The Flat White (coffee) is getting downgraded

[Towcester]

Light hearted (kind of)

Always liked a short strong coffee with a bit of foamy milk on top (But I want to taste the coffee not just milk).

When the flat white arrived in the UK it was perfect for my tastes. Now, wherever I order one it seems to come like a latte...like drinking warm milk with a hint of coffee. Is it just charged at a premium rate now but served like a latte? Maybe they add two shots but they serve it in a big cup so it's 90% milk.

I know the cortado is the obvious alternative but when you go to some cafes they don't really know what a corrado is.

Macchiato is probably the one if it is served like in Italy but it seldom is.

@CornedBeef451 😂 I just came to say something similar. Only wanky expensive coffee shops do good flat whites.

I'm barista trained.
If I'm making a flat white, I use a small cup with a large espresso and topped with steamed milk and a very thin layer of micro foam.

A macchiato is essentially an espresso with foamed milk on top.

I've found some people ask for a particular type of coffee without really knowing what they're asking for.

Avoid National Trust and any park setting cafes if you are after a decent strong coffee! You’re right tho, flat whites should be strong with a small amount of milk, ie 6 oz cup and can be downed in a few sips. If the cafe is independent and sells their own coffee beans you’re usually ok, and have found some Italian/French chains eg Cote/Carluccios a good bet too.

That, but also more crucially, method. An Americano is espresso-based, a filter coffee is not. They are therefore different in taste and texture. I too miss being able to get a filter coffee anywhere.

I always have an Americano, though they can vary widely in strength. (Ask for an extra shot if in doubt)
But it's generally a full sized cup filled up to the top with black coffee. You then need to ask for some cold milk on the side, it usually comes in a very small pot and you can add as little as you want.

But I don't want an Americano. :(

The good news for filter coffee lovers is that filter is back - now rebranded as drip coffee.

@FuzzyPuffling I think you're just unlucky (in terms of coffee) where you live. This is the filter coffee section of the menu at one of my local coffee shops:

No but I wouldn't bother buying a coffee at most places. Generally tend to pick the kind of coffee shops where they roast their own beans and know how to make a good flat white.

But a flat white shouldn’t have foamy milk? It’s FLAT. No froth. I hate when I get a two tier drink.
Agree they’re getting worse though.

I always ask for flat white made short ie about 2/3 as much milk as usual.

Either that or I get a cortado.

Not a fan of milky long coffee drinks.

Coffee is either white or black. Can't be doing with frappe Machi whatsits.

Totally agree with the sentiment about the demise of the flat white. I usually order a Cortado now even if it isn’t on the menu. I really don’t like milky drinks and want to taste the coffee.

rare to find a good flat white these days

Cortado or if they don’t know what that is I ask for a double shot espresso in a medium cup with hot milk on the side so make it myself

Bread is either white or brown and anything else is fancy nonsense, right?

I just ask for an extra shot of coffee in my flat white. Without it, they're like slightly coffee flavoured hot milk.

@Beanbagtrap.

I don’t understand people in which everything has to be so black and white. Do you not get bored?

A bit of a first world issue but I am of your coffee tribe myself!

I ask for a double espresso, and then ask for separate hot milk, combine it myself = lateral thinking :-)

Pret and Leon do, not often seen in independents though.

Yes, this! A local inde to me had new sign up with what was brewed in the drip. I gave away my age by saying, oh you’ve got filter on🤣 Then sure enough, I spotted it at another place this week- highlighted like it’s a new concept!

You're missing out on a whole world of caffeine wonderfulness.
I mean proper coffee. Long blacks, proper flat whites, a true cappuccino.

Frappuccino can get in the bin - as the famous tiktoker said, that's not coffee that's dessert.

I live in Sydney where we are all obsessed with coffee.
When we came back 8 years ago a flat white was the closest we could get to decent coffee, it was a new concept and the big chains were using properly measured paper pods. They were ok enough to get us through!
I came back in May and I didn’t have a decent coffee for 3 weeks with the exception on an amazing independent cafe in Bold St in Liverpool.
Drip coffee has made a massive comeback here in the last year, but I’m pretty sure that will not translate well over there either.

The café I work in sells filter coffee! We have 2 carafes on the go constantly all day, it's very popular!
And you get free top ups 😁

Seek out the Aus/NZ run places because they know what they're about. If I go somewhere new or dubious I play dum and ask for "two shots and about the same amount of hot milk on top, now what do you call that here?" with a smile of course. Generally either a cortado or flat white and I'm happy. Doesn't always work if it's an automatic dispenser but then I know it's going to be a warm brown drink that will keep me going rather than some delicious coffee revaluation.

If you ever want to upset yourself, seek out 3 in 1. Evil in a packet

Do Greggs do coconut milk?