Velvety Flat White

My mornings do not begin without a perfectly made flat white. I love this espresso-based drink so much and have been making it for myself for years now. I may stray away from it from time to time but I always come back. Why? So many reasons!

• The way the milk is steamed creates a velvety smooth texture for the entire beverage
• The ratio of milk to espresso is absolutely perfect for me. I don't really like lattes because I find them to be too milky. A flat white strikes the perfect balance.
• It's small enough to drink in a reasonable period of time. I'm a slow coffee drinker so being able to finish a flat white before it gets cold is a great advantage!

What is a flat white? I like to think of it as a concentrated latte! It has less milk than a latte and so the coffee flavour shines through more prominently. Also, the milk is steamed in a way that creates a silky texture that is thinner than a latte and cappuccino. It was created in Australia and I'm so glad I have it in my life today - my mornings wouldn't be the same without my trusty drink in hand :).

Try out the recipe below and let me know how you like it!

Ingredients:

• 125mL of milk of choice (more or less based on preference)
• Double shot of your favourite espresso or concentrated Aeropress*

Preparation:

1. Pull a double shot of espresso.
2. While the espresso is pulling, steam the milk to approximately 60 degrees Celsius, wet-foam style. Use gentle motions to try and get a wet micro-foam.
3. Add the espresso to your favourite mug.
4. Gently swirl the steamed milk and then pour it into your mug slowly over the espresso. Here's your chance to try some latte art if you want to practice!

*If you don't have an espresso machine you can use an Aeropress and make a concentrated shot of coffee using 18g of medium-fine grind coffee and 40-50mL of hot water. Use the inverted method for this recipe.