The perfect combination of soft milk foam and rich Arabica coffee is flat white coffee that invigorates in the morning and maintains strength throughout the day. Why this drink is so fond of thousands of coffee lovers from all over the world, we will tell in this article.
Description of the drink
For those who do not delve too deeply into the peculiarities of the coffee culture, this name may be unfamiliar, and the description of the coffee recipe may only cause confusion. "How, another version of coffee with milk ?!" - you can exclaim condescendingly. And yes, you will be right - flat white is really prepared from the most common ingredients - coffee, milk, sugar. But the way it is brewed gives the drink a special taste, for which flat white is appreciated all over the world. Today this coffee cocktail is on the menu of every self-respecting coffee shop.
On a note! For those who do not know what it is, "flat white" translates as "flat white". It does not sound very informative for those who are interested in the taste of the drink - its taste cannot be called flat in any way! This highly versatile coffee just looks “flat” on top because of the smooth milk froth head.
History of appearance
Since flat white is a relatively young coffee cocktail, the history of its emergence is generally known. The first such drink was brewed by barista Derek Townsend in the mid-90s of the last century in Auckland. He was one of the owners of the DKD coffee chain.
Roasting coffee and trying new combinations for his menu, Derek mixed doppio with whipped milk in a 1: 2 ratio. The customers liked the drink so much that it was not only included in the menu of chain coffee houses, but also noticed by competitors. Soon the coffee cocktail was already drunk all over Auckland, then it became famous in Australia, and eventually "moved" to other continents.
On a note! The Starbucks chain made the drink even more popular when it included it on the menu. There are Starbucks branches in almost every city in the world, so flat white has become available even in remote provinces.
Features and differences from other coffee drinks
Since flat white does not contain any unusual ingredients, it is worth considering its features that distinguish the drink from similar coffee cocktails. So:
- Cappuccino and flat white coffee have a lot in common, but there are also many differences, which mainly lie in proportions and preparation. Flat white requires doppio, while cappuccino requires half the coffee. Also, for cappuccino, milk is not whipped completely, and for flat white, foam is made from the entire volume of milk. Because of this, the froth lies "flat", while in cappuccino it often forms a convex "cap". It is important to be aware of these differences, since it is customary for both drinks to be served in the same container, and, as a rule, they are prepared in the same volume.
- If we compare latte and flat white, the difference will be in the strength of the drinks - for “flat white” doppio is used, and for latte - one serving of espresso. In addition, the latte contains practically no foam - mostly warm milk is added to the drink. The form of serving is also different, since tall transparent glasses are most often used for lattes, and thick-walled ceramic cups for flat white.
- The difference between flat white and macchiato is in strength - only one serving of espresso is needed to prepare the second, and also in volume - macchiato, as a rule, does not exceed 80 milliliters.
Classic flat white coffee recipe
Now about the main thing - how to brew real flat white coffee according to the original recipe found by Derek Townsend?
You will need:
- Ground Arabica beans - 20 grams.
- Fat milk - 120 milliliters.
- Sugar to taste.
On a note! It is best to cook flat white from medium-rare and finely ground grains. Then the drink will not leave unpleasant bitterness, but it will turn out to be quite dense and rich in taste.
For cooking:
- Brew doppio espresso.
- Whisk the milk until smooth. There should be no large bubbles in it. It is also important not to overheat the coffee - it should not be hotter than 70 degrees.
- Preheat the cup and pour the coffee into it.
- If you need sugar, add it to the coffee and stir.
- Pour in the milk froth.
- Decorate and serve.
On a note! Perfect flat white is a drink with a pronounced coffee flavor and a cap of milk foam from 0.5 to 1 centimeter.
How to prepare a drink at home?
Now we will tell you how to cook flat white for those who have not got their own coffee machine. To do this, use a Turkish or French press. To whip milk, you can use a mixer, blender, or even a French press plunger.
To prepare a drink you will need:
- Ground coffee beans - 20 grams.
- Milk with fat content above 3% - 120 milliliters.
- Purified water - 60 milliliters.
- Sugar to taste.
