If you’re sick of your usual cappuccino or latte and looking for a new espresso drink to try, the flat white might be just what you’re looking for. The flat white is the latte’s lesser-known, less milky cousin, and it’s a great choice for people who enjoy the smooth texture of frothed milk but prefer a stronger drink with more coffee flavour than a latte. In this article, we’ll show you how to make a flat white. It can be more difficult to master than other espresso drinks, but we have some pointers to help you get it right the first time. Let’s get started!
What Exactly Is A Flat White?
A flat white coffee is traditionally made by combining one part espresso and two parts steamed milk. Ordering a flat white at your local café will get you one shot of espresso mixed with two shots of steamed milk, but as long as the ratio is 1:2, it can count as a flat white.
Recipe For Simple Flat White:
Ingredients
- 7-9 g coffee per shot
- 14-18 g milk per shot
1. Weigh The Coffee And Milk Together.
To ensure proper dosing, use 7-9 g of coffee for each shot. How much coffee to use per shot depends on a variety of factors, including your espresso machine and grinder, so it may take some trial and error to get it right.
2. Pull The Shot.
Pull a shot of espresso.
3. Steam The Milk.
For the best results, keep the steam wand near the surface of the milk.
4. Pour The Milk Into The Coffee Cup.
Pour slowly. The goal is to have a 14-inch-thick layer of milk resting on top of the drink.
5. Make A Lovely Piece Of Latte Art.
Latte art isn’t limited to lattes. Exercise your creative muscles!
Serve Immediately And Enjoy.
Tips For Steaming Milk
The key to achieving a velvety smooth flat white is how the milk is steamed. Steamed milk is made up of three main components: hot liquid milk, large bubbles on top, and a thin layer of microbubbles. The most important layer is the microbubble foam layer, which is responsible for the smooth texture that people prefer. Keeping the steam wand just beneath the surface of the milk is critical for creating the microfoam layer, and it takes some practise to achieve a consistent texture.
If you haphazardly insert a steam wand into a cup of milk and wait, you will be disappointed. A spoon, used in a back-and-forth folding motion, is a better way to continuously mix the large bubbles that form at the top down under the surface of the liquid milk. The goal is to create a defined layer of microbubbles that will not dissolve in the drink.
What Distinguishes A Flat White From A Latte?
Flat whites are very similar to lattes and, to the untrained eye, they appear to be the same thing. A flat white and a latte are both made with only two ingredients: espresso and steamed milk. The difference is in how the milk is prepared and the amount of milk used.
Lattes have more milk than flat whites, which typically have only a thin layer of macrofoam on top. If you like the texture and mouthfeel of a latte but don’t want something quite as milky, try a flat white; they’re stronger and put the espresso front and center.
Conclusion
Flat whites are similar to lattes but have a stronger espresso flavor due to the lower amount of milk used in their preparation. If you like the smooth, flowing feel of macrofoam but don’t want your coffee to get lost in a sea of milk, a flat white is an excellent choice.
Making a flat white at home takes some practice, but it is well within the capabilities of at-home baristas because all you need is an espresso machine and a steam wand. The frothing technique, which can be difficult to master, is where the magic happens. If you stick to the tips we’ve provided here, you’ll be churning out deliciously rich, smooth flat whites in no time!