“Google Doodle Celebrates ‘Flat White’: A Historical Journey from Origins to Oxford Recognition in 2024”

In honour of the term “Flat White” being added to the Oxford Dictionary, Google unveiled a doodle on Monday. ‘Celebrating the Flat White’ was the title of this doodle, which altered the homepage logos of the major search engines.

Despite intense debate about the origin of Flat White coffee, it is claimed that its inception dates back to the 1980s in both Australia and New Zealand.

Google Doodle celebrated the espresso-based beverage ‘Flat White’ on Monday, recognized to have originated in Australia and New Zealand. March 11 marks the date when ‘Flat White’ was officially included in the Oxford English Dictionary in 2011.

While there’s been heated debate about the origins of Flat White coffee, both Australia and New Zealand claim to have invented this beverage in the 1980s. The exact origin remains unclear, but indications suggest that the smooth white color likely developed independently in both countries.

Google Doodles are easy and temporary changes in the Google logo to honor influential figures, local and global events like holidays, significant dates, and impactful personalities in society.

Doodles come in various forms like illustrations, animations, slideshows, videos, and games, offering users diverse and engaging experiences.

Flat White, a favored coffee drink made with steamed milk over a shot of espresso, emerged on menus in Sydney and Auckland in the 1980s.

Quoting a food historian, a report from The Washington Post suggested that the term likely stemmed from Australian coffee naming traditions. In this context, a standard espresso is called a “short black,” a larger version diluted with hot water is termed a “long black,” and coffee with extra milk is dubbed a “flat white.”

How it’s made?
Micro-foamed milk, steamed with single or double shots of espresso, creates a smooth white texture. This micro-foam, created by aerating steamed milk, enhances the beverage’s silky texture and creamy flavor.

Careful steaming and pouring techniques are necessary for proper consistency and texture, crucial in preparing this beverage.

While both Flat White coffee and Latte are espresso-based drinks, they differ in their milk-to-coffee ratio. A notable contrast lies in their serving sizes.

This variation affects the coffee-to-milk ratio, subsequently influencing the flavor profile. A Flat White has a higher coffee-to-milk ratio than a Latte because of its compact design. As a result, despite using similar amounts of espresso, the flavor of a Flat White with its smooth white espresso is more intense. On the other hand, Lattes dilute the espresso more.

A preferred cup size for a flat white is typically a 160-165 milliliter tulip cup, which is smaller than the glasses commonly used for Lattes and Cappuccinos.