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FriendsPantry

Australian · New Zealand

Flat white

Vegetarian

A small, strong milk coffee: a double espresso topped with a modest amount of milk steamed to a thin, glossy microfoam that blends right into the crema.

Flat white is an Australian hot drink, ready in about 4 minutes and made with espresso and milk. It serves 1 and is rated intermediate to cook.

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Prep
2 min
Cook
2 min
Total
4 min
Serves
1
Level
Intermediate
Calories
72

Ingredients

1 160 ml cup

Equipment

Method

  1. Step 1

    Pull a double espresso (opens in a new tab) or double ristretto into a warmed 160 ml cup.

  2. Step 2

    Steam the milk (opens in a new tab) with only a brief stretch of air (it should grow by 5–10%), then roll it to 55–60 °C — a touch cooler than a cappuccino.

    Food safety: Steam wands and freshly steamed milk are scalding: purge the wand away from your hand and wipe it straight after use.

  3. Step 3

    Swirl until glossy and pour close to the surface so the milk (opens in a new tab) folds under the crema, leaving a thin layer of foam no thicker than 5 mm.

    • 1 min

About this dish

Origin
Australia and New Zealand · Origin disputedBoth Australia and New Zealand claim the flat white; it spread from their cafés from the 1980s onwards.Also popular in Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom
Dish
Breakfast · Brunch · Snack · Hot drinks
Cooking method
Steamed
Taste
creamy, rich, bitter
Diet
Vegetarian (lacto-ovo) · No gluten ingredients · No nut ingredients · Low-carb
All labelsVegetarian (lacto-ovo) · Eggetarian · Lacto-vegetarian · Pescatarian · Flexitarian-friendly · Whole-food focused · No gluten ingredients · Egg-free · No nut ingredients · No added sugar · Alcohol-free · Pork-free · Beef-free · Low-carb · Low-fat · Low-sodium
With the listed swaps: Vegan, Plant-based, Ovo-vegetarian, Dairy-freeWorked out from the ingredients. How labels work
Good for
Everyday
Cook more with
Espresso · Milk
Techniques
Steaming

Allergens

  • Contains, can be adapted: Milkfrom milk

Based on typical versions of these ingredients and not verified allergen-free. Brands differ and cross-contact happens, so always check labels. For severe allergies, follow your clinician’s advice.

Nutrition

72 kcal per serving

Calculated

1 serving ≈ 149 g · recipe makes 1

Where the energy comes from

  • Protein 20%
  • Carbohydrate 33%
  • Fat 46%
Nutrition per serving and per 100 g
NutrientPer servingPer 100 g*
Energy72 kcal48 kcal
Protein3.6 g2.4 g
Carbohydrate6 g4 g
Net carbohydrate6 g4 g
Sugars5.7 g3.8 g
Added sugars0 g0 g
Fibre0 g0 g
Fat3.7 g2.5 g
Saturated fat2.1 g1.4 g
Trans fat——
Cholesterol11 mg8 mg
Sodium54 mg36 mg
Salt equivalent0.1 g0.1 g
Vitamins & minerals per serving
Potassium
191 mg
Calcium
129 mg
Iron
0.1 mg
Magnesium
40 mg
Vitamin A (RAE)
52 µg
Vitamin C
0 mg
Vitamin D
1.5 µg
Vitamin B12
0.5 µg
Folate (DFE)
6 µg

How these numbers were made

  • Calculated from USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy) per-100 g values and the listed quantities.
  • *Per 100 g of combined raw ingredients; the cooked dish may weigh more or less.
  • “—” means the value isn’t known for enough of the ingredients; it is never zero by default.
  • Values are estimates for guidance, not for medical dosing. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. fdc.nal.usda.gov.

Good to know

Tips

  • The difference from a latte is a smaller cup, a higher proportion of coffee and much thinner foam.

Common mistakes

  • Making it too large — it is meant to taste of the coffee.

Storage

  • Make to order and drink straight away; the milk foam collapses and the coffee loses its aroma within minutes.

Variations

  • Piccolo (Australia): A ristretto topped with a little steamed milk in a 90 ml glass.

Original editorial recipe · FriendsPantry editorial · Not yet independently reviewed · Added · Updated

Recipe DNA

How this dish is built

Customise in Sip & Blend

Grouped by each ingredient’s role in the dish. Each band’s width is its share of the dish by weight. Choose a component to see what it does.

What the dish is built around

Main ingredient

  • Milk, cold110 ml · 113 g
Used in step 2

Less sweet, dairy-free, caffeine-free or for more people — the original stays as it is.

Customise in Sip & Blend

Reviews & corrections

Reviews come from signed-in cooks and appear after a moderator checks them. We never show made-up ratings.

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