Flat White vs Latte Which Is Better

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The good ol’ latte and the flat white are two popular milky coffee beverages available on most café menus. The flat white is a relatively new invention compared to lattes, which have been around for quite some time. Here’s a short summary on the primary distinctions between flat white vs latte to help you choose which is the better coffee? Flat White or the Good Ol’ Latte!

Flat whites are espresso-based beverages with the same quantity of espresso as lattes, but they are significantly smaller in size.

In average, a latte is around 240 milliliters and a flat white about 160 milliliters, although the actual quantity varies from country to country and café to café.

A flat white, on the other hand, is not only a lesser latte.

The most significant variation between the two coffees is the quantity of milk used in their preparation.

Flat White Vs Latte: Major Differentiating Factors

	FLAT WHITE	LATTE
Origin	1980s	1950s
Size	5oz	8oz
Coffee Type	Espresso	Espresso
Milk Type	Microfoam	Steamed Milk & Foam
Taste	Rich espresso flavor with slight creaminess	Subtle espresso flavor, high milk content
Calories	95cal	103cal

What is a Latte?

The thrill of a latte derives from the blend of robust espresso with creamy milk. A latte is a basic espresso with steamed milk poured to it. It often has a small coating of foam on the top. Lattes may be served hot or iced, which makes them simple to enjoy at any time of the year. Another amazing attribute lattes have is adaptability. There is such a vast selection of tastes that can be added to them that it’s hard not to discover one you adore. They are also pretty simple to prepare these days because to the development of latte machines.

The Italian variant of a caffè latte is a very milky morning coffee with a shot of espresso generally poured from a stovetop espresso machine.

Outside Italy, a latte normally comprises a shot of espresso, steamed milk, and a layer of foamed milk lying on top.

With more milk than espresso, this beverage’s acidic taste may be easily masked.

Coffee Bros explains that this is why lattes are a good drink for adding flavored syrups.

What’s A Flat White?

The Australians invented the flat white espresso drink, which was eventually exported to other countries. It is comparable to a latte since it includes espresso and heated milk. It contains less milk than a latte, therefore it is typically stronger tasting than a latte would be, although these beverages have the same quantity of espresso. There is also a difference in method, which gives the flat white its characteristic microfoam top.

A flat white is an espresso-based beverage containing one or two shots of espresso and a thin coating of steamed milk, regardless of where it originated.

The thin or flat coating of steamed milk on top is called microfoam, and it has a more velvety feel than other milk-based coffees.

Flat White vs Latte : Which is Better?

To help you pick the right coffee, here are a few factors that you may consider when you walk up to the counter of your favorite coffee shop:

Do you like a Strong Espresss or a Cool Drink?

Because of the greater amount of milk in a latte, the espresso taste is more subdued. They combine well with flavored syrups as a result of this improvement. Conversely, the espresso flavor is more prominent in flat whites, which utilize less milk.

I like a good strong espresso: Flat White

I love a cool drink: Latte

How about a Creamy Microfoam?

Lattes contain a tiny, but perceptible coating of microfoam, which gives them an extra-creamy feeling. Flat whites, however, scarcely have any foam… basically simply heated milk.

I prefer creamy foam: latte
I detest foam: flat white

Coffee Size?

Lattes tend to come in amounts ranging from 10oz to 20oz, so they’re perfect for drinking over the course of an hour. However, since flat whites typically include 6 ounces of liquid, they cool off faster and are thus less satisfying.

I want something to sip on: latte

I’m in a hurry and simply want a flat white to give me a short energy boost.

Taste?

A flat white and a latte may have the same components, but their flavors are vastly different. This is due to the coffee-to-milk ratio and texture in each cup.

Even when produced with the same amount of espresso, a flat white has a stronger flavor than a latte. As a result, it is a smaller portion with a higher caffeine content and less milk and froth in it.

The amount of milk in a latte makes it much larger than a flat white. As a result, the milk virtually completely masks the espresso’s coffee flavor. It’s a good drink for someone who wants caffeine but doesn’t necessarily appreciate the harshness of coffee.

Lattes have a creamy texture and bigger froth than a flat white.

Starbucks Flat White Vs Latte

By default, a flat white at Starbucks has steamed whole milk with three shots of ristretto, delivered in a 16 oz cup for Grande size. More than twice as big as your typical flat white at 454 milliliters.

A Grande Starbucks flat white has 220 calories and has 195 mg of caffeine.

Starbucks’ Grande latte features two shots of espresso combined with steamed milk with a little coating of froth.

The Grande Starbucks latte has 190 calories and includes 150 mg of caffeine.

You may be wondering why the flat white receives more caffeine than the latte. Because the Starbucks flat white and the Starbucks latte both arrive in the same sized cup, they need to change the espresso ratio so that the flat white still has a bigger espresso to milk ratio and stronger flavor.

Wrapping Up

A latte and a flat white seem to be the same thing at first look. There is no comparison in appearance or flavor between the two, despite the fact that the components are the identical.

The fundamental difference between the two is the size of the drink and the coffee to milk ratio. The bigger drink, the latte, has more of a milky flavor as a consequence, while the smaller flat white has more of a punch of coffee.

There’s something for everyone at Starbucks, whether you want it strong like a flat white or mild like a latte.