Looking for such a drink that has both milky textures at the same time is rich and robust? Well, you might be interested in having a Flat White.
Needless to say, it’s a delicious espresso beverage similar to Lattes and Cappuccinos. However, you will definitely notice some differences between these three which we will explain in this blog as well.
In this guide, we will demonstrate to you How To Make Flat White At Home using an espresso machine and without using an espresso machine. We will also talk about some necessary points that will help make Flat White a lot easier.
Be sure to stick around and let’s learn how to make flat white real quick!
What Is Flat White Coffee?
Flat White is a milk-based drink where Espresso makes the base of it. There’s a lot of controversy on where Flat White truly originated. Some folks believe that Australians first introduced this particular type of espresso beverage. In 1985, Alan Preston of Moors Espresso Bar added Flat White to his menu. After 4 years, in 1989, Flat White is Introduced to Kiwi as a result of a failed Cappuccino at Bar Bodega, Wellington.
Aside from this continuous controversy, we want to believe that Flat White is known as a universal drink just like Latte and Cappuccino. Although it originated in Australia or New Zealand, it has successfully made its way to the US.
In general, Flat White is made in a 6 oz cup with a double shot of Espresso (2 oz) and 4 oz of steamed milk. The layer of milk used in a Flat White is a lot less compared to a Latte and Cappuccino. Typically, in Flat White, you won’t get any airy froth like Cappuccino. Instead, you will get silky and shiny steamed milk so that you can get a good flavor of espresso as well. You will get a step-by-step guide on How To Make Flat White At Home in the following section.
The Recipe Specifications
- Time required: 5 minutes
- Drink size: 5 – 7oz. (1 serving)
- Drink ratio: 1:2 (espresso to steamed milk)
Equipment
- A steel bowl for milk steaming (not required if you’ve got a steam wand)
- An espresso maker
- A coffee mill
- A whisk
Ingredients
- Fresh, cold milk
- Fresh coffee beans
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1
Grind the fresh coffee beans in the coffee mill
Step 2
Use this fresh ground to make a double-shot espresso
Step 3
Pour the espresso into your cup or glass
Step 4
Pour the fresh milk into the steel bowl and begin steaming the milk
Step 5
Use a whisk to stir the milk as it prevents boiling and burning of the milk. Wait until the milk reaches the 55–62°C temperature range. Steaming the milk up to this temperature will help you create a 1-2 cm thin layer of foam after you pour it on the espresso
Step 6
To ensure the steamed milk’s velvety smoothness, tap and swirl the milk-filled bowl on a flat surface. It’ll disperse any tiny air bubbles from the milk
Step 7
Pour the steamed milk over the espresso. You can do art as a decorative topping as well
How To Steam Milk For Flat White
The certain process of steaming milk makes all the difference. Before adding milk to your 2oz espresso shot, you can make both Cappuccino and Latte with that. As we have mentioned earlier, the foam layer on top of the Flat White is a lot less compared to Latte or Cappuccino. It’s ideal to aim for a 5mm foam layer on top of your delicious Flat White. Let’s look at the step-by-step process of preparation.
- Collect a nice milk pitcher that would be twice as large as your Flat White cup.
- Pour about ⅓ of fresh cold milk into that pitcher. You can use any sort of milk according to your choice.
- Before immersing the steam wand into the pitcher make sure to purge once in order to remove any leftover milk inside the wand. It’s crucial as it can add a moldy, bitter taste to your coffee.
- Immerse the steam wand and open the steam knob of your machine completely. Let the steamer expand your milk just a little bit. After hearing hissing sounds while steaming milk, cut off the steaming a few seconds later and you are good to go. Pour the milk into your espresso and enjoy.
Flat White Vs. Cappuccino Vs. Latte
All these three are known as Espresso beverages because of their base drink. In general, Latte and Cappuccino are a little bit milkier compared to Flat White. You can use 1-2 shots of espresso in your Cappuccino or Latte depending on how you like your drink.
However, for Flat White, it’s standard to use 2 shots of espresso with 4oz of steamed milk where a little amount of foam is available. So the bottom line is that Flat White contains the slimmest portion of foam layer than Latte or Cappuccino.
Besides, you will definitely get the espresso flavor from a Flat White which you might not get from a Latte or Cappuccino.
How To Make Flat White Without Espresso Machines
If you don’t have a good espresso machine but still you want to give Flat White a try then don’t worry, here’s what you have to do instead.
For making a Flat White you can either use an AeroPress or a French Press. Both these methods are pretty effective in making espresso-style coffee. Remember, we said, ‘espresso-style not an actual espresso as AeroPress and French Press can’t create the needed amounts of pressure which a good espresso machine can.
In order to make liquids slightly similar to espresso, grind coffee beans finely and pour them into the AeroPress chamber. Make an even coffee grounds bed. Now, pour some measured amounts of hot water into that chamber and stir for about 20 seconds.
Don’t forget to place a paper filter inside the cap side of the AeroPress. After that, grab the plunger part of your AeroPress plunger and provide pressure slowly through the chamber. Shortly after you should get a nice cup of espresso-style coffee as a base for your Flat White.
In order to steam milk, pour some milk into a pot and place it over the gas stove for some moments. You should aim for about 145 degrees Fahrenheit temperature. Make sure to check the temperature using a thermometer. After finishing heating, pour the milk into a flask and shake it continuously for a few minutes. That way, you will get a good enough foam for making your Flat White. Although, we would suggest you do not expect thick foam as you may get from a good steamer. Mix the shaken milk with your espresso made from AeroPress and Enjoy!
FAQs
Is Flat White stronger than a latte?
Yes. Flat White coffee tends to be a bit stronger than Latte. In Latte, baristas use a single shot of espresso while Flat White uses a double shot of espresso, therefore, contains more caffeine content and is usually stronger than a latte.
Why is flat white more expensive than a latte?
Flat White coffee is not too costly to produce. However, it requires lots of skills in order to make a perfectly flavored cup of Flat White. This is the reason why Flat White comes with a little bumped-up price
Which coffee has the most milk?
Latte contains more milk than Cappuccino, Flat White, or other types of milk coffee. In Cappuccino, the milk and espresso ratio is the same. For Flat White, baristas use the slimmest possible layer of steamed milk just for folding espresso.
Is Flat White stronger than cappuccino?
Yes. For making a perfect Flat White you need to use twice as much espresso as Cappuccino. This makes Flat White a lot stronger. Besides, Flat White contains less milk than Cappuccino.
What cup size is a flat white?
In general, the standard cup size for Flat White is 6oz where 2oz for a double shot of espresso and the rest of 4oz for steamed milk.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this comprehensive guide will help you to satisfy your query about Making Flat White Coffee At Home. We have shown the complete process of making Flat White with and without a dedicated espresso machine.
If you still have any thoughts regarding this topic, feel free to leave them in the comment section below. We would love to hear more from your side and help you out. Share this guide with your milk coffee lover friend who you thought will find this guide helpful too.
Happy Brewing!
