What is a flat white?

Espresso with steamed milk and a thin layer of microfoam

How does a flat white usually differ from a latte?

Less milk and a thinner foam layer

Milk steamed into tiny, silky bubbles

Flat White Quiz: Australia and New Zealand's Coffee Rivalry

Coffee lovers on both sides of the Tasman Sea insist they invented the drink, and this flat white quiz weighs the evidence. Play 10 interactive questions on velvety microfoam, how it differs from a latte and a cappuccino, Alan Preston's Sydney claim, Fraser McInnes in Wellington, Starbucks bringing it to the US in 2015, ristretto shots and the long black.

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🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Drink
What is a flat white?
Rivalry
Which two countries claim the flat white?
Sydney
Who claims to have served a flat white in Sydney in 1985?
Wellington
Which barista claims a Wellington flat white from 1989?
Latte
How does a flat white usually differ from a latte?
Cappuccino
How does a cappuccino differ?
Foam
What is microfoam?
Starbucks
When did Starbucks add the flat white to its US menu?
Shot
Which espresso shot does Starbucks use in its flat white?
Black
What is a long black?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: What is a flat white?
Answer: Espresso with steamed milk and a thin layer of microfoam
It has a velvety texture.
Q2: Which two countries claim the flat white?
Answer: Australia and New Zealand
The debate is friendly but fierce.
Q3: Who claims to have served a flat white in Sydney in 1985?
Answer: Alan Preston
He said he added it to his cafe menu.
Q4: Which barista claims a Wellington flat white from 1989?
Answer: Fraser McInnes
He says it came from a failed cappuccino.
Q5: How does a flat white usually differ from a latte?
Answer: Less milk and a thinner foam layer
It tastes stronger.
Q6: How does a cappuccino differ?
Answer: It has a thicker layer of foam
A flat white's foam is flatter.
Q7: What is microfoam?
Answer: Milk steamed into tiny, silky bubbles
It allows latte art.
Q8: When did Starbucks add the flat white to its US menu?
Answer: 2015
It helped spread the drink worldwide.
Q9: Which espresso shot does Starbucks use in its flat white?
Answer: Ristretto
A ristretto is shorter and sweeter.
Q10: What is a long black?
Answer: Espresso poured over hot water
It is another Australian and New Zealand favorite.

Flat White Quiz – A Coffee Rivalry Across the Tasman

A flat white is espresso topped with steamed milk and a thin layer of velvety microfoam. It has less milk than a latte and flatter foam than a cappuccino, so the coffee flavor stands out.

Australia and New Zealand both claim it. Alan Preston says he served flat whites in Sydney in 1985, while Fraser McInnes says he created one in Wellington in 1989 after a cappuccino failed to foam.

Starbucks added the flat white to its US menu in 2015, using ristretto shots. The drink is now common worldwide, alongside the long black, espresso poured over hot water.

What This Quiz Teaches

Coffee lovers will enjoy these questions.

What a flat white is
How it compares to other drinks
Who claims it
How it spread
Which related drinks exist

Did You Know?

Flat whites are often served in ceramic cups.
Many baristas use a double shot.
Latte art is common on flat whites.
Melbourne is famous for its cafe culture.
Costa added the drink in the UK in 2010.