Short answer
Choose a latte if you want a larger, milkier, softer drink, and a flat white if you want a smaller cup with a stronger coffee taste and silkier milk. Both start with espresso, and Cafe Episode lists both, the Flat White in an 8 oz cup.
Latte or flat white comes down to size and strength: a latte is a larger, milkier drink with a light layer of foam, while a flat white is a smaller cup with less milk, a stronger coffee flavour and a smoother, silkier texture. Both are made with espresso and steamed milk.
What is the difference between a latte and a flat white?
A latte has more steamed milk and a thin cap of foam, while a flat white has less milk and a very fine, velvety microfoam that blends into the espresso. The result is a milder taste in the latte and a more coffee-forward taste in the flat white.
The coffee is the same in both: espresso, usually a double shot. The differences are the cup size, the amount of milk and the texture of the foam. A flat white keeps the coffee at the centre, and a latte spreads it across more milk.
How do the drinks compare side by side?
The table below shows the typical differences, though exact sizes and recipes vary by cafe.
| Latte | Flat white | |
|---|---|---|
| Cup size | Larger, about 240 to 350 ml | Smaller, about 150 to 180 ml |
| Milk | More | Less |
| Foam | Thin layer, light | Very thin microfoam, velvety |
| Coffee taste | Mild, milky | Stronger, more pronounced |
| Usual serving | Hot or iced | Mostly hot |
Because a flat white is smaller, its ratio of coffee to milk is higher, which is why it tastes stronger even if the espresso is the same. That is the main reason people who dislike a milky drink prefer it.
What is a latte?
A latte, short for caffe latte, is espresso with a large amount of steamed milk and a thin layer of foam on top. The word means “milk coffee” in Italian.
Lattes are served in tall glasses or wide cups and can be flavoured with syrups such as vanilla or caramel. Latte art, the pattern poured into the surface, is easiest on this drink because the milk is smooth and plentiful. Lattes are also served iced, over ice and cold milk, which is common in warm weather.
What is a flat white?
A flat white is a small espresso drink topped with steamed milk that has been textured into a smooth, glossy microfoam, with almost no visible foam on top. It is usually served in a ceramic cup of about 150 to 180 ml.
The flat white is usually traced to Australia and New Zealand, where both countries claim to have invented it in the 1980s, and nobody has settled that dispute. It reached North American cafes in the 2000s and has become a standard menu item. The drink is built on a double shot, so the coffee is not diluted much.
Which one is stronger?
A flat white tastes stronger, because the same coffee is mixed with less milk. In terms of caffeine they can be identical, since caffeine depends on the number of espresso shots, not the amount of milk.
If a cafe makes a latte with one shot and a flat white with two, the flat white will be stronger in both taste and caffeine. Ask how many shots are in each drink if it matters to you, and anyone who limits caffeine for medical reasons should confirm the shot count with the cafe.
Which should you choose?
Choose a latte if you want a large, gentle drink to sip slowly, and a flat white if you want a smaller, stronger and silkier coffee.
- You like milky, mild coffee: latte.
- You want to taste the espresso: flat white.
- You want flavoured syrups or an iced drink: latte.
- You want a short drink that you can finish quickly: flat white.
- You are new to coffee: latte, because it is easier on the palate.
If you cannot decide, order the one you have not tried. The two drinks use the same ingredients, so the difference will be clear after a single cup.
How do Cafe Episode’s latte and flat white compare?
Cafe Episode lists both drinks. On Uber Eats, read 14 November 2026, the Latte is priced at $6.95 and the Flat White at $5.95, and the menu describes the Flat White as a small 8 oz milk coffee.
The Latte is described as espresso with steamed milk, and the cafe also lists an Iced Latte (coffee) at $6.95 and a Vanilla Latte at $7.50 for people who want something sweeter. For a stronger, smaller drink, the 8 oz Flat White is the one to pick. Prices are the ones in the Uber Eats app and may change, so check the menu page and the hours and location page before you go. This guide is independent and takes no orders.
Can you get a latte or flat white with plant milk?
Yes, most cafes offer plant milks such as oat, soy or almond for either drink, sometimes for an extra charge. Oat milk is the most popular because it steams smoothly and has a mild taste.
Texture differs by milk. Oat and soy produce a good foam, while some almond milks are thinner. For a flat white, where the microfoam is the whole point, oat is usually the easiest plant milk to get right. Ask the cafe which plant milks it offers, since the menu does not always list them.
How does the milk differ between a latte and a flat white?
The milk in a latte is steamed to a light, airy foam, while the milk in a flat white is textured into a dense, glossy microfoam with tiny, even bubbles. This is why a flat white feels silkier on the tongue.
Microfoam forms when the steam wand is held just under the surface for a short time, then deeper to heat and swirl the milk. A latte usually gets a little more air, which makes the foam thicker and lighter on top. In both drinks the milk should be heated to a warm, drinkable temperature, not boiled, because overheated milk loses sweetness and tastes flat. Barista skill shows most in the flat white, since there is little foam to hide behind.
At home, a hand frother makes latte-style foam easily. For a flat-white texture, heat the milk, froth briefly, then tap the jug on the counter and swirl it to break up large bubbles before pouring.
Common questions
Does a flat white have more caffeine than a latte?
Not necessarily. Caffeine depends on how many espresso shots go into the cup, not the drink name. Many cafes use a double shot in both, so the caffeine can be the same even though the flat white tastes stronger.
Is a flat white just a small latte?
Close, but not exactly. A flat white uses less milk and a thinner layer of finely textured microfoam, so the coffee stands out more. A small latte would still have more foam and a milder taste.
Which is better with oat milk?
Both work. Oat milk textures well for either drink, though a flat white shows off the coffee more and a latte hides it a little. Choose by how strong you like the coffee, not by the milk.
Which drink is best iced?
A latte is the usual choice iced, because the extra milk keeps it refreshing. A flat white is traditionally served hot, since its charm is the velvety texture of steamed milk.
Where did the flat white come from?
The flat white is usually linked to Australia and New Zealand, and both countries claim it. The dispute has not been settled, but the drink spread to cafes worldwide from the 2000s.
Before you go, check the Cafe Episode guide for the current hours and the menu.
This article is general information from an independent guide, not from Cafe Episode itself. For the store’s current details see hours and location.