What is a Flat White?

A flat white is a double ristretto pulled short, topped with a thin layer of microfoam, served in 5 to 6 oz. It is stronger than a latte and less airy than a cappuccino. The milk is velvety, not frothy.

A ristretto uses the same amount of coffee as a regular espresso but only half the water, around 0.75 oz instead of 1.5 oz. The result is sweeter and more concentrated.

Melbourne has 2,389 specialty coffee shops. Flat whites are not a menu item there. They are the baseline.

Melbourne has 2,389 specialty coffee shops according to Pulled Coffee data, making it one of the top five specialty coffee cities on earth. The flat white origin debate between Australia and New Zealand has run for decades without resolution. Both countries helped export it to the rest of the world.

"Melbourne has 2,389 specialty coffee shops. Flat whites are the city's default drink."

Flat white vs latte: 6 oz vs 12 oz is the whole story

A flat white is 5 to 6 oz. A latte in the US typically runs 8 to 12 oz. The flat white tastes like coffee with milk. The latte tastes like milk with coffee.

A cortado is even smaller, 4 oz, with equal parts espresso and milk. The flat white sits one step above the cortado in volume.

Where to order one in the US

For a traditional flat white, try Stumptown Coffee in Portland or any of the specialty shops in Seattle. Verve Coffee Roasters in California does an excellent version.

Related: What is a cortado?, Latte vs cappuccino, The 12 best espresso drinks.