The flat white is a staple in cafes, coffee shops, and diners across the globe. Its foamy, creamy texture and strong caffeine hit make it an indulgent but light brew that is as enjoyable at breakfast as it is after dinner.
If you have an espresso machine with a steam wand, make use of it with our easy-to-follow recipe.
Don't have the right equipment?
We've got you covered — skip the recipe and scroll down to check out 3 other ways you can make a flat white without an espresso machine.
What You Need to Make a Flat White
Making a flat white is easy and requires only three ingredients. However, you'll need some important pieces of brewing equipment.
Here's what you need to make flat white coffee:
- Dark roast arabica coffee
- Whole dairy milk
- Water
- Coffee grinder
- Espresso machine
- Steam wand
- Steaming pitcher
- Coffee cup (ideally 140–240 mL or 5–8 oz.)
Coffee Recommendations
The type of coffee you use to make a flat white is important. The flat white is typically made from dark roast arabica beans but can be made using arabica and robusta blends for a stronger, darker brew.
What’s most important is that the coffee is high-quality, minimally processed, and ideally, un-ground. Freshly grinding coffee before using it to make a flat white results in a more complex, full-bodied brew.
If you don’t have a coffee grinder or don’t have the patience to freshly grind coffee, make sure you purchase a high-quality, fresh, pre-ground coffee.
If you want to make a regular flat white, we recommend the Cafely DaLat (100% Arabica).
If you want to make a slightly stronger brew with dark, nutty, woody notes, we recommend the DaNang blend (Arabica & Robusta).
How to Make a Flat White Coffee: Step-By-Step
Learn how to make a flat white in six simple steps…
1. Grind the Coffee
Finely grind your coffee beans. A fine grind should have the consistency of table salt. You’ll need enough to fill the portafilter on your espresso machine.
2. Brew the Espresso
Fill the portafilter with the ground coffee and tamp it evenly to ensure a consistent extraction. Brew one or two shots of espresso (depending on how strong you want the brew) into your regular-sized coffee cup. Aim for a smooth, rich shot with a layer of crema.
3. Steam the Milk
Fill a steaming pitcher with four to six ounces of cold whole milk. Submerge the steam wand on your espresso maker just below the milk’s surface and turn it on.
As the milk heats, keep the steam wand near the surface to create microfoam. Aim for a smooth, velvety texture that's not too frothy or airy.
Continue steaming the milk until it’s warm and silky with no large air bubbles. You’re aiming for a temperature of 65 to 70 Celcius (150 to 160 Fahrenheit).
4. Temper the Milk
Tap the bottom of the steaming pitcher on the counter. This will remove any large bubbles. Swirl the milk around the pitcher gently until it has a glossy appearance.
5. Pour the Milk into the Espresso
Slowly pour the steamed milk into the center of the espresso. As the cup fills, begin pouring a little faster, keeping the spout of the pitcher close to the brew’s surface so the microfoam settles on top.
Finish by creating a small white circle of foam in the center of the cup — a characteristic visual trait of a flat white.
6. Serve and Enjoy
Flat white is prepared at drinking temperature. Enjoy the brew fresh as soon as you’ve finished pouring the milk.
Other Ways to Make a Flat White Coffee (Without An Espresso Machine)
Although the recipe above is the typical way to make a flat white, you don't have to “follow the rules” of coffee. There are several ways to make a flat white — some without espresso, some cold, and some with a dash of alcohol.
Here are three alternative ways to make flat white coffee:
1. Flat White Without an Espresso Machine
If you don't have an espresso machine with a steam wand, fear not. There are ways to make a flat white without one. To the coffee connoisseur, this brew isn't strictly a flat white. However, it has a similar consistency and flavor profile.
Here's how to make a flat white without an espresso machine:
Ingredients & Equipment:
- Freshly ground coffee
- Whole milk
- Water
- Coffee maker (Aeropress, Moka pot, French press, or drip coffee maker)
- Saucepan
- Stovetop
- Fine whisk
Step-By-Step Guide:
- Brew a strong coffee — Use an alternative brewing method to brew a strong coffee. An AeroPress, Moka pot, French press, or regular drip coffee maker will work. Aim to create a rich, concentrated brew to mimic the intensity of an espresso. You can achieve this by increasing the coffee-to-water ratio.
- Heat the milk — In a saucepan, warm 4–6 oz. of whole milk until it reaches 65–70°C (150–160°F).
- Froth the milk — Once the milk reaches temperature, turn off the heat and froth the milk by rapidly whisking it with a fine whisk or milk frother.
- Combine — In a regular-sized coffee cup, add the espresso shot followed by the frothed milk. Pour the milk gently and allow the microfoam to settle on top of the brew.
- Serve and Enjoy — Enjoy your flat white immediately while warm.
