The Perfect Flat White Coffee Recipe

Who doesn’t love coffee? I mean, I know I do. For many of us, the perfect morning routine must be accompanied by a nice cup of coffee. I just love the aroma first thing. Plus the ritual of it all makes me swoon. Indeed, sipping my first cup while the world is still asleep is one of my favorite moments of the day. Of course, the caffeine boost from a flat white or otherwise is a nice bonus for starting your day off right. Now, if you really want to start your day off special – beyond the traditional cup of joe, I highly suggest leveling up your morning coffee game. To do that, I am sharing my popular flat white coffee recipe.

At this point, the drink is one of the most well-known Starbucks trademarks. Mixing strong espresso with smooth microfoam, flat whites are a great alternative to your daily latte. The main difference is the texture of the drink itself. 

Here’s the thing – this recipe is oh-so-easy to make and even more delicious to drink without a ton of fuss. Who has time for all that? Wanna get to sipping? Of course, you do. Let’s dive in.

What is Flat White Coffee?

As mentioned, the primary thing that separates a flat white from lattes and other popular Starbucks drinks is the texture of the drink itself. Cappuccinos are equal in proportion, and lattes prioritize steamed milk; a flat white just focuses on a smooth texture with less foam and the prominent taste of espresso. Which I love, because I prefer the strong flavor of coffee over milk or sugar. I feel like I have become my dad.

Weirdly, I couldn’t find the origination of this drink – even after hours of research for this blog. While New Zealand and Australia have tried to claim credit for flat whites, the specific origins remain unknown.

Requiring very few ingredients, less milk than many other recipes, and offering a perfect way to get started with latte art at home, flat whites really have a lot to offer for the at-home coffee drinkers and Starbucks aficionados alike.

What You’ll Need to Make Flat White Coffee

So, what will we actually need to start enjoying one of these Starbucks specialties at home? As it turns out, not much! All you really need is some suitable milk for making that velvety microfoam and a few shots of espresso to get you up and going. 

As always, I highly recommend trying the recipe as-is and then experimenting from there. Test out different coffee beans, use various cold milk options, and maybe even try different methods of steaming your milk. I use an espresso machine, but—if you don’t have one—don’t worry. I’ll be covering alternative methods as well.

First, though, let’s go over the few things you’ll actually need to get started.

Ingredients and Items List

• An espresso maker
• 1 ¼ cups of whole milk
• 2 shots of espresso
  

The Best Flat White Coffee Recipe

This flat white coffee recipe is based on the official Starbucks recipe, giving you the most authentic experience possible at home. Aside from not having to go out and deal with traffic, you’ll also be enjoying your drink much faster, as this recipe takes less than ten minutes to complete.

Grab some of your favorite breakfast treats (for later), your milk container, your espresso, and your espresso maker, then let’s get started. Here’s what you’ll need to do.

1. Brewing the Espresso

To get started, you’ll need to make your espresso. Grind your beans, pack your portafilter, then brew your espresso. If you’re feeling extra tired today, feel free to go for an extra shot on top of the base double espresso shot for that extra boost. Just remember to adjust the milk proportions according to taste. 

Move on to the next step once your espresso is done.

1. Pouring Espresso and Milk

Pick whichever cup you’re going to use for your flat white, and pour your espresso into it. Then, use the steam way on your espresso maker to froth milk. Once the milk has been foamed, begin pouring it into the mug.

Once the mug is almost full, focus your pouring on the center of the mug, speeding up your pouring slightly. The idea is that you want to get the foam out of the mug, forming it into the signature white foam dot in the middle of the mug.

1. Finishing Up

The last step is easy: just enjoy!

So You Don’t Have an Espresso Machine…

You’re all set if you have an espresso machine at home. However, if not, you can still enjoy this easy flat white recipe without one—as well as many other classic espresso drinks—without needing to take a trip to your local coffee shop.

What You’ll Need to Make Flat White Coffee If You Don’t Have an Espresso Machine

Here’s the thing: you can’t make espresso, and you don’t have a way to foam milk without an espresso machine. To solve this, I suggest investing in a Moka pot, AeroPress, French press, and hand milk frother to make the steamed milk. While an espresso machine usually covers all of these areas, you can snag a French press and hand frother on Amazon for cheap and get the same results. Here’s how I make foam milk with a hand frother at home.

