Latte is one of the most famous coffee beverages in the world. Considering its worldwide popularity, it is no surprise that there may be other drinks similar to a Latte. One such drink is Flat white. Flat White is a delicious coffee drink brewed with a shot of espresso and steamed milk. The drink consists of steamed milk with tiny, fine bubbles and glossy consistency. A typical flat is a milk but no froth, which means it is velvety rather than fluffy.
Flat White Vs Latte
Flat white is generally compared to a latte because the texture of both drinks is a bit similar. However, the crucial distinction between these two is that, unlike lattes, a flat white is smaller in volume and has less microfoam, resulting in a higher proportion of coffee to milk. For the unversed, microfoam is finely textured milk used for making espresso-based coffee drinks. Due to this, the milk is more velvety, allowing the espresso to dominate the flavour with the combined support of milk. The thin layer of velvety microform is why the drink has ‘flat’ in its name.
Contrary to this, lattes are topped with a layer of rich foamed milk. Hence, the critical difference between lattes and flat whites is the ratio of coffee to milk and the milk consistency due to the way the milk is heated. One usual dissimilarity between the two drinks is the vessel they are served in. A classic latte is generally served in glass tumblers, while a flat white is served in a ceramic cup with a saucer.
Tracing the history and origin of flat white
The origins of a flat white is a debated topic. New Zealand and Australia both take credit for inventing this drink. However, it has not been confirmed which country was the first to discover the drink or the brewing style. In Australia, the earliest documented references to the current flat white date back to the mid-1980s, when it was first referred to as a' balanced white coffee’ On the other hand, many New Zealand natives claim its invention. Some say it originated from Wellington due to a 'failed cappuccino'. At the same time, others believe that it was created as an alternative to the Italian latte. Nonetheless, what matters at the end of the day is that its creation is indeed a blessing for all coffee lovers.
