The Difference between Latte and Flat White

In coffee shops around the world, the latte and the flat white are two of the most popular drinks for customers to order. Each has a place on every specialty coffee shop menu — and yet, they are very similar drinks. In fact, in many cafes, it’s not easy to tell which is which!

While the differences between the latte and flat white might be small, for coffee lovers, those differences are very important. And they have a big effect on the flavor.

• The most important difference between the latte and the flat white is the size. A flat white is very similar to a latte, but it is made with less milk, which gives it a stronger taste. The flat white is essentially a smaller, stronger latte.
• The other major difference is that a latte is always made with espresso. A flat white is sometimes made with a ristretto instead of espresso: the ristretto is a more concentrated shot of espresso that gives the coffee a different flavor.

In this post, we’ll explore the origins of these two popular coffees, and explain all of the differences between them. We’ll even help you decide which one is better for your health!

Where does the Latte come from?

The term latte comes from the Italian caffè latte, meaning ‘milk coffee’. When American coffee chains made their version of the drink, they shortened caffè latte to just ‘latte’, and that’s the term that spread in most of the world. In Italy, though, if you ask for a ‘latte’, you’ll just get a glass of milk!

The traditional caffè latte in Italy is made from espresso mixed with steamed milk and is served in a tall, narrow glass. The barista may pour the milk in first and add the espresso afterward, creating a layered effect in the drink.

A traditional latte served in a tall glass. Photo: Valeria Lazareva

The tall glass means that the caffè latte is a gentle, milky coffee — perfect for drinking at breakfast time. If you want to make yourself a caffè latte at home, then for a modern twist on the classic tall glass, take a look at these beautiful double-walled glasses from Mibru — perfect for showcasing a delicious latte.

Specialty coffee shops now have mostly done away with the tall glass, and serve lattes in large cups instead. But the basic principle is the same: a latte is made from espresso, mixed with plenty of milk.

The origin of the Flat White

The flat white comes from either Australia or New Zealand, depending on who you ask. There are plenty of stories about how the flat white was invented, but very few hard facts. The only thing we know for sure is that the flat white has existed in Australia and New Zealand since at least the 1980s.

The flat white emerged as a drink for customers who wanted the strong flavor of a cappuccino, rather than the milky flavor or a latte — but who didn’t like the thick froth on top. Baristas started steaming milk in a different way for these customers, creating a drink with a much thinner layer of foam on top — which is why it’s called ‘flat’.

The thinner layer of foam gives the flat white a silky texture and makes it possible to pour more intricate latte art than a traditional cappuccino.

The thin layer of foam on a flat white allows beautiful latte art. Photo: Chevanon Photography

The traditional flat white is served in a cappuccino cup — a small, ceramic cup, around 150–180 ml in size. For keen home baristas, these cups from Australian brand Acme are the perfect choice for a traditional flat white.

Flat Whites and Lattes are both made with microfoam milk

The milk used to make a flat white and a latte is exactly the same. Both the flat white and the latte are made from steamed milk topped with microfoam — a thin, silky layer of milk foam, with bubbles too small to be visible. These tiny bubbles give the milk a luscious, creamy texture that should last right up until the last sip.

For both lattes and flat whites, the milk should be hot, but not too hot to drink. Around 60°C is ideal, hot to the touch but not so hot that it burns your tongue. If the milk is steamed any hotter than 65°C, the milk burns and loses its sweetness.

A Latte is based on espresso, but a Flat White is sometimes made with a ristretto instead

The ingredients in a latte and a flat white are almost exactly the same: espresso, steamed milk — and nothing else. However, there is one important difference that can have a big effect on the flavor of the drink: the flat white is sometimes made with a ristretto.

A ristretto is made in exactly the same way as an espresso, but with less water. This makes for a tiny but very strong, syrupy coffee. Using less water brings out the bright, fruity flavors in coffee. A ristretto can also be less bitter, which means it needs less sweetness from the milk to bring it into balance.

These days, the ristretto has become less popular in specialty coffee shops. The ristretto tastes best with darker roasts; lighter roasts need the full amount of water to get all the flavor out of the coffee. So in most specialty coffee shops nowadays, a flat white is made with exactly the same espresso as a latte.

Flat Whites are smaller than Lattes

The biggest difference between a flat white and a latte is the size. A flat white is usually between 150 ml and 240 ml, while a latte may be anywhere from 240 ml to 480 ml in size. 

The flat white and the latte usually contain the same amount of espresso: a double shot. The only difference is the amount of milk added. This means that a ‘large flat white’ is exactly the same thing as a ‘small latte’ in many shops.

Some shops maintain the difference between the latte and the flat white by adding an extra shot of espresso to larger sizes of flat whites. That way, the ratio between coffee and milk is the same, even in a large flat white. So if you normally prefer flat whites but feel like drinking a bigger coffee, try asking your barista for an extra shot.

Flat Whites are stronger than Lattes

The flat white and latte may have the same ingredients, but they taste quite different. Since the flat white contains less milk, it has a stronger espresso flavor. Meanwhile, the latte has more milk, which makes it sweeter and creamier.

The flat white and the latte are both very popular drinks, but the stronger flavor of the flat white makes it the preferred choice of many coffee connoisseurs. With less milk in a flat white, it’s easier to pick out the distinctive flavors of the coffee.

On the other hand in a large, milky latte, any mistakes the barista makes are likely to be hidden by the sweetness of the milk.

Flat Whites and Lattes are served in different cups

A flat white is usually served in a small ceramic cup, while a latte is served either in a larger cup or in a tall glass.

The tall glass harks back to the traditional Italian caffè latte. These days, however, most specialty coffee shops usually use the same kind of cup for a latte as a flat white. The only difference between the latte and the flat white in this case is that the latte cup is bigger.

Does a Flat White have more caffeine than a Latte?

The flat white may taste stronger than the latte, but that doesn’t automatically mean that it contains more caffeine. In fact, a flat white and a latte usually contain exactly the same amount of caffeine.

In most specialty coffee shops, the flat white and latte are made with the same amount of espresso: a double shot. This means they contain exactly the same amount of caffeine — the only difference is the amount of milk.

Other cafes prefer to serve a latte with just a single shot of espresso, in which case the latte will have half as much caffeine as the flat white. If you want to avoid drinking too much caffeine, you could ask your barista to make you a single shot instead of a double — or you could just switch to decaf. For more information on how much caffeine there is in your coffee, consult our handy guide to the amount of caffeine in different coffee drinks.

Is a Flat White or a Latte the Healthier choice?

A flat white has less milk in it than a latte, which means it contains slightly fewer calories. So if you’re trying to avoid drinking too much milk, then a flat white is a better choice than a latte.

However, despite the calories, milk is pretty good for you. It is full of vitamins, minerals, and protein. Even the fat in milk helps you feel fuller for longer. Meanwhile, espresso has a lot of health benefits. So the flat white and the latte can both be healthy in moderation.

If you drink a lot of coffee, though, then it’s best to stick to just one or two lattes or flat whites and drink black coffee the rest of the day. That way you can get all the benefits of the milk without taking on too many calories.

Now that you’ve explored the differences between the latte and the flat white, perhaps it’s time to try making your own? Grab your espresso machine, your favorite coffee beans, and a jug of milk, and check out our guide on how to make a flat white.

If you don’t have an espresso machine yet, then you’ll be surprised how affordable — and easy — it can be to make espresso at home. Explore our full range of home espresso machines here, or take a look at our guide to the ten best espresso machines for the home.