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Flat white
The Australian and New Zealand café coffee: a double shot of espresso with silky, thin-foamed steamed milk in a small cup
Sydney and Wellington both claim the flat white, first poured in their cafés in the mid-1980s, and today it's the everyday coffee across Australia and New Zealand, from Melbourne's laneway cafés to a beach kiosk in Raglan. It's smaller and stronger than a latte: a double shot of espresso topped with milk steamed to a smooth, glossy microfoam with only a thin layer of froth on top, so the coffee stays at the front. It's velvety, rich and sweet-tasting without sugar. For a vegan version, use a barista-style oat milk. Chef's tip: stretch the milk only for the first few seconds, then sink the wand and let it spin; you want paint-like milk, not a hat of stiff foam.
- Total time
- 5 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 1
Ingredients
Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Warm a 160–180 ml cup with hot water and tip it out. Grind ⅝ oz freshly ground espresso coffee fine, level it in the portafilter and tamp firmly and evenly.
1 minStep 2: Pull a double shot of espresso, about 36–40 ml, straight into the cup. It should take 25–30 seconds and run out like warm honey, with a thick hazelnut-brown crema.
1 minStep 3: Pour ¾ cup cold whole milk into a cold steaming jug. Put the steam wand just under the surface and open it fully. Let it hiss gently (a soft paper-tearing sound) for only 2–3 seconds to add a little air, then sink the tip a little deeper and let the milk spin.
1 minStep 4: Steam until the jug is hot to touch but you can still hold it, 60–149°F. A common mistake is overheating: milk above 158°F tastes cooked and the foam turns big and bubbly. Tap the jug on the counter and swirl until the milk looks glossy, like wet paint.
Step 5: Tilt the cup and pour the milk from close to the surface, steadily, so it slides under the crema and rises to a thin, smooth layer of microfoam about 5 mm deep. Finish with a small heart or leaf if you can, and drink at once.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 110 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 8 g
- Fat
- 5 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does flat white take?
- About 5 minutes in total: 2 minutes to prepare and 3 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 1 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of cold whole milk?
- Semi-skimmed milk with 1 tbsp cream per 240ml (1 cup).
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