Flat white vs latte: what’s the difference between these two popular espresso drinks? Here’s what you need to know — and how to make each one!
Flat white vs latte: what’s the difference between these popular espresso drinks? For starters, they’re made with exactly the same ingredients. Modern coffeehouses have even started to blend the definition of the two so they’ve become very similar.
As a coffee drink expert, I’ve learned the differences between these drinks and how to make them at home!
Want to learn how to make latte art? Here’s our tutorial on Latte Art Basics!
Flat White Vs Latte: What’s The Difference?
Both the flat white and latte are espresso drinks made with espresso, steamed milk and a layer of foam on top. The difference is in the proportions of these ingredients. Here’s the breakdown of flat white vs latte vs cappuccino, using the modern coffeeshop definitions:
- Flat white is the least frothy, with about 1/4-inch microfoam at the top. The steamed milk is stretched 20-25%. It tastes like drinking an espresso with smooth velvety foam.
- Latte is medium frothy, with about 3/8-inch microfoam at top. The steamed milk is stretched 25-35%. It tastes milkier than a flat white, a bit more like drinking milky coffee.
- Cappuccino is frothy but not foamy, with about 1/2-inch microfoam at top. The steamed milk is stretched the most of the three drinks, at about 30-50%.
Keep in mind, the exact definition depends on the specific coffee shop and location in the world. Our definitions for flat white and latte use a double shot of espresso and roughly the same amount of milk. In some parts of the world, you’ll find coffee shops that serve a flat white in a small mug and the latte in a larger cup with a much higher percentage of milk, resulting in a creamier flavor.
Flat White Vs Latte Vs Cappuccino Chart
Here’s a graphic that shows the foam to coffee ratios for each of the espresso drinks! If you taste them back to back, you’ll notice that the difference in flavor and texture is subtle yet perceptible.
Where Did The Flat White Come From? Is It Stronger?
The flat white is the newer drink of the two. Some say it was invented in Australia and others claim New Zealand: cafés started serving it in both countries in the 1980s. It caught on in the US in the 2010s.
Is a flat white stronger than a latte? It can taste stronger. A flat white is usually served in a smaller cup (5 to 6 ounces), so there is less milk and more of an espresso flavor. Some coffee shops also make it with ristretto shots which gives it a stronger, sweeter flavor. The caffeine level depends on the number of shots used in the drink.
In the version I make at home, I keep the milk amount the same and change the foam, so the a flat white is very smooth and the a latte is a little frothier.
Which Is Better: Flat White or Latte? Which Has More Caffeine?
Now that you know the technical definitions, here are a few frequently asked coffee drink questions:
- Does a flat white have more milk than a latte? A modern flat white has the same amount of milk as a latte: the milk is just less frothy.
- Which is better: a flat white or latte? It’s really a matter of personal preference! The flat white tastes more like espresso with velvety foam, whereas the latte is more milky. Personally we prefer a flat white when it’s made correctly, but both are delicious! (The macchiato is our preference, though.)
- Which has more caffeine: a flat white or a latte? Both drinks are made with two espresso shots, so they have the same amount of caffeine. One espresso shot has 64 mg caffeine, so both drinks have 128 mg caffeine. (Compare that to a cup of drip coffee, which has 95 mg caffeine.)
Which Is Easiest To Make?
Both of these espresso drinks require some equipment, but you can make them homemade. They vary slightly in the level of foam. You could argue that the flat white is easier to make since the milk is stretched less than a latte, but they’re essentially the same amount of effort. Here are the methods for how to make them, or jump to the recipe below:
Types of lattes
Another difference of flat white vs latte: there are many flavors of lattes offered at coffeeshops. You don’t hear much about a tea flat white! There are a whole host of flavored lattes and tea lattes to try, including:
- Try a Vanilla Latte, Oat Milk Latte, or Lavender Latte
- Make seasonal Gingerbread Latte or Pumpkin Spice Latte
- Add ice for a Perfect Iced Latte, Iced Vanilla Latte or Iced Chai Latte
- Make a Perfect Tea Latte
- Go for a London Fog, a latte made with Earl Grey tea and lavender
- Make a Chai Latte, Vegan Chai Latte, Vanilla Chai Latte, or Dirty Chai Latte (with espresso)
Hi, in australia this is radically wrong ☺!
A flat white is like a strong slightly milky long black with a couple splashes of milk, no froth, like an old school white black tea, wheras a latte is much more milky, more like a traditional Indian chai tea, but yes the frothing is used here (which is absent from chai). Cappuccino has chocolate powder on top of lots of frothed milk on top of strong coffe which geys milky from the foamed milk being poured into it.
Thank you!