Starbucks Now Offers Flat White, Artisanal Arguments Ensue - by Mike McKim
"Specialty coffee’s newest artisanal headache: Starbucks’ Flat White." - Mike McKim
If you’ve walked into a coffee shop in the last ten years, you’ve no doubt been inundated with coffee beverage terminology. Cortado. Macchiato. Cappuccino. Latte. Etc. And, to your chagrin, you've probably noticed that any given name will actually mean something different depending on what coffee shop you're visiting.
Take a Cappuccino for example. A Cappuccino at Starbucks is different than a Cappuccino at your favorite local coffee shop. And while many coffee nerds will argue that there are standard, traditional definitions for said beverages, these same people (who are probably working at your local coffee shop) will often serve these drinks with some type of caveat. "A traditional Cappuccino is this," they'll belabor. "But our Cappuccinos are made differently because," then they'll explain how this particular Cappuccino is different than others because of some slight variation in preparation detail. This differentiating naming trend can be nauseating and intimidating.
Enter specialty coffee’s newest artisanal headache: Starbucks’ Flat White. Depending on where you get your information, a Flat White sounds hauntingly similar to a Cappuccino. Or a Latte. Or a Macchiato. Or even, dammit, a Cortado. The truth of the matter is all these beverages are simply espresso and milk: the only two fundamental ingredients. According to Starbucks' website, a Flat White is an "expertly steamed whole milk poured over two shots of espresso, topped with microfoam swirled into beautiful latte art." (Pictured is Starbuck's version of said beautiful Flat White latte art, btw.)
I only mention this coffee-beverage-naming-cluster-cuss because it more soundly punctuates our declaration at Cuvee to eliminate the confusion around good coffee and present you excellent beverages in a non-threatening, come-as-you-are environment. Cuvee Coffee Bar provides you with espresso and milk. That's it. A simple process to facilitate a great experience.
Cheers, Mike
