Flat White Vs (Cafe) Latte - Is There a Difference?

dasher86 on 29/06/2020 - 14:58
Last edited 01/07/2020 - 12:22

The more I seem to go out for a takeaway coffee these days the more I am disappointed that I am served the wrong coffee.
Baristas consistently serving me whatever they want and not the coffee I ordered.
This has probably happened the last 3/4 times and these are pretty well known cafes.

Yes - in the end they kind of taste the same and it is a coffee… but that's not the point.
Why can't they give me the drink that I ordered?
Should I be a Karen and tell them that they gave me the wrong coffee or just suck it up?

Don't get me started when they don't even fill the cup to the top…

Poll Options expired

  • 222
    I know the difference between a flat white and latte
  • 25
    They are basically the same drink
  • 22
    Stop being a 'Karen'
  • 12
    Bikies
Food & Grocery Cafe Coffee Espresso

Comments

  • happydude on 30/06/2020 - 21:33

    Order a Long Macchiato in Perth. You'll flip your lid.

  • tomlikesbeetroot on 30/06/2020 - 21:51

    It all comes down to the staff making it, I've known a few cafe workers who have confessed some stories such as:

    Cafe only uses 'hi-lo' milk, but doesn't tell the customers and takes orders for full cream/skim milk.
    Flat white/latte/cappucino all get made exactly the same way, just a bit of chocolate powder added to the cap.
    Order an extra shot and they will just run another shot through the same coffee, instead of new ground beans.

    • Realdee on 30/06/2020 - 22:15

      Mmm, it's pretty standard to use the same coffee to make a double shot (In fact, most coffee machines are setup to only make double shots). Unless they're referring to making a triple shot using the same coffee then yep that's gross af.

      • tomlikesbeetroot on 30/06/2020 - 23:21

        Unless they're referring to making a triple shot using the same coffee then yep that's gross af.

        Unfortunately this

        • Realdee on 01/07/2020 - 08:46

          :'(

  • Ceri on 30/06/2020 - 21:59

    Do you order with normal full cream milk or the likes of skim/soy/maca/almond milk etc?
    Depends on the milk brand, sometimes the latter one creates more foam and separates more.

    Flat white does have foam, altho generally it is pretty thin.
    I do find this issue in my go-to cafe as well. The barista changes frequently and not all of them are up to standard..
    Used to order from Ritual/Hey You though, so I can ask them for less froth usually. Doesn't always work still

    Fun fact: The real OG flat white is supposed to be served with 2 shots of coffee to make up for the less foam/extra milk.
    So keeping the coffee taste stronger. om par with the cap/latte counterpart

  • [Deactivated] on 30/06/2020 - 22:09

    Flat white has very minimal foam, it's a thin layer. Mostly milk.

    Latte has more foam to milk ratio.

    That's always been my understanding and expectation when I order a flat white vs. latte. In my opinion, if the foam:milk ratio is done right, the latte tastes a bit creamier because of the foam, granted that the foam is done right. Dry foam (macrofoam) is yuck. Good baristas perfect the microfoam.

  • lysp on 30/06/2020 - 23:20

    Coffee Chart: src

    https://i.imgur.com/ffPKNre.png

  • trapper on 30/06/2020 - 23:25

    If I don't get a cappuccino then I feel ripped off because it looks no different from an instant coffee haha

  • PhatChedda on 30/06/2020 - 23:30

    Latté is my go to

  • Deliver My Food on 01/07/2020 - 01:34

    I have cafe's You would be shocked how many out to hate and attack.
    I have had complaints handed to me that our coffee doesnt taste like some other place, People think all beans are the same.

    I usually explain the obvious nicely, then I wantch them bark up. after a little bit of trying to defuse, as the owner I have told people to F off out of my cafes.
    People are weird.

    The happy customers smile, enjoy and go home.
    But other can be haters that hunt you down on social and attack the crap out of you.

    Reviews are pointless as they never show the truth.

    Oh. Flats are your best bang for buck hands down with 1/4 extra milk.. for drinking anyway, nut milks down your coffee.

    Cup = 1 shot
    Mug = 2 shot
    x large = 3 shot
    If your not getting that, you are getting ripped. Many dont.

  • Lord Fart Bucket on 01/07/2020 - 06:35
    +2

    Start drinking long blacks.

    • LikeMike on 01/07/2020 - 23:37

      Once you go long black you can't go back.

  • vinch on 01/07/2020 - 08:49

    This is actually why some smaller coffee shops are better. If you find the right place AND the right person, you might fall in love with their creation to coffee. And then when you go else where, you cannot find the same taste. And just to answer if latte and flat white are different, yes.

  • dufflover on 01/07/2020 - 09:07

    As soon as a coffee place gets busy, they stop caring. And that's if they were even properly trained baristas in the first place.
    Most of the different types of coffees end up getting collapsed into maybe 3 or 4 levels of milk and foam. It just turns into the factory line type of deal where they froth up the pitcher of milk and kinda put all the foam of one into the cap, the liquidy into some other flat white order, etc.

    I find takeaway to be even worse for this - whatever foam that is there is pretty much instantly gone after a couple minutes of walking.

  • digitalbath on 01/07/2020 - 09:17
    -1

    Since you used the term “Karen”, you deserve the wrong coffee anyway.

  • Hangryuman on 01/07/2020 - 10:01

    'I am served the wrong coffee.'

