Staring at a menu and unsure what to order? In the flat white vs latte choice, the flat white is smaller with less milk and a stronger espresso taste; the latte is larger, milkier and milder.
Both drinks sit at the heart of modern cafe culture, so it helps to know what really separates them.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Flat white cup size | 170 to 225 ml |
| Latte cup size | 225 to 340 ml |
| Espresso in most flat whites | Double shot |
| Flat white milk-to-espresso ratio | 2 parts milk to one part espresso |
| Latte milk-to-espresso ratio | 3 parts milk to one part espresso |
These figures come from Kev’s Coffee Breakdown and The Manual. Cafés differ and sources disagree, so the figures can change: check the source before you rely on them.
What is a flat white?
A flat white is espresso with steamed milk and a thin layer of microfoam on top. According to Kev’s Coffee Breakdown, most are made with a double shot of espresso, which gives the drink a bold, concentrated flavour. A typical cup holds 170 to 225 ml.
The microfoam is the point of the drink. Trade Coffee describes it as milk with air added and then spun until it looks like wet paint. That texture lets the milk cut through the intensity of the espresso without masking its flavour.
The origin is disputed. Perfect Daily Grind says the drink has been around in Australia and New Zealand since the 1980s. Fine Dining Lovers reports one claim that Alan Preston, who opened a Sydney café in 1985, coined the term, and another that a barista named Fraser McInnes created it in Wellington in 1989.
What is a latte?
A latte is short for caffè latte, which Kev’s Coffee Breakdown says literally means “milk coffee” in Italian. A traditional version uses one or two shots of espresso, plenty of steamed milk and a small layer of light foam, just enough for latte art.
What you get depends on where you order. Perfect Daily Grind notes that in Italy a caffè latte is usually a very milky breakfast drink made with coffee from a stovetop espresso maker. Elsewhere the name generally means espresso topped with steamed milk and a layer of foamed milk.
Lattes come in bigger cups. Kev’s Coffee Breakdown gives a range of 225 to 340 ml, which is more volume than a typical flat white.
Some sources quote cup sizes in ounces instead. Trade Coffee says a latte cup holds eight to 12 ounces, with some lattes as large as 20 ounces.
All that milk makes the latte the mildest option, according to Trade Coffee, which suits anyone who wants a long, creamy drink with the espresso softened. Kev’s Coffee Breakdown describes the experience as smooth, mellow and just slightly sweet from the steamed milk, which is why it appeals to people easing into espresso.
The latte is also the more familiar order in some markets. The Manual says a latte is far more popular than the flat white in the U.S. and is consistently one of the most-ordered coffee drinks there.
Flat white vs latte: the key differences
The main divide is how much milk goes in the cup. Sources agree on the direction but not on exact figures, so treat every number as a typical range.
- Cup size: Kev’s Coffee Breakdown gives 170 to 225 ml for a flat white and 225 to 340 ml for a latte. Copenhagen Coffee Lab gives 150-180 ml and 240-300 ml.
- Milk ratio: The Manual puts a flat white at 2 parts milk to one part espresso and a latte at 3 parts. Trade Coffee says a latte often reaches five-or-six-parts milk for every one-part espresso.
- Espresso: a flat white is usually a double shot, while a latte can be a single or a double.
- Foam: a flat white has a velvety microfoam that is less airy, while a latte typically has more frothy foam.
- Taste: a flat white has a stronger espresso flavour, while a latte tastes creamier and milder.
Foam is where cafés disagree most. Trade Coffee quotes Barista Hustle’s Matt Perger saying that 99.99% of baristas in Australia steam milk for a flat white the same way they would for a latte. Ben Bicknell of Five Senses Coffee told Perfect Daily Grind that a latte historically had slightly more foam (~1 cm) than a flat white (~0.5 cm), but many cafés now serve both the same way.
Because foam is a weak guide, cup size is the better clue. Bicknell says an Australian latte is generally served in a 200 ml glass and a flat white in a 180 ml ceramic cup. Barista Jonathan Prestidge told the same publication that a flat white larger than 6 oz is a latte, and Trade Coffee adds that a 16oz drink is probably not a flat white.
Is a flat white stronger than a latte?
In taste, yes. Trade Coffee says a flat white tastes stronger because it uses much less milk, which makes the espresso flavour more prominent.
In caffeine, it depends on the shots. Trade Coffee says most cafés use a double shot for all of these drinks, so the caffeine is usually the same. Perfect Daily Grind says a flat white can be stronger in caffeine because of its two shots.
If caffeine matters to you, ask how many shots go into the drink rather than guessing from its name.
Which one should you order?
Your choice comes down to how much you want to taste the espresso. These lists follow the advice in Kev’s Coffee Breakdown.
Pick a flat white if
- You enjoy a stronger coffee flavour with less milk dilution.
- You like a smaller, punchier drink with a silky texture.
- You want a bold morning pick-me-up.
Pick a latte if
- You enjoy a milder, milkier flavour that softens the edge of espresso.
- You like a larger cup that lasts longer and feels more indulgent.
- You are newer to espresso drinks and want a gentler introduction.
If other menu names confuse you as well, the types of espresso drinks are worth a read next. For the practical side at the counter, read about how to order coffee at a cafe before your next visit.
Frequently asked questions
Is a flat white just a small latte?
Show answer
Not quite, but they are close. Trade Coffee says a flat white is smaller and stronger because it uses a higher ratio of espresso to milk, even though the milk is steamed in a similar way.
Which is better for someone new to espresso?
Show answer
Kev’s Coffee Breakdown suggests a latte if you want a gentler introduction. Perfect Daily Grind adds that a flat white is not objectively better; it is a matter of personal preference.
Where does the flat white come from?
Show answer
Australia and New Zealand both claim it, and Trade Coffee says it appeared in the 1980s as an alternative to foamy cappuccinos.
Can I get a flat white with plant milk?
Show answer
Yes. Perfect Daily Grind says plant-based alternatives tend to foam less easily than dairy, so they can work well with flat whites. Trade Coffee names whole milk as the standard choice and oat milk as the plant-based option that steams most like dairy.
