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Flat White vs Latte vs Cappuccino: The Only Guide You Need
Most people order by size. The real difference between these drinks is how the milk is textured and how much of it there is.
Almost everyone orders these drinks by cup size, which is why almost everyone ends up with something they did not expect at least once. Size is the least important variable. What actually separates a flat white from a latte is the milk: how much, and how it was textured.
What is a flat white?
A double shot of espresso with steamed milk poured through a thin layer of microfoam, served small, usually around six ounces. The foam is not a cap on top, it is folded through the milk so the whole drink has the same velvety texture from the first sip to the last.
Because the cup is small and the espresso is a double, the coffee stays in front. A flat white tastes like coffee with milk in it. A latte tastes like a milk drink with coffee in it. That is the honest difference.
What is a latte?
Same espresso, much more steamed milk, a thin layer of foam on top. Usually eight to twelve ounces. The larger volume of milk softens the espresso considerably, which is exactly why it is the most popular coffee drink in the world.
A latte is the right call when you want something to sit with. A flat white is the right call when you want the coffee to be the point.
What is a cappuccino?
Traditionally equal parts espresso, steamed milk and foam, in a cup around six ounces. The defining feature is the foam: thick, airy, and sitting distinctly on top rather than blended through.
A properly made cappuccino is noticeably lighter in the cup than a flat white of the same size, because a third of what you are holding is air.
Where does a cortado fit?
A cortado is espresso cut with roughly an equal part of steamed milk, with very little foam, served in a small glass. Less milk than a flat white, and less texture work.
And if you are in Miami, do not confuse it with a cortadito, which is the Cuban version and is sweetened while it brews.
So which one should I order?
If you want to taste the origin of the coffee, order a flat white or a cortado. There is not enough milk to hide anything, which is also why a badly sourced bean has nowhere to go in these drinks.
If you want comfort and volume, order a latte. If you want the foam to be part of the experience, order a cappuccino.
At GROU Coffee + Cowork we pour all four on specialty beans, at 4100 Salzedo St STE 5 in Coral Gables. If you are unsure, ask the barista which one shows off what is in the hopper that week. That is a real question and they will have a real answer.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between a flat white and a latte?
- The difference is the amount of milk and how it is textured. A flat white is a double espresso with a small volume of steamed milk and microfoam folded through it, served around six ounces, so the coffee stays forward. A latte uses the same espresso with much more steamed milk, usually eight to twelve ounces, which softens the coffee considerably.
- Is a flat white stronger than a latte?
- In flavour, yes, though not necessarily in caffeine. Both are typically built on a double shot of espresso, so the caffeine is similar, but the flat white has far less milk diluting it. That makes the coffee taste more present, which is why flat whites show the character of the bean more clearly.
- What is the difference between a cappuccino and a flat white?
- Foam. A cappuccino is traditionally equal parts espresso, steamed milk and thick airy foam sitting on top, so it feels lighter in the cup. A flat white folds a thin microfoam through the milk instead, giving the whole drink one velvety texture rather than a distinct foam layer.
- What is the difference between a cortado and a flat white?
- A cortado is espresso cut with roughly an equal part of steamed milk and very little foam, served in a small glass. A flat white uses a bit more milk and involves real texturing work to create microfoam. A cortado is also not the same as a Cuban cortadito, which is sweetened while it brews.
- Which coffee drink should I order to taste the beans?
- Order a flat white or a cortado. Both use enough milk to soften the espresso but not enough to mask it, so the origin character of the coffee comes through. Lattes and cappuccinos carry much more milk or foam, which smooths those distinctions out.
Keep reading
What Is a Cortadito? Miami's Coffee, Explained
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