Experience the rich, bold flavor of a Starbucks Flat White. Made with a double shot of espresso and velvety steamed milk, this specialty espresso drink features a unique microfoam texture and a higher ratio of espresso to milk. Savor the creamy, smooth taste of this coffee even more when you make it at home.The coffee lovers in all of us can enjoy the velvety texture of this espresso beverage at home.
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Table of Contents
What is Flat White Coffee?
A Starbucks “Flat White” is a specialty espresso drink with a double shot of espresso and steamed milk. What makes it unique is its preparation and the ratio of ingredients used.
To make a Flat White, a barista first pulls a double shot of espresso, two shots of espresso made with finely ground coffee beans and hot water under high pressure. The espresso is poured into a small ceramic cup, and steamed milk is added. The milk is steamed to a specific temperature and texture, and a velvety microfoam is poured on top of the espresso shot. The microfoam sets a Flat White apart from other espresso drinks, such as a latte, which typically has more foam and less steamed milk.
The ratio of espresso to milk in a Flat White also differs from other coffee shop drinks. A Flat White has a higher ratio of espresso to milk than a latte, giving it a more robust flavor and smoother, creamier texture.
Origins of the White Flat
Overall, the combination of a double shot of espresso, velvety microfoam, and a higher ratio of espresso to milk makes a Starbucks Flat White a special and unique drink that the coffee world loves. It is incredible what a little less milk can do to the flavor of the coffee taste.
Alan Preston from New Zealand claims he invented this drink in the 1970s when making a cappuccino. He could not get the milk to rise. He called it a flat white. So you could think of this as a failed cappuccino because it’s a cappuccino that has no foam. Coffee snobs can enjoy the bold coffee flavor of this drink.
How did it get started? We will never know, but you can enjoy a coffee with a thin layer of velvety steamed milk. You can read more about the history of the flat white.
What Makes a Starbucks Flat White Extra Special?
There’s something warm and cozy about this classic coffee drink. It’s reminiscent of a chilly night with a fire and snuggling inside a blanket. It gives you a case of the warm fuzzies and makes you nostalgic for the past. If you order one from there, often they come with a latte art dot on the top of the beverage that is made up of a delicious creamy micro-foam of the milk of your choice.
Flat white is your answer if you love the more robust coffee flavor. This coffee giant classic consists of only two key ingredients. But don’t let the two ingredients fool you; it packs a punch.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Stronger coffee flavor than a latte
- Silky smooth texture
- Perfect morning luxury
- More economical than coffee shop visits
- Customizable to your taste
- Great foundation for latte art
Flat White Coffee Ingredients
Wondering what is in flat what coffee? It’s just a few simple ingredients:
- Espresso – Creates the rich coffee base
- Whole milk (or 2% milk) – Provides a creamy texture
- Sugar to taste (optional) – For customized sweetness
Equipment Needed
Essential:
- Espresso machine OR
- Moka pot (Bialetti recommended)
- Milk frother (automatic or handheld)
- Temperature gauge
- 12-ounce cup
- Milk pitcher
Optional but Helpful:
- Coffee scale
- Coffee grinder
- Latte art pitcher
- Shot glasses for espresso
How to Make Flat White Coffee
- Prepare two espresso shots and pour them into a glass over the sugar (if desired).
- Steam and froth the milk for at least a minute to get it foamy.
- Pour the hot frothy, foamed milk over the espresso.
Milk Alternatives & Modifications
Alternative Milks:
- Oat milk (best alternative for foam)
- Almond milk (thinner texture)
- Soy milk (good protein content)
- Coconut milk (rich flavor)
Temperature Variations:
- Standard: 140-150°F
- Extra hot: 160°F
- Kids temperature: 120-130°F
Scaling & Variations
Size Options:
- Small (8 oz): 1 shot espresso, 3-4 oz milk
- Standard (12 oz): 2 shots espresso, 4-5 oz milk
- Large (16 oz): 3 shots espresso, 6-7 oz milk
The Key to Making a Flat White Like Starbucks
Although it seems easy enough, the key to the flat white is the consistency of the milk. You need frothy milk to pour over the piping-hot espresso.
What is the secret? It’s all about the equipment!
Making extra strong coffee won’t quite cut it if you don’t have an espresso machine. You are going to need to push steam through your coffee maker. I love the inexpensive Bialetti Moka Pot. For under 40 bucks, you can make espresso at home, just like the Italians.
The Mr. Coffee Espresso System with Milk Frother is a relatively inexpensive and dependable espresso maker.
You can also try espresso powder such as Medaglia D’Oro Instant Espresso.
Espresso is different because the water goes through the coffee as steam, not just as a drip. The steam pushing through the coffee gives it its signature espresso taste. I think a super-strong regular coffee is ok for lattes, but if you want this distinctive espresso flavor, you must step up your toolkit.
Steaming and Frothing Milk
So, what’s the difference between frothed milk and steamed milk? Frothed milk has more volume and a good amount of foam. Steamed milk is heated and delicately aerated, producing small amounts of microfoam. Let the Coffee Maven guide you on how to steam milk at home.
