ESPRESSO + MILK FAMILY
Flat White
A flat white is an espresso drink with steamed milk and a thin layer of microfoam, similar to a small latte but with a higher ratio of coffee to milk, so it tastes smoother yet still strongly of espresso.
- Cup size
- 5-6 oz
- Served
- Hot
- Strength
- 3 / 5 (concentration, not caffeine)
- Caffeine
- ~126 mg typical
The caffeine comes from the 2 oz of espresso, not the milk or the cup size, so a bigger serving with the same espresso carries about the same amount.
WHERE IT SITS
- Flat White
- Cortado
- Latte
- Cappuccino
In the cup
What's in a Flat White
A flat white lives in the narrow gap between a latte and a cortado. It uses more milk than a cortado but less than a latte, poured over the shot in a modest cup and finished with a thin, even layer of microfoam rather than a thick, airy cap. That microfoam is the signature: milk steamed to a wet, paint-like sheen that folds into the coffee instead of sitting on top, giving the drink a velvety, uniform texture from the first sip to the last.
Because the milk is kept in check, the espresso stays clearly in the foreground. Many cafes pull a ristretto shot for a flat white, a shorter, sweeter extraction that makes the coffee taste rounder under all that silky milk. The overall effect is a drink that feels smooth and refined without ever losing its coffee backbone.
The flat white's exact birthplace is disputed. Both Australia and New Zealand claim to have invented it, with rival origin stories on each side of the Tasman Sea, and no single account has ever settled the argument. What everyone agrees on is the drink itself: espresso, well-textured milk, and restraint.
- START HEREFlat White
- Cortado
- Latte
How it's built
- 2 oz espresso
- + 4 oz steamed milk
- + thin foam
- Flat White5-6 oz
Ordering a Flat White
At the counter
A flat white arrives hot in a small cup, capped with a thin, glossy microfoam rather than a fluffy head. Many cafes pull a ristretto shot for it, a shorter, sweeter extraction, so if you have a preference it is worth asking which shot they use. You can order it with an extra shot, but restraint is the point, so most people keep it standard.
- Cup size
- 5-6 oz
- Served
- Hot
Make it at home
Making a Flat White at home
- Pull a short, ristretto-style shot if you can - a little less water makes it sweeter under the milk.
- Warm milk to a wet, paint-like microfoam, thin and glossy rather than fluffy.
- Pour it over the shot in a small cup, holding back the foam so only a thin layer sits on top.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is a Flat White?
A flat white is a small espresso drink topped with steamed milk and a thin layer of velvety microfoam. It uses less milk than a latte in a smaller cup, so the espresso comes through more clearly, and it skips the thick foam cap of a cappuccino.
What's in a Flat White / what's the ratio?
A Flat White is 2 oz espresso, 4 oz steamed milk, thin foam in a 5-6 oz cup - more milk than a cortado but less than a latte, under a thin microfoam.
Is a Flat White strong?
On our concentration scale, a Flat White rates 3/5. Strength here means how concentrated the coffee tastes - not how much caffeine is in the cup.
How is a Flat White different from a Cortado?
A cortado is even smaller and more coffee-forward. It uses roughly equal parts espresso and milk with essentially no foam, served in a little glass. A flat white adds more steamed milk and a thin microfoam in a slightly larger cup, so it drinks a touch smoother and milkier while the cortado stays sharper and more concentrated.
Is a Flat White hot or iced?
Traditionally hot. A Flat White is served warm, not over ice.
How much caffeine is in a Flat White?
Around 126 mg is typical for a Flat White, scaled from USDA's measured figure for espresso rather than measured in the cup. It is approximate - the real amount shifts with the beans, the roast, and the pour.