Culture

World in a dish

A steep rise

Flat whites are Australia's greatest culinary export, even better than Vegemite.

On any given day Shoreditch, a trendy part of London's East End, is a flurry of hipsters clutching artfully designed takeaway cups.

Between April 11th and 14th some 30,000 caffeine-keen people will descend on the area for the London Coffee Festival.

Many visitors will be ordering flat whites.

The drink has rapidly gained popularity among those who want to taste their beans rather than temper them.

Flat whites, which originated in Australia and New Zealand in the 1980s, are powerful yet smooth.

Two shots of espresso are combined with between 140 and 180 millilitres of gently steamed milk and crowned with a sliver of "microfoam".