  In my defense,  I needed to be sure I really liked them before doing a post on the topic.  AND I decided it was important to sample the flat white at more than one coffee shop. 

This is the short flat white I had at Alchemy coffee last weekend.  Supremely delicious.  If you have had an excellent flat white I will need to know the name of the coffee shop.   So I can see if I concur. 

 

 *first photo courtesy of google images.

Comments

[Emie]

Very interesting.... Will have to try this...... I've always wondered the difference between a latte and cappuccino and this has helped. I'm not a huge coffee drinker but I do like them occasionally if they have enough milk in them.

[Maureen]

I am by nature a tea drinker but was in Starbucks in NYC a week or two ago, tired and cold at night, and saw Flat White as a new thing. It made me laugh since I immediately thought that it would be something Flat Stanley would drink. I loved it!

btw, I am a tea snob and almost never get tea out.

[Joan]

Long before Starbucks hit this city, putting stores on nearly every corner...a friend from Oregon treated me to a Latte' in the local mall, much to my objection that espresso was too strong. When I took a sip of that frothy bit of wonderful I was hooked: A Hazelnut latte'. I soon developed a $9.00 a day habit. I swore it was a legal drug.

I saw that the Flat White was a new item on the menu at Starbucks (the only coffee shop still in business in this city) so it's my only source to sample. After reading your post, I'll have to test drive one of those the next time I'm at Starbucks.

[carol]

Joan and Emie: if you do not like "strong" coffee flavor you may not like the flat white. The reason I LOVE it is because it is a big bold strong flavor. If you prefer the milder, more milky versions, I would stick with the latte. Just my 2 cents.
P.S. SISTER - DO NOT try a flat white - it will be way too strong for you.

[Jane]

Here in Australia flat whites are the go-to drink. Good to see them getting around. Couldn't comment on Starbucks because there are only a handful left here in tourist spots. They opened here ten years ago but didn't succeed.

PS I love your blog.

[Jenny]

Yum! Have you tried a Cortado at Bourgeois Pig. It sounds similar. I'm not sure if "cortado" is a type of drink like flat white of if it's just the name of their drink. Either way, its delicious too!