UK coffee shop panned for its weird spin on NZ's flat white

  • 13/03/2018
Costa Coffee launched the 'Flat White Family' range which includes something called a 'flat black'.
Costa Coffee launched the 'Flat White Family' range which includes something called a 'flat black'. Photo credit: Costa

The newest item on a UK coffee shop chain's menu has attracted widespread ridicule.

Costa Coffee, a popular chain in Britain, recently launched a selection of new drinks called the 'Flat White Family', which are supposed to be innovative new versions on the much-loved flat white - a New Zealand invention.

One of the recent additions is a 'flat black', which is essentially black coffee in a flat white cup.

The beverage has attracted widespread ridicule online, with many accusing Costa of trying to charge more for plain black coffee by giving it a new name.

Costa responded to the criticism on Twitter, claiming that the 'flat black' is stronger and smoother than something like an Americano. 

Other drinks in the 'Flat White Family' range include the 'flat mocha', a chocolate-flavoured coffee with no foam, and the dairy-free 'coconut flat white' which uses coconut milk.

A traditional flat white consists of steamed milk and a single or double-shot of espresso, and unlike a latte is served without foam.

It is very common in Australia and New Zealand, and has in recent years become more popular in the UK and the US.

Newshub.