What Is Microfoam? Steaming milk requires two steps: incorporating air to create the desired foam and heating the milk to the desired temperature. Microfoam results when the first step is done well. The air bubbles are so tiny that they’re almost invisible, making the resulting foam light, creamy, and smooth.
Let’s consider the froth now. A straightforward method to make milk nice and frothy is to place the heated milk in a jar with a lid and vigorously shake it. If you want to get fancy, you can buy a milk frother like the handheld Zulay Milk Frother.
How to Froth Milk with a French Press: Pour the heated milk into your French Press (don’t fill more than one-third). Place the lid on, pull it, and push it down on the plunger until the milk doubles.
How to Froth Milk in an Automatic Frother: Pour cold milk into the frother and set the temperature.
What Is the Best Milk for Frothing?
It’s easier to achieve a good froth if you use low-fat or skim milk (Starbucks uses 2% milk). Whole milk has more fat, making it heavier and more challenging to froth. Almond, rice, and soy milk all work well.
Whichever type of milk you choose should be cold (straight out of the fridge).
So what’s next? Armed with your knowledge of making a flat white coffee, you can learn how to pour the milk and make some of your latte art. Who doesn’t want to make some fancy latte artwork with foamed milk? Check out this video on how to create artwork on your coffee.
Recommended Equipment
- Bialetti Moka Pot
- Mr. Coffee Espresso System with Milk Frother
- Automatic Milk Frother
- MatchaDNA Milk Frother
- French Press
Do you love Starbucks drinks? Try these copycat recipes!
- Eggnog Latte
- Starbucks Caramel Macchiato
- Starbucks Mocha
- Starbucks Pink Drink
- Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte
- Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha
- Starbuck Honey Almond Milk Flat White
- Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
Yummy Coffee Drink Recipes
- Dunkin Iced Coffee
- Mocha Iced Coffee
- Caramel Cappuccino
- Chick Fil A Frosted Coffee
- McDonald’s Peppermint Mocha
Be sure to check out more Starbucks copycat recipes and the coffee drink recipes on CopyKat.com!
How to Make a Starbucks Flat White
Ingredients
- 3 ounces espresso 2 shots
- 1 cup whole milk steamed
- sugar to taste (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare your espresso shots and pour them into a glass over the sugar (if desired).
- Steam your milk and then using a frother, froth the milk for at least a minute. The key to making this drink is a microfoam.Â
- Pour the hot frothy foamed milk over the espresso and enjoy!
For over 10 years, when in Italy, I’ve been ordering & making the “Doppio Espresso Cappucino” as my preferred breakfast coffee.
I recently purchased a Gaggia super-automatic espresso machina (Mah-kEE-nah) that handles the coffee and milk with the push of a button. It has a drink on the menu I had never heard of, the Flat White.
My experience has been that a proper shot of espresso is 1 oz, so the rations aren’t the same, but close enough for me to 1st pull a 1 oz espresso followed by the machine’s Flat White, for ~2.5 oz espresso and 5 oz of milk w/foam.
It’s very close to the Doppio Espresso Cappucino, so it’s my new fave, for breakfast.
Thank you for this. I hate spending 30+ dollars a week on these. They are good, I used Starbucks coffee I bought a the grocery store.
Actual Starbucks flat whites are made with whole milk. It creates denser foam. If you’ve ever seen a Starbucks barista craft one, you’ll notice there is a particular method to the pour, creating the signature dot on top.
I have been absent for some time, but now I remember why I used to love this blog. Thank you, I?¦ll try and check back more often. How frequently you update your site?
Very well explained!
I have a stovetop espresso maker, but am always a little unsure if I’m doing it correctly. I’ve understood that you have to fill it completely up to the air valve with water, and the basket filled completely with finely ground coffee. But this makes substantially more than 3 oz of espresso/ coffee. Do you just toss the rest???
You can save it, I don’t know what size your espresso maker is.
skim milk froths better than whole mlk or 1,2,3 % and the best skim milk comes from a big box store.been doing this for ages a good kind of coffee to use is something that is real cheap usually on bottom shelf of coffee display /$`1.69 a full 16 ounce bag,,, looks to have cuban or rican name and you can make that in a pour over pot.. nothing fancy or expensive here
I tried this recipe and it is delicious! I just filled a cup up with 1/2 cup milk and 1 teaspoon of sugar. Then I frothed 2 shots of espresso into the milk and sugar. It worked great, but I would recommend warming the milk before you put it in the cup if you want it hot. Overall, GREAT recipe.
If you are lazy like me, you can buy the cans of double shot espresso and then make this (I do have an espresso machine, but for speed, I keep a few cans of double shot espresso.
That is brilliant!
Is there a particular type of coffee you are supposed to use?
So you could purchase some of their coffee, but I think most dark roast coffee works well.
How much sugar and did you use whole milk?
So you can steam 1 cup of milk, add as much as you like. I personally do not like sugar in my coffee, so none would be perfect for me.
Wow! I’m impressed! I tried this and it tastes just like Starbucks! I bought the espresso cups and brewed 4 oz on ‘strong’, heated my milk in glass Pyrex measuring cup, and frothed it with handheld immersion blender. Thanks for the recipe!! I’m my own new barista!
This is awesome. I needed this kind of tips. My wait is finally over. I was looking for this on the internet and found it on your website. It helped me a lot.