The cooking steps are as follows:
- Brew a double shot of espresso any way you like.
- Be sure to strain the coffee brewed in a Turk.
- Heat the milk to a temperature of 60-70 degrees, this can be done both on the stove and in the microwave.
- Whisk the milk until a homogeneous foam is obtained - make sure that there are no large bubbles in it.
- Heat the cup and pour the coffee into it.
- Add and stir in sugar.
- Pour milk froth into the coffee.
- Decorate and serve.
How to serve flat white?
What else is important to know about flat white coffee is how to properly serve the drink. To do this, use ceramic cups with thick walls, which do not allow the coffee to cool quickly. The recommended volume of dishes is 220-250 milliliters.
Important! Before pouring the drink into cups, they need to be heated - for this you just need to rinse them with boiling water or substitute them under a stream of steam. This treatment will improve the taste of the drink.
Any sweets can be served with flat white coffee - muffins, macarons. Also, the drink is often decorated with latte art, since the drawings look favorably on a flat milk cap.
They drink coffee without stirring, so sugar should be added at the preparation stage - before adding milk froth. Bitter rich doppio, passing through a sweetish foam that sets off its taste, acquires a special charm.
On a note! Flat white is a drink for the morning. If you drink it later than 4 pm, a double shot of espresso can negatively affect the body, making it difficult to fall asleep in the evening. It is also not recommended to drink this cocktail after meals - caffeine will slow down the digestion process.
Cost, calorie content and strength of the drink
What will delight many weight-watching coffee lovers is the calorie content of flat white. It is quite low, even if you use fatty milk. So:
- A low-fat milk drink will not exceed 35 calories.
- Coffee brewed from milk with a fat content of 3.2% will contain about 70 calories.
The strength of the drink is quite high, because it contains doppio espresso. It will be 80 milligrams per serving.
As for the cost of flat white, then:
- In both capitals, the price per serving will be about 250 rubles.
- In other regions - from 120 to 220 rubles.
- When cooking at home, the cost of a portion will be about 30 rubles.
Intense doppio with thick milk foam is a coffee lover's dream, looking to soften the flavor of espresso a bit or to make the cappuccino more robust. Flat white is the best way to wake yourself up in the morning and add performance at lunchtime. Prepare it yourself or order it from the coffee shop and it will become your favorite among the variety of coffee cocktails.
Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world. Perhaps, in terms of the number of fans, only tea can be compared with it. The history of acquaintance of people with the grains of Arabica and Robusta has more than a thousand years, and it is quite natural that over such a long time hundreds of different
Today, the classic and most famous recipes include espresso, cappuccino and latte. However, lovers of drinking coffee with milk are probably familiar with a variety called "flat white". This is the name of a recipe similar to traditional, but in its own way original. Flat white coffee, also known as "Australian", tastes like a cross between espresso and cappuccino.
The history of the drink
This recipe was invented relatively recently, in the 80s of the XX century. Flat white coffee is often credited with New Zealand barista Derek Townsend. It was he who came up with the version in which, thanks to the addition of frothed milk, the bitterness of the espresso does not disappear completely, but becomes much softer. At the same time, the drink still turns out to be stronger than the classic cappuccino.
The Australian recipe is the result of a long and careful selection of the ideal espresso to milk ratio. Perhaps that is why flat white immediately fell in love with coffee connoisseurs and soon gained popularity in the author's homeland, and then throughout the world. Today, a drink prepared according to this recipe is present in the menu of many establishments.
As for the name, it is most often explained by the cooking technology. The milk, whipped into a firm foam, forms a flat surface, which is why the recipe became known as "flat white", that is, "flat white".
Compound
Of great importance for the taste characteristics of the drink is the quality of the beans from which flat white (coffee) is made. The composition of the mixture should ideally contain several varieties of Arabica. It is this species that combines a rich aroma and mild taste, while robusta grains are distinguished by a more pronounced bitterness and sourness. It is desirable that the mixture has a medium degree of roast and a fine grind.
