Flat white vs latte vs long black

Standing at the counter, staring at the board? Here’s the short version. A flat white is espresso with a little silky milk. A latte is the same idea with a lot more milk. A long black has no milk at all.

Drink	What it is	How it tastes
Flat white	Espresso (usually a double) with silky milk and a thin layer of microfoam, in a small cup	The coffee comes through clearly
Latte	Espresso with much more milk, usually in a bigger cup or a glass	Milder and milkier
Long black	Two shots of espresso poured over hot water	Black coffee, close to an Americano

A caffè latte in a tall glass in front, with a flat white in a white ceramic cup behind it, on a café table in Melbourne — **Latte** (front, in a glass) and **flat white** (back, in a cup) at a Melbourne café. Photo credit

Flat white vs latte

Same espresso, different amount of milk. That’s really it.

A flat white is small, about 160 ml, or 5.5 fl oz, with a thin layer of foam that sits flat. A typical American latte is a lot bigger, so the milk takes over and the coffee goes quiet.

Like tasting your coffee? Go the flat white. Want something long and gentle? The latte’s your mate.

Long black vs Americano

A long black is two shots of espresso poured over hot water. An Americano is basically the same drink with more water.

Plenty of US cafés don’t have long black on the board. Ask for an Americano “with less water” and you’ll be close.

A long black with thick golden crema in a green cup and saucer on a dark wooden café table — A **long black** at a Melbourne café. Photo credit

So what should you order?

First time? The flat white. It’s the drink we test every café on.
Like it milky and mild? A latte. No shame in it.
No milk? A long black.

Piccolo, Magic, “skinny”, “take away”? Our guide to ordering coffee like an Aussie decodes the rest of the board.

New words on the menu? The Aussie café glossary has brekkie to smashed avo covered. Then find an Aussie café near you and give it a crack.

Flat white vs latte vs long black