Flat white coming to Costa Coffee!

One of the strangest things I noticed when I first arrived in the UK was the weird look I got from baristas when asking for a Flat White at a coffee shop. As it turns out the Flat White is specific to Australia and New Zealand and generally unknown to the rest of the world.

Nothing made me feel more homesick than when my mate Andrew, who lives in London, took me to a coffee shop that specialized in serving Flat Whites. It tasted sooooo good and really made me feel like I was back home.

Outside of London the chances of finding a Flat White anywhere seemed impossible. But today my prayers were answered when I asked the barista at Costa Coffee, where I get my regular morning latte, if he knew how to make a Flat White. He said that they were adding the Flat White to the menu in just a few weeks. Management were doing training on it as we speak. He even showed me a banner that had been printed up with the Flat White on it ready to be hung once they were ready to go on sale.

HUZZAH!

Here's the recipe for a Flat White from wikipedia:

Originating from New Zealand and Australia, a flat white is a coffee beverage prepared by pouring steamed milk from the bottom of steaming pitcher over a single shot (30ml) of espresso.


The drink is typically served in a small 150-160ml ceramic tulip cup. The stretched and texturised milk is prepared by entraining air into the milk and folding the top layer into the lower layers. To achieve the "flat", non-frothy texture the steamed milk is poured from the bottom of the jug, holding back the lighter froth on the top in order to access milk with smaller bubbles, making the drink smooth and velvety in texture.

If you're an Aussie or Kiwi living in London and really want a Flat White you can find one at the Flat White coffee shop in Soho.

Mmmmmmmm...


Update - Starbucks adopts the ‘Flat White’