How much caffeine is in Australian Flat White Espresso?

Each 5.5 oz (165ml) serving contains approximately 130 mg of caffeine. For comparison, a standard 8 oz cup of brewed drip coffee contains around 95 mg. Actual content varies with dose, water temperature, and contact time.

What temperature should I use for Australian Flat White Espresso?

Target 93°C (200°F). Below this range the cup tends toward sourness and thinness from under-extraction; above it, bitterness rises faster than sweetness.

How long should Australian Flat White Espresso be extracted?

Extract for 22–25 seconds extraction using Espresso Machine + Milk Steam Wand, at a ratio of 18g in → 28g out (ristretto ratio), prepared at Ultra-Fine Espresso (finer than latte). Time and ratio move together: a heavier dose generally wants a shorter contact time.

Why does my Australian Flat White Espresso taste bitter?

Bitterness almost always indicates over-extraction. Shorten the contact time, lower the water temperature slightly, or grind coarser. Change one variable at a time so you can tell which one was responsible.

Who should avoid Australian Flat White Espresso?

At 130mg caffeine for a 165ml drink, it has a very high caffeine density — 1–2 cups maximum daily. Whole milk adds ~80 kcal per serving; opt for oat milk for lower-calorie version. The double ristretto base is highly acidic — not ideal for acid-reflux sufferers without food. This is general educational information, not medical advice — consult a qualified healthcare professional about your own circumstances.

Reviewed Aug 2026

Specialty Coffee · Melbourne & Sydney, Australia

Australian Flat White Espresso

Name: How to Brew Australian Flat White Espresso
Prep time: 3 min
Cook time: 1 min
Total time: 1 min
Yield: 5.5 oz (165ml)
Cuisine: Melbourne & Sydney, Australia
Ingredients: Base and proportions as specified: 18g in → 28g out (ristretto ratio); Whole milk, or an oat milk formulated for steaming; Filtered water for the base

Flat White

The espresso drink that conquered the world: a double ristretto drowned in velvety microfoam — stronger than a latte, silkier than a cappuccino.

Flat White is a concentrated espresso beverage made with a smaller milk volume than a latte but poured over a double ristretto shot.

Sensory profile

Comparative scale

sweetnessHigh

acidityModerate

bitternessModerate

bodyVery high

aromaVery high

You should taste

How it unfolds

Aroma → Palate → Finish

AromaBefore and as you sip

Steamed Milk Sweetness

pronounced aroma

PalateWhile it is in the mouth

clear sweetness

FinishAfter you swallow

Dark Cocoa Finish

pronounced body

Where it sits

Stronger than 338 of the 345 other drinks in the catalogue, and weaker than 7.

That is 130 mg in a 5.5 oz (165ml) serving — a concentration of 78.8 mg per 100 ml. The scale above ranks whole servings, and servings differ in size, so a larger drink can sit further right while being weaker cup for cup.

CupCura editorial estimate. No public food database has measured this preparation, so this figure is our own and is not independently sourced.

What people say

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Gear for this drink

Fellow Ode Brew Grinder Gen 2

Direct-drive motor with 64mm stainless steel flat burrs engineered specifically for pour-over, drip, and cold brew clarity.

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Australian Flat White Espresso

Sensory profile

You should taste

How it unfolds

Where it sits

What people say

Fellow Ode Brew Grinder Gen 2

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