It is not uncommon for coffee shops to experiment with a recipe, increasing either the espresso content or the amount of milk. But there is also the most popular ratio of ingredients. Flat white is a coffee that is most often prepared on the basis of one dose of doppio (double espresso with a standard volume of 60 ml) and 120 ml of frothed milk.
Differences between flat white and latte and cappuccino
It may seem that flat white is not much different from the well-known cappuccino and latte. Moreover, the latter is often served in establishments under the guise of "Australian" coffee. These drinks are indeed similar, mainly due to the presence of milk foam in the recipe, however, the latte has a lower strength. In addition, their appearance and method of presentation differ.
Flat white is a coffee traditionally prepared in a thick-walled porcelain cup. This allows it not to be confused with the latte, which is usually served in an irish glass. Also, flat white is distinguished by the presence of snow-white foam, while in the same cappuccino, the surface most often has a light brown tint. There is also another characteristic - the volume of whipped milk. The foam layer in flat white coffee is much thinner than in latte, its height is no more than a centimeter.
Cooking features
Experienced baristas willingly share the secrets of the perfect flat white (coffee). The recipe for its preparation is quite simple. The main thing is the excellent quality of the ingredients used, their correct ratio and adherence to several subtleties in the process.
First of all, attention should be paid to the properties of milk foam. It should be dense enough, finely porous, elastic, with a smooth and glossy surface. To obtain foam with such a consistency, it is recommended to whip the milk at a temperature of 65-70 ° C, but do not boil it. This is a very important condition, since in order for the taste of the drink to be fully revealed, it should not be too hot when serving.
The quality of the resulting coffee perfectly characterizes the professional skills of the barista. It takes a lot of experience to get a perfectly dense and velvety foam, and decorate it with a skilful latte art before serving.
Recipe
You can enjoy the perfectly balanced taste of the drink in any good coffee shop. However, if you have special equipment at home, this recipe can be mastered on your own. To prepare flat white you will need:
- a blend of several finely ground Arabica varieties;
- purified water;
- milk with medium fat content.
The base of the drink can be made not only in a special machine, but also in a coffee maker with the "espresso" mode. For one serving of flat white, you will need 2 tablespoons of the mixture. Once the doppio is ready, pour it into a thick-walled porcelain mug.
Then you will need 120 ml of milk, heated to about 70 ° C. It must be whipped so that a thick foam forms from half of the volume. Then the milk must be carefully combined with the doppio. Flat white coffee is ready.
Experienced baristas often advise their clients to try this recipe. This is because it better than others allows you to appreciate the rich aroma of freshly roasted Arabica in combination with delicate milk foam. Flat white will certainly appeal to those who prefer strong enough coffee, because it is the pronounced bitterness of espresso, only slightly set off by the creamy taste, that is the main feature of this drink.
Flat white coffee is a double espresso coffee drink with the addition of frothed milk. How and when did flat white appear, why did it become so popular and how is it prepared?
Flat white - what is it
At first glance, flat white is another recipe for coffee with milk. Why has the drink won the sympathy of the whole world for several years?
- Flat white was invented in the 90s in New Zealand. Its author is Derek Townsend, a roaster and barista. For the first time, coffee was served in Auckland, in one of the establishments of the DKD chain, which was co-owned by Derek.
- In terms of composition, volume, strength and taste, flat white is located between strong espresso and delicate cappuccino, in which milk and foam set the tone, but the coffee itself is weak.
- The flat white recipe is based on a double shot of espresso. This achieves an expressive and bright taste. Flat white is much stronger than cappuccino.
- Flat white is prepared in a 1: 2 ratio of coffee and frothed milk.
We can say that the recipe has occupied an empty niche on the menu, winning the sympathy of coffee lovers who wanted to soften the taste of espresso or revive the cappuccino bouquet.
The fashion for flat white broke out instantly in New Zealand, then in Australia. The recipe is very popular in the USA and Great Britain. In England, there are no coffee houses left without flat white on the menu.
Translated from English, the name of coffee means "flat white". The name of the recipe reflects the form of presentation. The milk froths to an even, smooth structure so that the surface of the drink is glossy and uniform, unlike cappuccino, in which the froth forms a small cone. It is also important to distinguish between flat white and cappuccino in appearance because both drinks have the same volume and are served in similar cups.
