The Debated Origins of the Popular Coffee.

Cappuccino is to Italy as the Flat White is to Australia or New Zealand? Read about the flat white history and its heavily debated origins.

Flat White History & Origins

The popular drink was created in the 1980s continues to be heavily debated regarding its exact origins. Some say it was first created by barista Alan Preston in 1985 in his Moors Expresso Bar in Sydney. Preston came from Queensland where coffee shops would serve “white coffee, flat”. In his own coffee shop in Sydney Preston reinterpreted that to a “flat white” which consisted of a double ristretto with steamed milk and a little foam. It was poured without latte art and served in a ceramic cup.

Over in Wellington, New Zealand, barista Frazer McInnes of Cafe Bodega said he created the flat white in 1989. A customer ordered a cappuccino, but because of the low fat content of the milk, he couldn’t create the frothy microfoam. Upon serving the cup, he apologized, “Sorry, it’s a flat white.”

Comparing Coffees
In comparison, a flat white has less foam than a cappuccino which results in a creamier texture. Cappuccino requires a minimum 1 cm foam layer; whereas a flat white has about a 0.5 cm microfoam.

Moreover, a flat white contains less milk than a latter, which is steamed milk with a shot of espresso poured into it and served in a glass.

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