Flat White (New Zealanders have moved to East Dulwich?)

[Lee Scoresby]

I have the idea quite a number of New Zealanders have moved to East Dulwich and around.

Is that true? And if so, why here in particular?

Lee Scorseby, playing nicely

[SteveT]

I rather like the NZ in fact some of my best friends are Kiwi's.

They have moved in to ED to remind them of home,

with empty white sanded beaches,

loads of wide open spaces,

and trout in every stream.

[eucalyptus]

Can't speak for the others but I came to ED because i heard the coffee was strong and the sheep were plentiful and easy.

[Gimme]

What is a flat white? Some kind of coffee I know but what exactly is it and why does it cost much more than a latte?

[EDmummy]

When I left Oz many years (18) ago a flat white was a way to get the amazing independent coffee shops (of which there was only Italian) of not giving you a cappuccino. So, it consisted of coffee plus milk - poured - not heated and therefore flat! My other half has described the coffee that barristas are offering now as the Aussie/NZ flat white which to me sounds more like a latte. Am I wrong?

[Dorothy]

No coffee shop that I have ever been to in England can do the sort of white coffee you are given if you ask for a cafe con leche in Spain :(. Which is, I think, a double espresso with a little steamed milk added at the counter, not on the side. Somehow, to me, that is the perfect coffee.

Lattes and cappuccinos are white coffee with far too much milk.

Flat white purports to be the type of Spanish or Italian white coffee I lust after, but I think the milk has to be hot to achieve this.

[amyw]

Hello

no edmummy you are quite right.

a flat white is a bit like a latte only smaller and stronger. the milk is normally creamier too (smaller bubbles i think). you can get a nice one at Sacred cafe just off carnaby street, or Providores in Marylebone high st.

Dorothy, i used to go to a cafe that called the coffee you describe a macchiato. when i fancy it here i ask for a double espresso with a dollop of creamy milk, then i watch them make it so i can shout STOP!!!

but overall i try not to be too precious about coffee as cafes are so different. lots about a successful coffee is really getting what you were expecting. i think.

ps. kiwis are everywhere, i love it cos i like kiwis, and oh yeah, i am one.

[peckhamboy]

Dorothy - try a macchiato, a cortado or a piccolo. They're all pretty similar, but in theory have slightly different amounts of steamed milk. You can get a macchiato in most places but might need to go somewhere they take coffee seriously to get one of the other two. Or just give very precise instructions when you order it...

Sounds like a piccolo might be what you're after (about half as much milk as a flat white, I think).

[kevin.s.flee]

i'm a South African in ED and i like my coffee black ... just saying.

[angelchildsmum]

I was living in australia when I was at university and had a part time job in a coffee shop. The difference at that time - which may now have changed of course - was that a flat white was one third coffee, one third hot water and one third milk. while a latte was one third coffee and two thirds milk.

I remember this more clearly than most of the stuff I learnt at university.

[deedee75]

I dont drink coffee. But I'm a kiwi and I live in East Dulwich and I love it here.

[standswithfist]

i'm glad the kiwi's come here, i met one and now have his child - mini-standswithfist and she even has her own kiwi passport....

[Senor Chevalier]

So returning to the matter in hand - where in ED can I get a decent Flat White?

[Jeremy]

Surely eventually we're going to run out of ratios of water/coffee/milk to give stupid names to.

[The Minkey]

My idea of a perfect coffee is a carajillo - oh yes!

[Senor Chevalier]

Yeah - eventually. Some way to go yet I think though. Whilst I hate to credit Antipodean's with anything (at all) I was in Sydney last year and the FW's were awesome. I think my question was code for, where do I get a really nice coffee that isn't some sort of silly milkshake.

[david_carnell]

Not found a good one in ED yet - the best one I've had so far is from the Flat Cap Coffee Co. on Strutton Ground nr London Victoria.

I tried Blackbird's but not much cop I'm afraid.

[binary_star]

You can get a flat white in London in some branches of Starbucks, Costa and other chains - one of those (can't remember which) at Picadilly Circus for example. The Old Shoreditch Station also serves them, but I appreciate they are a bit far from East Dulwich :D

For places that don't have them at all (and if you like your coffee strong) a small 'wet' latte with a double shot of espresso would come quite close. It would probably still be a bit too milky, but it's normally served with only a bit of microfoam on top so at least there wont be any of the dry stuff.

Mmmm coffee...

[Pickle]

Starbucks at Sainsbury's Dog Kennel Hill do flat whites, they're not bad - they even put the traditional fern pattern on top. It makes this kiwi smile :) Now if only they'd serve lolly cake for me to have alongside it I'd be the happiest kiwi in East Dulwich!

[KirstyH]

Monmouth coffee at London Bridge do a proper flat white ie its not half a pint of coffee coloured warm milk. Could some of the kiwis perhaps open a wee cafe here - come to Nunhead - we have a fab greasy spoon, and of course the unsurpassable Frog on the Green Deli, but we could do with a down to earth place to caffeinate. I can lend my mid-1990s Atomic cookbook if that helps (I've still not actually mastered the cooking bit, but its lovely to slaver over).

[melbourne groover]

Ahh the Atomic Cafe...

[nylonmeals]

The new cafe at the South London Gallery, just along from Peckham Pulse, is staffed by Kiwis (I think) and they do a fabulous flat white.

http://www.southlondongallery.org/page/3009/Caf

Food is lovely too - worth the trek out of SE22 ;-)

[huncamunca]

nylonmeals Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The new cafe at the South London Gallery, just

> along from Peckham Pulse, is staffed by Kiwis (I

> think) and they do a fabulous flat white.

> http://www.southlondongallery.org/page/3009/Caf

> Food is lovely too - worth the trek out of SE22

> ;-)

I'm sure it is - but PECKHAM ?

Is a good coffee worth being shanked for ? is a nice biscotti an acceptable prelude to a drive by shooting by crack addled hoodies out joyriding and looking to sate their SE15 bloodlust ?

lets keep this ED please. we dont want any of that SE 15 stuff innit bludz.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Just let me know when you want to visit, hunca old bean, my boys will escort you. No visa required.

[sibo]

As of Saturday I'm an ED resident, and also happen to be a long time fan of the flat white.

On Sunday I had a pretty reasonable Flat White at Luca's Bakery & Cafe on LL. I'll certainly be visiting again for my flat white fix :)