Starbucks Honors Coffee Artistry and Espresso Craft with New Flat White

Handcrafted beverage first available in Australia and UK Starbucks stores, today launches in US and Canada

Jan 6, 2015 - 10:57
Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ:SBUX) today introduced a new core espresso offering with the launch of the Flat White handcrafted espresso beverage, available at participating Starbucks® stores in the US and Canada. The Starbucks® Flat White is an espresso beverage made with two ristretto shots, combined with a thin layer of velvety steamed whole milk and finished with a latte art dot. A ristretto shot delivers a sweeter, more intense coffee flavor. Starbucks baristas perfectly steam milk into creamy micro-foam and carefully free pour to allow the espresso to rise to the top of the beverage for a bold coffee flavor with a sweeter finish. The Starbucks® Flat White joins the core menu line-up of espresso beverages like Caffé Americano, Caffé Latte, Cappuccino, Doppio Espresso and Espresso Macchiato.

Starbucks Flat White handcrafted beverage“Every Starbucks espresso beverage starts with sourcing the finest coffees from around the world, and by extending our offerings to include Flat White we are showcasing these quality ingredients in a full-flavored coffee beverage,” said Craig Russell, executive vice president, Global Coffee, Starbucks Coffee Company. “The craftsmanship that goes into each cup is highlighted in an exceptional way, and we are excited to share this experience with our customers.”

Starbucks® Flat White arrives in participating U.S. and Canada stores

Since originating in Australia in the 1980s, the Flat White became a coffeehouse staple in the UK and is now a budding favorite among coffee aficionados in the United States and Canada, with Starbucks customers in Australia enjoying the beverage in stores since 2009, and those in the UK since 2010.

“The growing sophistication of coffee drinkers around the world and in the United States makes the Flat White a perfect beverage for coffee lovers,” said Christine Barone, vice president, Espresso and Brewed, Starbucks Coffee Company. “As a global company, we have the opportunity to find inspiration from our cafes around the world and bring products to our customers that offer ways to further explore coffee like this handcrafted beverage.”

Customers can also enjoy Starbucks espresso beverages alongside the new Flat White, including:


  • Caffé Americano: Espresso with hot water poured over the top releasing a wonderfully rich cup of flavor

  • Caffe Latte: Rich, full-bodied espresso in steamed milk, lightly topped with foam

  • Cappuccino: Espresso with steamed milk, topped with a deep layer of foam

  • Doppio Espresso: Two shots of rich, full-bodied espresso

  • Espresso Macchiato: Rich, full-bodied espresso “marked” with a dollop of steamed milk