    I note you didn't specify your ordered preference - so this may be just a provocation to discuss ?

    anyhoo - I learned something in Italy - after I walked into a cafe and asked for a latte - 'un latte per favore !'

    the two staff behind the counter looked at each other WTF - non-plussed

    a bit of back and forth - do you mean … ?

    they finally asked me if I'd like a 'caffe latte' - I said 'ah yes please - prego !'

    the penny dropped - 'latte' in Italian means 'milk' - so I had walked into a cafe and asked for 'a milk' - no descriptor - so WTF …another…bloody…tourist…

    'd'oh!'

    • dasher86 on 01/07/2020 - 10:38

      I note you didn't specify your ordered preference - so this may be just a provocation to discuss ?

      You are correct, it was to elicit a response.
      I did not want to provide details in the subject of what coffee i received and why it was wrong as to not impact the poll.

      • Hangryuman on 02/07/2020 - 10:38

        oh - the scientific method - double blind ?

        get affogato here !

        uh - isn't that what you ordered ?

  • AustriaBargain on 01/07/2020 - 11:50

    Just ask for extra foam. More foam means less calories anyway.

    • dasher86 on 01/07/2020 - 11:56

      next you will be telling me to get a skinny.

      • AustriaBargain on 01/07/2020 - 12:02

        It can't hurt for some people. You get used to the taste.

  • chriskq on 01/07/2020 - 12:54

    Not sure if anyone has said this…. whats with the same price for a long black vs flat white…. water vs milk has a big price difference.

    • MJ90s on 02/07/2020 - 13:29

      i've always wondered this myself. I take it that it might be because the long black still uses the espresso machine/grinder & barista (same cups & same water) so the cost needs to include maintenance of these facilities. However i have always had increased respect for cafes that make it a distinct difference of lowering the price of a long black compared to its milky counterparts as i've always felt shortchanged when im paying the same amount as everyone elses milkly coffees.

      To me, a long black should be the same price as an espresso.

      • dasher86 on 02/07/2020 - 14:04

        takes a little bit long to make than an espresso though.

  • TRANCE on 01/07/2020 - 12:59

    They never get my order right when I order a flat latte.

  • serpserpserp on 01/07/2020 - 14:40

    If you order a takeaway ordering a flat white or a latte usually just results in a single shot than hot milk "dump" in the cup. Kind of annoying that they go through the whole process just to do a big dump of milk in right at the end.

  • goodcopbadcop on 01/07/2020 - 17:00

    I'd say that you need to be explicit in your request when you order a coffee and watch what they do so that you get exactly what you want. Yes, too many times coffee makers will make your coffee the quickest way they can as they know that there are heaps of people behind you wanting a coffee as well - and they really don't care if it doesn't come up to the mark. Well it's sort of right - it's coffee with milk after all? I'd be saying if you want a flat white - which is just like the coffee you make at home with mostly water as the liquid and no foam with the milk poured in straight from the bottle - ask to have the milk poured straight from the milk bottle please as you are allergic to foamy milk…. they'll do it then! If you want a late - then they will use the heated milk used for a capaccino - and there is the possibility to have foam as well as it escapes as you pour - and so it will be half milk and the rest coffee expresso water based. If you don't want the foam - suggest you go for the flat white and ask for milk from the bottle not the foamy millk.

  • Leeroy Jenkins on 01/07/2020 - 17:12
    +1

    They are very similar. My understanding of the difference between a flat white and a latte:

    • Flat white has slightly lower milk-caffeine ratio, so it's slightly stronger
    • Flat white has slightly less foam and the foam is smoother

    The difference IMO is quite nuanced.

    Honestly given how different baristas make coffee, sometimes you can get exactly the same thing whether you order a latte and a flat white.

    Nothing to complain about.

  • Hahuh on 01/07/2020 - 17:18

    Gonna go a bit off topic here: My mother grew sensitive to milk coming from her last stay overseas.

    She refuses to drink milk based drinks. I made her an Americano and she liked that.

    Do cafes here make that drink?

    She pretty much drinks nescafe with no milk, unfiltered coffee (arab, greek, Turkish) etc.

    She also doesn't like a strong espresso and I don't she can customise her order for contingency sake as English isn't her native language.

    Her go to drink was a flat white but the milk triggers a unwanted response.

    I would appreciate if fellow ozbargainers could chime in.

    • dasher86 on 01/07/2020 - 17:20

      Yes you can request an Americano.

      Also a half strength long black / long black might do the trick as well.

      • Hahuh on 02/07/2020 - 12:05

        Ty

    • trickma on 01/07/2020 - 18:13

      Long black

      • Hahuh on 02/07/2020 - 12:06

        Thanks. This was too strong for her.

  • trickma on 01/07/2020 - 18:12

    Most specialty cafes these days are steaming milk the same way for all drinks.

  • Dreamcast on 01/07/2020 - 19:03

    I have a reverse scenario.

    My uncle went to order a coffee once (usually only drinks coffee at home) and when they asked what he'd like, he said a Nescafe. Lol, he refers to all coffee as Nescafe 😆

  • bulletbill88 on 02/07/2020 - 11:29
    +1

    Must be from Melbourne. It's coffee, drink it.

  • Brick Tamland on 02/07/2020 - 18:16

    I am no expert but I don't think I've seen a correct answer here yet. But basically a Cafe Latte will have a higher milk to espresso ratio.

    Edit: Opps My mistake Leeroy Jenkins is on the money with his comment

    My understanding based of my espresso recipe books states that:

    Cafe Latte: 40ml double shot espresso and 110 ml milk
    Flat white: 40ml double shot espresso and 180 ml milk

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