Flat white coffee
Adventurous coffee fans may well have discovered the flat white coffee variety, but if you are unsure as to what this beverage entails then read on for a quick overview.
Flat white coffee emerged from the cafes of Australia and New Zealand and although its precise origins are up for debate it is largely believed to have been forged in the 1980s. It eventually took hold in the UK during the mid-noughties when a number of independent firms began to offer flat white coffee, with one shop even taking it as its name.
The process of producing a flat white coffee involves steaming milk and pouring the resultant so-called microfoam over a single or double espresso. The result is very much like a latte or a cappuccino and some even contest the question of whether there is even any difference between these types of drink. It is said that the major defining factor of a flat white coffee is the container in which it is served. The flat white coffee will be distinct because of its presentation in a ceramic cup and it is designed to consist of the same 200ml of liquid as an average latte.
Since flat white was popularised in the recent past a number of enterprising coffee makers have been attempting to preserve its flavour and structure whilst still allowing customers to buy flat white coffee to be taken away in a cardboard cup. Some success has been had and the development of this type of coffee has allowed the larger chain stores to catch on and begin offering it to a mainstream audience.
Photo by: russelljsmith