How to cook flat white? Immediately, we note that the recipe was invented for an espresso coffee maker.
What do you need?
- Double espresso - 60-80 ml.
- Whipped milk - 120-150 ml.
- Sugar to taste.
How to cook?
- Brew a double shot of espresso.
- Whisk the milk with a cappuccino maker. The foam should be smooth and finely porous. This structure is also called velvet. It is important not to overheat the milk and not interrupt it to the peaks, otherwise the foam will rise in the cup in a slide.
- Pour milk into the coffee. The ideal head for this recipe is 0.5-1 cm.
At this point, the drink is considered ready to serve, although some decorate the surface with latte art drawings.
How to serve Flat White?
Coffee is served in a cup with a volume of 220-250 ml. The drink should be flush with the rim of the cup and the foam forms an even white plateau.
They drink flat white without stirring, passing a strong, hot drink through the foam. If you want to add sugar, then it is better to do this before milk is poured into the coffee.
Any sweet tastes are suitable as a dessert - panna cotta, tiramisu, muffins or macaroons.
Flat white is a recipe for the first half of the day, in extreme cases - for an afternoon snack. Do not order it after meals, as milk slows down digestion.
Flat white: cooking at home without a coffee machine
What if you still have a coffee machine, but you want to try the recipe? Home flat white can also taste very good.
What do you need?
- Strong coffee, prepared at the rate of 2 heaped teaspoons per 100 ml of water - 60 ml.
- Milk with a fat content of at least 3.2% - 120 ml.
- Sugar - optional.
How to cook?
- Brew coffee, strain, pour into a heated cup with a volume of about 200 ml.
- If you like sweet coffee, it's time to add sugar and stir until the grains dissolve.
- Heat milk of the required volume, up to about 60 degrees. It should feel warm, even hot. Never bring to a boil. The fat content of the milk is important for whipping. Even skim milk can be frothed in the cappuccino maker. At home, it is easier to whip milk with a fat content of 3% or more.
- Whisk the milk with a hand blender or mixer. A stable fine-pored foam should form. The approximate whipping time is 3-4 minutes. Stop the process periodically and check the foam - there should be no large bubbles in it.
- Pour the whipped milk into the coffee.
- Serve without stirring.
Flat white: calorie content, strength and other features
Like any coffee drink, flat white has its own set of unique characteristics.
- Calorie content portions are small, about 72 kcal, if milk with a fat content of 3.2% was used. If you took skim milk, then the calorie content will be about 35 kcal.
- Fortress- from 80 mg per serving, as a double serving of espresso is used for preparation.
- Taste... Coffee flavor predominates, not milk flavor as in cappuccino. Experts advise to choose medium roasted grains for the preparation of the drink in order to avoid excessive bitterness.
- Action... Flat white invigorates well due to its high caffeine content. Its action is not harsh, like that of espresso, but smooth, softened by the presence of milk.
Compared to other drinks, flat white differs from espresso in the presence of milk, from latte and cappuccino - a high content of coffee, from macchiato - an increased dose of milk.
How much does flat white cost?
In a coffee shop, a drink costs from 220 rubles, in both capitals it is now difficult to find a price tag of less than 250 rubles per serving. A home-made drink will cost no more than 30 rubles per cup.
Conclusion
- Strong coffee with whipped milk.
- The taste is distinctly coffee, strong, full-bodied, with the balance of bitterness and sourness inherent in good coffee, with a delicate milky accent.
- It is better to drink without sugar, without stirring.
- An intermediate option between espresso, cappuccino and macchiato.
- Ideal for the morning.
- With a little skill, you can cook at home.
Do you like flat white?
Flat white is a beverage made with a double shot of espresso and frothed milk. It appeared not so long ago, at the end of the 20th century, but has a huge number of fans around the world. In this article we will consider the history of its origin, the recipe for its preparation, the difference from other coffee and milk cocktails.
