How to Make a Flat White at Home

The flat white is the coffee lover's milky coffee. It's smaller than a latte, so the espresso comes through clearly, and it's topped with a thin layer of glossy, velvety milk rather than a thick cap of foam. Here's how to make one at home.

What you need

• An espresso machine with a steam wand
• Espresso coffee, such as our Momentum Espresso
• A 350ml milk jug
• A 6 to 8oz cup

The recipe

• Double espresso (about 36g)
• About 120 to 150ml of steamed milk
• A thin layer of microfoam, about 5mm

Step by step

1. Pour cold milk into your jug, to just below where the spout starts.
2. Pull a double espresso into a warmed cup. Our espresso guide has the recipe.
3. Steam the milk with the wand tip just under the surface for a second or two, so you only add a little air, then sink it slightly to spin the milk until the jug is too hot to hold comfortably (60 to 65°C).
4. Tap and swirl the jug until the milk looks like wet paint.
5. Pour from a little height into the middle of the cup, then bring the jug close to finish with a heart or a simple dot.

Flat white vs latte

A flat white has the same double espresso as a latte but less milk and thinner foam, so it tastes stronger. If your flat white tastes weak, use a smaller cup before you add more coffee.

Which coffee to use

Chocolatey, nutty espressos are brilliant with milk. Momentum is our most popular choice for flat whites, and every bag is roasted fresh in Fife.

An 8oz flat white with semi-skimmed milk is around 70 kcal. Try oat or whole milk in our coffee calorie calculator.

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