Difference Latte and Flat white

[Evelin]

Hi,

I work in a large café in a hospital in Perth which is run by volunteers. We have 2 fully automatic large Saeco machines, I can steam the milk by hand if I want to. The café is very busy as it serves as a canteen for the hospital staff.

Now, what would be the best option to achieve both because I want to stop telling customers, sorry we are not doing Latte.

thank you.

[beanflying]

Re: Difference Latte and Flat white

Welcome

Not much difference really a flat white is milk with little (5mm) to no foam while a Latte has 5-10mm of foam. Dont panic about the Latte art it doesnt improve the taste of the coffee

[askthecoffeeguy]

Re: Difference Latte and Flat white

I would do my milk differently for both - no stretch for the flat white but gentle stretching for the caffe latte to achieve a layered, textured effect

Who supplies the coffee?

Get them to come in and do some training - they should do so for free - afterall, you are a spokesperson for their product...

[JJJ]

Re: Difference Latte and Flat white

Now, what would be the best option to achieve both because I want to stop telling customers, sorry we are not doing Latte.

Serve it in a glass.

Glib answer, but the differences between the drinks are subtle and sadly the vast majority of coffee drinkers only identify the two drinks based on the vessel theyre served in.
Thats not the mention the gluttony of cafes who take the same drink, different cup approach.

If you truly want to be authentic youd need to subtly alter your milk texturing when making a latte.

[Evelin]

Re: Difference Latte and Flat white

I would do my milk differently for both - no stretch for the flat white but gentle stretching for the caffe latte to achieve a layered, textured effect

Who supplies the coffee?

Get them to come in and do some training - they should do so for free - afterall, you are a spokesperson for their product...

thanks for your answer. Coffee is supplied by 5Senses. I will try what you suggested. It is easier for me to go and see them, they are only a few roads away from us and Im the only one who is interested to offer the best coffee I possibly can produce.

[Evelin]

Re: Difference Latte and Flat white

Welcome  

Not much difference really a flat white is milk with little (5mm) to no foam while a Latte has 5-10mm of foam. Dont panic about the Latte art it doesnt improve the taste of the coffee

But is looks so pretty, to me it is if somebody made a little extra effort for me. At home i try with my little Silvia, but Im not really successful. Is there any coffee blend that works better than another?

[beanflying]

Re: Difference Latte and Flat white

I think as Moto mentioned above see about a little training with milk steaming will help and if you are close and using their beans 5sense is a good place to start. The Crema generally from Autos is not ideal for doing art on but it is not impossible.

There is also some cheats with Latte art insteadof free pouring with the jug to get the art I have seen some people using a thermometer or spoon handle for psuedo art Cant think of any references to this but I have seen it done.

[JJJ]

Re: Difference Latte and Flat white

But is looks so pretty, to me it is if somebody made a little extra effort for me. At home i try with my little Silvia, but Im not really successful.

Youll be hard pressed getting good enough crema, which is your canvas, from a fully auto machine.
Keep working with your Silvia at home though because if you persist youll learn techniques that will help you get something decent at work, despite the limitations of the fully automated machines.

Is there any coffee blend that works better than another?

There are, including a couple of superb choices from Andy here but given youre using 5 Senses, ask their advice when youre next there and im sure theyll give you a suggestion.

[Topher]

Re: Difference Latte and Flat white

Re: the difference between flat white and latte -

I usually explain it to customers who ask; that flat white is simply an australianism of latte (milk).  Therefore flatwhites and lattes are more or less the same thing, usually served in different vessels.  

However where I work at the moment our latte glasses are a bit bigger than the acf cups so thats another handy differentiation to make for anyone wanting to not confuse customers/themselves.   Also at home my latte glasses are 8oz and cups are 6oz, big difference. Latte = more milk.  Makes sense, makes everybody happy. (I know its not universal but it works for me.

Its funny that in the past I have had people get really bothered when I tell them that the drinks are the same except one is in a cup and one in a glass - as if they have been ripped off by cafes for years.  

[Evelin]

Re: Difference Latte and Flat white

Re: the difference between flat white and latte -

I usually explain it to customers who ask; that flat white is simply an australianism of latte (milk).  Therefore flatwhites and lattes are more or less the same thing, usually served in different vessels.  

Its funny that in the past I have had people get really bothered when I tell them that the drinks are the same except one is in a cup and one in a glass

I do the same but I dont want people to go away complaining about us. After all we have to earn money for the hospital and provide a service.

[Evelin]

Re: Difference Latte and Flat white

Thanks everybody for your help, you are a great bunch of people. All I know about coffee is from this forum. I do a great a froth at home with my Silvia thanks to all the advice I find on this site.

[Thundergod]

Re: Difference Latte and Flat white

I usually explain it to customers who ask; that flat white is simply an australianism of latte (milk).Therefore flatwhites and lattes are more or less the same thing, usually served in different vessels.

More or less the same but different if you care to explain.

Not much difference really a flat white is milk with little (5mm) to no foam while a Latte has 5-10mm of foam.

If you truly want to be authentic youd need to subtly alter your milk texturing when making a latte.

I prefer a flat white to a latte (dont care about the vessel) because I dont like the extra foam.

[NewToEspresso]

Re: Difference Latte and Flat white

How NOT to do a Flat White and a Latte:

1. Steam the blazes out of the milk with big bubbles add extra 50% in volume.
2. Use a big spoon or a butter knife and hold back the froth with the said cutlery until youre nearly done.
2a. For flat white, continue holding back the froth.
2b. For latte, use the said cutlery and scoop the soap sud froth into the cup until it fills up.
2c. *horror* for cappucino, scoop froth as per 2b except leave more room in the cup and do the scooping more furiously, followed by an equally furious sprinkling of choco powder to cover up the abomination...

When I approach a new cafe and contemplate whether I buy a coffee there or not, Ill usually have a peek at the "barista" making the coffee and the moment he picks up the butter knife, he might as well pick up a cleaver to chase me away.

[A_M]

Re: Difference Latte and Flat white

NewToEspresso

What is wrong with the process you described above ??

If 95% of trainers and franchises are training and or expecting said staff to make coffee in the manner you accurately described...
(PS: You forgot the tamping process and the never touch the grinder - it was set by the Coffee tec)

Why should the rest of us not follow what is an acceoted process and one that obviously makes money for them...

Must be good coffee  ;D

Dont be one of the sheep; step away from the mob and try something a little bit left field...... Question the accepted practices   ;D

Now as to a Flat white / Latte / Cappachino  :P    It comes down to one, two or 3 spoons of dishwasing froth and 1, 2 or 3 shakes of the coco tin  :  and a good one will blister the roof of ya mouth  :-X


PPS. I can name you hundreds of places that serve this stuff...

But only a few that offer something a bit left field... So I guess teh majority must be CORRECT :

[kotaro]

Re: Difference Latte and Flat white

There is also some cheats with Latte art insteadof free pouring with the jug to get the art I have seen some people using a thermometer or spoon handle for psuedo art Cant think of any references to this but I have seen it done.

Search YouTube for latte art etching theres plenty there