Flat white is translated as "flat white". The drink is prepared with a double espresso and whipped milk foam. The ratio of coffee to milk is usually 1 to 2. For example, if you take 60 ml of coffee, then you need to take about 120 ml of milk.
Milk foam lies in an even layer in the cup, usually flush with its edges, hence the name. It is also ideal for coffee art - drawing a variety of patterns on the milk cap of coffee drinks.
History of origin
Australia and New Zealand are still arguing over who first invented flat white. The earliest documented mention of it dates back to 1985, when Australian Alan Preston added the drink to the menu of his Moors Espresso Bar in Sydney.
Another version says that Derek Townsend and Darrell Ahlers were the first to invent this recipe for making coffee and began serving at their DKD cafe. And it was in 1984 in Auckland, New Zealand.
It is also rumored that the "flat white" was actually invented in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. The barista at the Bodega bar wanted to make a cappuccino, but failed, mixing up the proportions of coffee and frothed milk. His mistake was called Flat White.
Probably, it is no longer so important where this coffee first appeared. Another thing is important: now it is known all over the world and is on the menu in most coffee houses and any professional barista can prepare it without any problems.
How to cook flat white
To make the right flat white coffee, you will definitely need an espresso machine or a coffee machine with a milk frother function, whole grain or ground coffee and milk.
Recipe
- Prepare a double shot of espresso in the coffee maker or coffee machine.
- Using a cappuccino maker, beat the milk until smooth, velvety froth.
- Pour the milk froth evenly into the coffee up to the rim of the cup.
Important nuances of cooking
- To prepare a drink, you need just espresso - it is prepared under a pressure of 9-18 bar in a coffee machine.
- Typically 60 ml of espresso and 110-120 ml of milk are used for a standard drink. It's simple - the proportion is 1 to 2.
- In our experience, UHT milk is best whipped with a fat content of 2.5-3.5 percent.
- Pour milk into the coffee when preparing. Then the milk froth will mix with the coffee crema and the drink will have a brownish-white head, perfect for drawing beautiful patterns.
- Typically, flat white is served in a 180-220 ml thick-walled ceramic bowl.
Home cooking
For proper preparation, you will definitely need a coffee machine and a cappuccino maker. If you don't have them, then you can use a Turk, a French press or a drip coffee maker, but the taste, however, will not be the same at all.
Before whipping, milk must be heated to 60-70 degrees, not higher so that it does not boil and does not form a film on top. You can use an electric mixer to whisk. Try to keep the foam as dense and uniform as possible. The rest of the recipe does not differ from the standard one. We wish you every success!
The taste of the drink
Flat white coffee will taste similar to cappuccino, but it will be stronger and richer due to a double portion of espresso in its composition. Much will depend on the variety and roasting of the beans. A deep roast will give a lot of bitterness and richness. Also, the strength can vary from the amount of milk in the cup, if the recipe deviates from the classic one.
Difference from other coffee drinks
Since only espresso and frothed milk are used for preparation, a reasonable question arises - how does this recipe differ from other popular coffee and milkshakes.
Difference from latte and latte macchiato
It is often believed that flat white differs from latte only in volume, but this is not the case. The latte contains virtually no whipped foam. It uses a large amount of warmed milk and a single espresso. Latte macchiato consists of three layers: milk froth, coffee and milk. First, the milk froth is prepared, it does not need to be whipped completely so that the milk remains. Then gently add espresso to create a beautiful layered cocktail. Both of these drinks are usually served in clear glasses.
Difference from cappuccino
Flat white is usually served in a tight-walled ceramic cup, usually the same as a cappuccino. However, the fundamental difference will be in the strength of the drinks. "Flat white" will be much more intense in taste due to the double, and sometimes even triple espresso in the composition. Both drinks are ideal for drawing coffee patterns on milk froth.
Difference from macchiato
The macchiato is prepared using one espresso and some frothed milk. It is usually served in a 60-80 ml cup.
conclusions
- Flat white appeared at the end of the last century in Australia or New Zealand.
- It is made with a double shot of espresso and 1 to 2 whipped milk foam.
