The flat white is a drink is a five- to six-ounce beverage with a double shot of espresso with lightly aerated milk that has the appearance of velvet rather than foam.

The  beverage was very dry on top, and coffee drinkers were requesting a smoother-textured “flat milk drink,” and thus was born the flat white. So, it generally all boils down to the topping, with the flat white’s being much smoother, wetter and thinner than a cappuccino’s.

According to a Starbucks spokesperson, its flat white “is made with two ristretto shots, topped with a thin layer of velvety steamed whole milk and finished with a latte art dot. Starbucks baristas perfectly steam milk into creamy micro-foam and carefully free pour to allow the espresso to rise to the top of the beverage for a bold coffee flavor with a sweeter finish.”

Bold ristretto shots of espresso get the perfect amount of steamed whole milk to create a not too strong, not too creamy, just right flavor.