Google doodle celebrates the Flat White Coffee, a popular beverage in Australia and New Zealand

Are you here or are you leaving?Today’s animated doodle celebrates the flat white, a popular coffee drink made by pouring steamed milk over a shot of espresso.

What is flat white coffee?

Flat White is a single or double shot of espresso mixed with microfoamed milk. This microfoam consists of aerated, frothed milk that creates a smooth, velvety texture and creamy taste. Precise pouring and steaming of the microfoam is essential to produce a matte white foam.

Many speculate that the drink was first served in Australia and New Zealand in his 1980s, and also appeared on menus in Sydney and Auckland around the same time. A flat white, traditionally served in a ceramic cup, consists of a shot of espresso, steamed milk, and a thin layer of microfoam. Flat whites are “flatter” than cappuccinos or lattes and are popular with coffee drinkers who want less foam. Baristas often demonstrate their skills and create beautiful works of art with their pouring techniques. This is a common sight in many cafes in Australia and New Zealand.

Coffee culture has changed a lot over the years, and with it the options for preparing a flat white. Once made with whole milk, it is now common for Australians and Kiwis to order it with plant-based milk. Oat milk is becoming increasingly popular.

What’s the difference between a Flat White vs. Latte?

Although lattes and flat white coffee are both made using espresso, they are very different from one another. Their size is the most noticeable difference. A 160–165 ml tulip cup works well for serving a flat white; this is a much smaller serving size than the glass used for lattes and cappuccinos.

This size difference affects the ratio of coffee to milk, which in turn affects the flavor as a whole. A flat white contains a far higher ratio of coffee to milk than a latte because of its more compact design. As a result, even though the same amount of espresso is used in both, the flat white and latte taste stronger. Conversely, lattes tend to dilute the espresso more.

Here’s a quick comparison of flat white with similar coffee drinks:

Feature	Flat White	Latte	Cappuccino
Coffee Base	Espresso	Espresso	Espresso
Milk Type	Steamed Milk	Steamed Milk	Steamed Milk
Milk Foam	Microfoam	More Foam	Thick Foam Layer
Milk Proportion	Less Milk	More Milk	More Milk
Coffee Taste Intensity	Stronger	Moderate	Moderate

Since then, flat white wine has spread around the world, becoming very popular and a staple food in many countries. Regardless of its origin, coffee lovers around the world agree that coffee is a popular morning or arvo (afternoon) pick-me-up.