The flat-out truth about trendy espresso drinks
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The flat white, an espresso-based coffee drink believed to have originated somewhere in Australia during the 1980s, is taking the coffee world by storm. But as this trendy menu item gathers steam, it’s worth taking a look at the flat white’s ‘siblings.’ The family of espresso-based beverages is better than you might think!
Flat White vs Latte
Some say the flat white is just a small latte. They’re partially right. Both are espresso-based drinks with milk.
A normal-sized flat white is smaller than a typical latte. A latte contains steamed milk poured over a single espresso shot, with a thin layer of milk foam on top. However, a flat white contains an even thinner layer of foam, which is sometimes called micro-foam. This is one difference between the flat white and the latte.
Normally, a flat white has a double-shot of espresso though this varies from café to café. A flat white at Starbucks, for example, contains a double-shot ristretto, which uses the same amount of coffee beans for two regular shots of espresso but compressed into a standard-sized single shot. This explains why a flat white tastes much stronger than a latte, as the coffee is much more concentrated.
Presentation also differs. In many shops a flat white is served in a glass, allowing the customer to see the micro-foam.
The word “Cortado” is likely to ring a bell with many in China, where it has been on the menu of Costa Coffee since early September. Deriving from the Spanish verb meaning “to cut,” the Cortado is often described as an espresso cut with a small amount of warm milk.
A typical Cortado serving is 130 to 180 milliliters. The drink is known for its rich and creamy texture, and its strong coffee taste. It contains less foam than a cappuccino, but more than a latte; and usually as much coffee (e.g. ristretto, cortissimo) as a flat white.
Unlike the flat white though, the Cortado is usually available in one size. You can also get it in a number of flavors here in Shanghai.
The Cortado is known by a variety of names around the world. The Gibraltar, an invention of the famed Blue Bottle Coffee in Los Angeles, is essentially a Cortado but with less milk and a higher concentration of coffee.
The Gibraltar is named after its container, a small glass (4.5oz, or 133ml) by the same name from Libbey Glass Company.
It is said that the drink was first made by Blue Bottle baristas for themselves behind the counter. With its small size and potent milk-cooled espresso, baristas could gulp it down quickly and then get back to work.
Others say though that the Gibraltar was created by the cafe’s founder, James Freeman.
Whichever story is true, at least espresso-based coffee fans have more options.
This is another popular Aussie drink. A piccolo latte is a ristretto shot topped with warm milk and served in a 100ml glass. Sometimes you could get a piccolo latte in a glass as small as 50ml. Some call it baby latte! If you find yourself struggling to finish regular-sized lattes, then a piccolo latte could solve this problem while still supplying you with enough caffeine to get you through the day.
So where can you try these drinks for yourself? Fortunately, it’s now easier than ever to try the world’s hottest new coffee drinks right in Shanghai.
Flat white is easy to find in Shanghai now. So we list a few coffee shops that you could find piccolo latte, cortado, and Gibraltar.
Griffin Coffee
(Piccolo Latte)
Address: 84, Yongkang Rd
Opening hours: 8am-8pm
Seesaw Coffee
(Piccolo Latte)
Address: B2, K11 Art Mall, 300 Huaihai Rd M.
Opening hours: 10am-10pm
Café del Volcan
(Piccolo latte, Gibraltar and Cortado currently available on demand)
Address: 80 Yongkang Rd
Tel: 156-1866-9291
Opening hours: 8am-8pm (Mon.-Fri.)
10am-8pm (Sat.-Sun.)
Costa
(Cortado, three flavors available)
Address: Outlet 101-111, 9 Pubei Rd
Tel: 6482-6126
Opening hours:
8am-10pm
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