One-shot Wonders.

[Javaphile]

It is flatter, as the post you quoted states, it has less foam.


Java "Flat what?" phile

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Ah ok, yeah most cafes I've been to serve single shots for flat whites, same as every cafe I've worked at, but it's hard as every place has their own standard for each drink and what that entails.. tricky business!Ah the never-ending curious debate! Hehe, yeah I just don't know anymore. As far as I'm aware latte is always in a glass, single shot, milk steamed with about 1-1.5cm microfoam. Flat white usually ceramic cup (cappuccino-style cup?), single (sometimes two) shot, less microfoam, about 5mm (enough to still do art). Overall doesn't seem too much different tastewise... although cup size difference changes the ratio and therefore perceived strength. For milk drinks I usually order a strong latte (two shots), one shot just never seems to cut through much, and I quite like the good balance of how much the milk is textured (compared to a capp), and the extra shot makes it a really decent tasty ratio.

Every cafe will have their own standard, which is a big reason alot of people will actually frequent certain cafes (simply because they make the drink how they prefer it).

Yeh, but surely the defining attribute of a flat white is that it's 'flat'? Or at least 'flatter' than a latte.

[simonsk8r]

A flat white should be a double shot standard, otherwise it is just a latte in a different cup.

Can't abide places that serve a single shot flat white.

Ah ok, yeah most cafes I've been to serve single shots for flat whites, same as every cafe I've worked at, but it's hard as every place has their own standard for each drink and what that entails.. tricky business!

So, what then is a 'single shot'? And isn't there more distinction between a latté and a flat white other than the cup or the shot size?

Ah the never-ending curious debate! Hehe, yeah I just don't know anymore. As far as I'm aware latte is always in a glass, single shot, milk steamed with about 1-1.5cm microfoam. Flat white usually ceramic cup (cappuccino-style cup?), single (sometimes two) shot, less microfoam, about 5mm (enough to still do art). Overall doesn't seem too much different tastewise... although cup size difference changes the ratio and therefore perceived strength. For milk drinks I usually order a strong latte (two shots), one shot just never seems to cut through much, and I quite like the good balance of how much the milk is textured (compared to a capp), and the extra shot makes it a really decent tasty ratio.

Every cafe will have their own standard, which is a big reason alot of people will actually frequent certain cafes (simply because they make the drink how they prefer it).

[chokkidog]

A flat white should be a double shot standard, otherwise it is just a latte in a different cup.

Can't abide places that serve a single shot flat white.

So, what then is a 'single shot'? And isn't there more distinction between a latté and a flat white other than the cup or the shot size?

[woodhouse]

A flat white should be a double shot standard, otherwise it is just a latte in a different cup.

Can't abide places that serve a single shot flat white.

depends which place you're getting it from. the trendier places tend to do their flatties in 5oz cups, as opposed to 6.5ish for their lattes.

[HomeBrew]

... if a standard latte, flat white etc is only one shot, ...

A flat white should be a double shot standard, otherwise it is just a latte in a different cup.

Can't abide places that serve a single shot flat white.

[simonsk8r]

Hehe yeah it makes sense to do a double in a long black, and most places I know do that.

Although if a standard latte, flat white etc is only one shot, I guess it may also make sense for some cafes to do a single shot into a long black.. although the long black with one shot is heavily diluted with the water, whereas the others at least have milk..

Interesting!

[Rocky]

The only coffee I order as a single shot is a Piccolo Latte, because it is usually my second or third coffee and I am starting to bounce off the ceiling.
The other day the same place I am talking about served me a Piccolo that had to be a double shot.
They have probably tagged me as that old guy who orders the double-shot Long-black and so obviously wants two shots in everything.
I give up.

[Jackster]

Places i have looked at are a single in a small and a double in a med or large.
I have ordered a espresso and they have given me the single and the spare single as well- said is was giong in the drip tray anyway.
I just order a double now, or the extra shot so to get the double and to save it getting wasted.

[WhatEverBeansNecessary]

Thats weird! I mean they are wasting the coffee anyway - might as well give it to the customer. Unless they normally pour a double into two glasses and on the odd ocasion they only have one on the go just let one go to the drain.

[Agrajag]

I'd be surprised if thats standard for most cafe's. Most cafe's I've been to they have their grinders dialed in for doubles and maybe a spare for decaf.
You would need to fine up the grind a little to go from a 'regular' double to a single.

I'm fairly certain they use the double but let one go into the drip tray. I'm pretty sure they charge more for a double too (!) Maybe it's just a Sydney thing but all the places I go regularly definitely give me a single volume shot

[WhatEverBeansNecessary]

I'd be surprised if thats standard for most cafe's. Most cafe's I've been to they have their grinders dialed in for doubles and maybe a spare for decaf.
You would need to fine up the grind a little to go from a 'regular' double to a single.

[Agrajag]

I think the exception would have to be an espresso? I don't think I've ever been given a double shot when I just ask for an espresso, unless I specifically say double.

[Rocky]

Yeah, it 'throws' me a bit.
When I had my first coffee from this particular cafe I thought it was terrible - really like dishwater - and it was only in retrospect that I realised that they must have put only one shot in it.
A couple of weeks later, I went back and asked for a "double-shot" Long-black and it was just fine.

[WhatEverBeansNecessary]

I think double shot is pretty much a standard for cafe's these days. Most punters would probably drink a single and think it was too weak or the coffee wasn't made properly.

Interesting that your local would specifically do a long black as a single and maybe nothing else unless asked for?