Flat White

Preparation Time5-7 mins Difficulty LevelMedium
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Ingredients How to Make Tips FAQs

The Flat White combines steamed milk and rich, dark espresso for a creamy coffee-forward drink that’s worth savoring. If you’re feeling creative, the Flat White is also the introductory drink used for baristas who are learning to make latte art, so feel free to use this coffee as a delicious canvas.

INGREDIENTS

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SERVING

- 1 serving servings +

KEY INGREDIENTS

Brewed Coffee

OTHER INGREDIENTS

  • 1.25
    cups
    whole milk

TOOLS

  • Milk frother, aerator or whisk

HOW TO MAKE

Flat White

  • 01

    Prepare 2 shots of espresso and pour into a mug.

     

  • 02

    Froth whole milk using your preferred method. For more information on how to froth your milk, see our frothing guide here.
    • For a beverage that more closely resembles a Starbucks® Flat White, we recommend whole milk for a better texture. As you froth your milk, try using a spoon to gently push the micro-bubbles to the bottom of the pitcher. This will result in a smoother, more velvety texture for your flat white.
  • 03

    Gently pour your frothed milk into your mug until it’s almost full, then focus on the middle of your mug and pour a little faster so the foam will come out without moving your pitcher. As the foam starts to come out, continue to pour until you get a dot in the middle.
  • 04

    Feel free to try your hand at latte art.

How to Make Latte Art at Home

HOW TO MAKE
  • STEP 01

    Make espresso shots.

    We recommend brewing Starbucks® Espresso Roast Whole Bean coffee via an espresso machine. If you don’t have an espresso machine, you can use a stovetop moka pot to make espresso-like coffee. To learn more, read our stovetop moka pot guide here.

     

    You can also brew Starbucks® by Nespresso® Espresso Roast capsules for authentic café-style espresso.

  • STEP 02

    Fill pitcher with cold milk to the bottom of pour spout dent.
  • STEP 03

    Aerate milk for about 3 seconds by keeping the tip of the wand near the surface of the milk. You should hear a paper-tearing sound.
  • STEP 04

    Submerge wand toward bottom of pitcher to get milk to spin in a whirlpool motion. Make sure the wand is in the middle of the pitcher to help swirl the milk completely.
  • STEP 05

    Heat milk to 150°F. Use a thermometer, or stop when you can’t touch the pitcher for more than an instant.
  • STEP 06

    “Groom” the milk by tapping pitcher on counter and swirling gently by hand. This will pop any big bubbles and maintain micro-foam.
  • STEP 07

    Pour high to start. Tilt coffee cup as you pour a pencil-thin stream of milk into the center of the espresso.
  • STEP 08

    Pour low when your cup is half full, and pour just a little faster to help guide the foam out of the pitcher.
  • STEP 09

     

    Focus on the middle of the mug as the foam begins to fall. Continue to focus on the middle until a dot begins to form.
  • STEP 10

    To make a heart, slowly tilt the pitcher back and pull stream through the center. For a rosette, once the dot starts to form, continue to gently rock the pitcher side to side while increasing the volume of the pour. The side to side motion will create the rosette design. Once you reach the far end of the mug and the top of the rosette, start pouring a little less milk and pull the stream through the center.
  • STEP 11

    Finish. Slowly tilt pitcher back and draw the stream back through center of the design. Snap a picture of your hard work, and take a sip.
View the Recipe

TIPS

For a beverage that more closely resembles a Starbucks® Flat White, we recommend whole milk for a better texture. As you froth your milk, try using a spoon to gently push the micro-bubbles to the bottom of the pitcher. This will result in a smoother, more velvety texture for your flat white.

In Starbucks cafés, the Flat White is made with an extra shot of ristretto espresso. Ristretto means “restricted” in Italian. Ristretto espresso shots use the same amount of coffee but less water, and that results in a smaller, more concentrated serving with a sweeter, richer flavor.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Starbucks® Recipes

WHAT IS A FLAT WHITE COFFEE?

A flat white coffee is a popular espresso drink that originated in Australia and New Zealand. A standard flat white is made by pouring microfoam, a velvety-textured milk, over a double shot of espresso. The microfoam is created by steaming milk to a velvety consistency, resulting in a smooth and creamy coffee.
WHAT IS IN A FLAT WHITE?

A flat white typically consists of a double shot of espresso and microfoam, which is created by steaming milk to a velvety texture. The ratio of espresso to milk in a flat white is higher compared to other milk-based coffee drinks, resulting in a stronger coffee flavor. In our cafés, flat whites are made with ristretto espresso shots and topped with latte art.
WHAT DOES A FLAT WHITE TASTE LIKE?

A flat white is often described as balanced. The double shot of espresso gives the drink a bold coffee flavor while the microfoam adds a smooth, sweet creaminess.

Tried this Recipe

RECOMMENDED COFFEE

Espresso Roast

A classic and time-honored dark roast with notes of molasses and caramelized sugar that’s perfect for making classic espresso drinks.

RECOMMENDED COFFEE

Espresso Roast

A classic and time-honored dark roast with notes of molasses and caramelized sugar that’s perfect for making classic espresso drinks.

RECOMMENDED COFFEE

Espresso Roast

A classic and time-honored dark roast with notes of molasses and caramelized sugar that’s perfect for making classic espresso drinks.

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Nestlé uses Starbucks trademarks under license. Keurig and K-Cup are trademarks of Keurig Green Mountain, Inc., used with permission. Pike Place is a trademark of The Pike Place Market PDA, used under license. NESPRESSO® is a registered trademark of Société des Produits Nestlé S.A. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.