- Flat white coffee has a rich taste softened by whipped milk foam.
- Ideal for coffee art.
- Popular all over the world.
All people can be divided into those who prefer black coffee without additives - classic espresso, and those who are used to drinking coffee with milk. Latte and cappuccino are considered the most popular coffee and milk drinks, but there is another special type of coffee with milk - Flat White.
Flat white is a drink based on a dose of doppio and whipped milk. Due to its taste characteristics, "flat white" is located between espresso and cappuccino.
Story
The homeland of flat white is Australia. It was there that in the late 80s of the last century barista Derek Townsend created a drink that turned out to be less astringent than espresso, and less milky in comparison with latte and cappuccino. Almost immediately, the drink, ideal in terms of coffee-milk ratio, appeared on the menus of many coffee houses in New Zealand and Australia, and a little later it began to be served in the UK, where it took its rightful place on the Costa Coffee menu. So flat white began its march across the planet, conquering an increasing army of fans.
About the name
To prepare a drink, take milk, which must be whipped into a thick, fine-porous foam. After that, the milk mass is poured into the coffee. As a result, a flat white surface is formed, which in translation into English sounds nothing more than flat white.
There is another version of the origin of the name. According to the latter, representatives of the strong half of humanity from Australia and New Zealand did not want to order coffee with milk, since they considered such a drink to be female. So they came up with a brutal "flat white".
Differences from latte and cappuccino
Close relatives of flat white are latte and cappuccino. Moreover, in some coffee houses it is often the latte that is presented under the name Flat White. But how do you distinguish “flat white” from other milk-based coffee drinks?
- Flat white is served in a thick-walled mug, similar to the one in which baristas are treated to cappuccino, but latte is most often brought in a large soup bowl or irish glass (glass goblet with a handle);
- There is a little milk foam in the latte, mostly coffee brown, in the classic flat white there is almost as much white microfoam as brown. By the way, it is microfoam that is considered the true difference between “flat white” and cappuccino.
Secrets of making real flat white
- To create a tasty and aromatic drink, you should take a mixture of several varieties of Arabica, since this type of coffee beans has a pleasant and mild taste, unlike robusta, which are bitter and contain 2 times more caffeine;
- The beans should be finely ground, it is advisable to grind them immediately before brewing the espresso - in this case, Flat White will be unusually fragrant;
- So that the taste of the finished drink does not have bitterness, the beans used to create a coffee masterpiece must be medium roast;
- It is recommended to use milk of medium fat content. In order for the foam to have the correct consistency, it does not need to be boiled - the optimal temperature for whipping is considered to be 60-70 degrees. Failure to comply with the temperature regime threatens that the foam will not turn out finely porous and velvety. Therefore, it will not be possible to prepare a portion of real flat white, and do not forget that it is the foam that is used to judge the professionalism of the barista;
- It is advised to serve the drink in a large porcelain cup; for a more effective serving, it can be decorated with a latte art pattern. By the way, baristas admit that the smooth foam surface of Flat White is the best canvas for creativity;
- Flat white should not be drunk very hot - only in this case you will be able to feel its coffee taste and enjoy a pleasant milky aftertaste.
How to cook real flat white at home
The creator of "flat white" Derek Townsend took a long time to find the ideal proportions of espresso milk before his creation was appreciated. Fortunately, today such experiments are useless, because it became known how to create flat white on your own.
To create a portion of a fragrant and tasty drink, you will need:
- finely ground coffee beans - 2 teaspoons,
- purified water - 60 ml,
- medium fat milk (3.2-3.5%) - 110 ml,
- sugar - optional.
Cooking method:
- Cook the doppio using the specified amount of coffee beans and water. To do this, it is advisable to resort to the help of a coffee machine or coffee maker (if it has this mode).
- Divide the milk heated to 60 degrees into 2 parts. Whip one part into a foam and gently combine it with the rest of the milk.
- Add sugar to the espresso if desired. Stir.
- Pour coffee into a large porcelain coffee cup.
- Pour in the milk carefully, creating a latte art masterpiece at the same time with skill. Enjoy your coffee!