Still too much for you? No worries, I get it. You can use the stovetop to warm milk with a whisk or blender, a blender, a whisk, or a manual milk frother to steam your whole milk for these flavorful coffee drinks.

Ingredients and Items List

• Your choice of milk (1 ¼ cups)
• Espresso
• Moka pot, AeroPress, or French Press
• Stovetop steam or blender or microwave/whisk or manual milk frother

How to Make My Flat White Coffee Without An Espresso Machine

As before, this flat white coffee recipe is fairly straightforward. Since there are a couple of different ways to prepare both the espresso and the steamed milk in this flat white coffee recipe, the time it takes can vary a bit more than if you were using an espresso machine.

Still, the process is fairly straightforward and I’d say the results are definitely worth it. Grab whatever espresso machine alternatives you plan on using, some espresso, and a milk jug  then let’s go.

1. First, We’ll Need to Make Our “Espresso”

How exactly you go about this depends on the method you’re using to make your double shot of espresso. 

For Moka Pot

Grind four tablespoons of coffee. Pour 7 ounces of water into the pot, then add the grounds into the filter. Screw the pot together then place on a stovetop burner on medium heat. Foam will begin to form. Once the top fills up with foam, your espresso is ready!

For AeroPress

In the drain cap, place a filter, then place the AeroPress on your mug. After grinding four tablespoons of coffee, add seven ounces of 200° water. Stir, then press down to complete your espresso.

For French Press

Although offering the least quality results, you can actually do both the espresso and the steaming using your French Press. Begin by grinding four tablespoons of coffee, then heat a cup of water to 195°. Place your grounds in the French Press, then give it a quick splash with the hot water to help release the flavor.

Soak for thirty seconds, then pour the rest of the water. Close the lid and give the coffee four minutes to steep. Lastly, slowly press the plunger down halfway, raise it back up, then plunge completely to finish.

1. Steam, Pour, and Enjoy

Take your milk and steam it using your chosen method. Take the steamed milk and pour it into your espresso. Following the same process, pour until the mug is nearly full, then speed up a tad and focus your pouring in the center until you have the classic foam dot. Enjoy!

The Best Milk to Use in Your Flat White Coffee Recipe

According to the official Starbucks flat white coffee recipe, whole milk is the recommended selection. Of course, much like iced coffee, feel free to experiment with different types of milk—as well as the ratio of espresso you use—to perfect your at-home drinks.

Just remember that the goal is to have a smooth surface of the milk. You want to avoid large bubbles in your milk froths if possible. I’d recommend avoiding skin milk, as the flavor won’t be as rich and the texture will be lighter.

Some more suitable alternatives include:

• Almond milk
• Coconut milk
• Oat milk
• Soy milk
  

I Hope You Loved This Flat White Coffee Recipe

Simple to make, with a delectable flavor and a velvety texture, this at-home flat white coffee recipe is easily one of my favorite ways to enjoy espresso. Give it a try and level up your morning coffee routine in an instant. Want to try another can’t-miss coffee drink? Check out my Starbucks Copycat Sugar Cooke Latte. Be sure to let me know if you’d like me to cover any other types of recipes. I’m always looking for new things to try.

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FAQs Related to This Flat White Coffee Recipe

What is the ratio of coffee-to-milk for a flat white?

For a traditional flat white, the ideal ratio is a milk-to-coffee ratio of 2:1.

What is the difference between a latte and a flat white?

Letters tend to have more milk than a flat white, whereas a flat white is more coffee-forward. . 

What is a skinny flat white?

Like most drinks that include the word skinny in them, a a skinny flat white is fat-free

Why is a flat white more expensive than a latte?

The price increase is often attributed to a higher espresso ratio, the skill required to make microfoam, and the fact that it’s a “premium” offering.

Is a flat white the strongest coffee?

Nope! In fact, even a macchiato is stronger than a flat white. At least for Starbucks, the Blonde Roast is currently the strongest espresso coffee available.

Is a cortado the same as a flat white?

No. While both use espresso and steamed milk, a cortado uses equal parts, whereas a flat uses more milk than espresso.