2. Iced Flat White
If you love the flavor and body of a flat white and love iced coffee, you'll love an iced flat white. This rich, milky brew is perfect for enjoying while the sun is out, and a hot brewed flat white isn't appealing.
Here's how to make an iced flat white:
Ingredients & Equipment:
- 1–2 shots of espresso (or a concentrated coffee)
- 4–6 oz. cold whole milk
- Ice cubes
Step-by-step guide:
- Brew the espresso — Brew one to two shots of espresso using an espresso machine. Alternatively, brew a concentrated coffee using one of the methods mentioned above. Cool the espresso for 20 minutes until it reaches room temperature.
- Prepare the milk — Froth cold milk using a milk frother, fine whisk, or French press until it's light and frothy. You won't achieve the same smoothness as warmed steamed milk, but you should be able to create some texture.
- Add ice & espresso — Fill a tall glass with ice cubes and pour the cooled espresso.
- Add the milk — Slowly pour the frothed milk over the espresso, creating a layered coffee with a fine foam on the surface.
- Serve and enjoy — Stir gently, and enjoy your iced flat white immediately.
3. Flat White Martini
Are you a fan of an espresso martini but also enjoy the soft, foamy creaminess of a flat white coffee?
Why not try a flat white martini?
This boozy, ice-cold brew packs a potent caffeine and alcohol hit with the smooth milkiness of micro-foamed milk.
Here's how to make a flat white martini:
Ingredients & Equipment:
- 1 shot of espresso
- 1 shot of vodka
- ½ shot of Kahlúa
- 30–60 mL (1–2 oz.) whole milk
- Ice
- Cocktail shaker
- Martini glass
- Fine mesh strainer
- Small pitcher
Step-by-step guide:
- Brew the espresso — Start by brewing a shot of espresso and let it cool to room temperature.
- Prepare the milk — In a small pitcher, add cold whole milk. Froth lightly with a fine whisk or milk frother.
- Make the cocktail — Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, 1 shot of room-temperature espresso, 1 shot of vodka, and half a shot of Kahlúa. Shake vigorously until the mixture is well combined and chilled.
- Assemble the martini — Through a fine mesh strainer, pour the cocktail from the shaker. Gently pour in the frothed milk. Try to create a thin layer of foam on the surface of the drink.
- Serve and enjoy — Serve ice cold and enjoy immediately. Always drink responsibly.
FAQs: Making a Flat White Coffee
Want to learn more about the flat white?
Check out the answers to the FAQs below to learn more:
1. How Much Caffeine in a Flat White?
The average flat white served in a 240 mL (8 oz.) cup contains around 136 mg of caffeine — around 0.56 mg per mL.
2. What Type of Coffee Beans Are Best for a Flat White?
Flat white contains espresso coffee that's made using 100% arabica coffee. The sweet, smooth, complex flavors of arabica coffee work perfectly with the creamy notes of microfoam milk.
3. What’s the Best Type of Milk to Use for a Flat White?
The best type of milk for flat white coffee is whole dairy milk. Since the milk used in flat white is micro-foamed using steam, whole milk — with its high-fat content — makes it the perfect choice.
4. What’s the Difference Between a Flat White and a Cappuccino?
Flat white coffee and cappuccino are both espresso-based coffee that contains steamed milk. The main difference is that flat white has a thin layer of milk foam on top with a large amount of milk mixed in the coffee. Cappuccinos have thick foamed milk on top of the coffee but not in the brew itself.
5. Can You Make a Flat White with a French Press?
A regular flat white contains espresso coffee. However, you can make a coffee that resembles a flat white with a strong brew made with a French press and milk that's steamed on a stovetop.
6. What’s the Origin of Flat White Coffee?
The exact origin of the flat white is unknown, but it was developed somewhere in Australia or New Zealand. Both countries claim to have invented coffee in the 1980s. It's unclear exactly which country the flat white comes from; it likely evolved over the years in both countries.
7. Can You Make a Flat White with Instant Coffee?
Yes. You can make a flat white with instant coffee. Try making a cup of our instant espresso coffee before adding steamed milk to create a flat white in a flash.
8. Can You Add Flavor Syrups to a Flat White?
Yes. You can add syrups to flat white coffee. The best syrups for a flat white are vanilla, salted caramel, and almond syrup.
Adding flavored syrups to your flat white can switch things up and make your morning brews more interesting.
9. How Long Does It Take to Make a Flat White?
If you have an espresso machine and coffee steamer it'll only take a few minutes to make a flat white. However, if you don't have one or the other, it'll take longer due to slower brewing methods and milk foaming techniques.
10. Can You Make a Flat White with Cold Brew?
Yes. You can make a cold brew flat white. It may not be “authentic,” but it tastes great. To make a cold brew flat white, take strong Cold Brew coffee and combine it with chilled foamed milk and sugar if you prefer a sweetened brew.
