Flat White Virgin No More

My blogger buddy Sarah Jackson has been traveling around New Zealand and chronicling her tales for all of us to see (and read with mounting jealousy).  I have never actually met Sarah but we’ve formed a virtual friendship based on our shared love of cooking, absurd observations on life and bending the English language to suit our humorous needs.  I also implicitly trust Sarah’s palate (yes, I blindly trust a stranger’s taste buds…that’s the internets for you).  So when she waxed poetically about something called a flat white, I was intrigued.  Intrigued enough to search around the aforementioned internets for a local establishment that sold a close approximation of a flat white.

Oh wait…you don’t know what I’m talking about, do you? Don’t be ashamed…I didn’t know what the hell Sarah was talking about when I first saw her flat white blog post.  A flat white is an espresso based drink that originated in New Zealand and Australia.  Steamed milk (apparently pulled from the bottom of a steaming pitcher…no, I don’t know what that means either) is poured over either a single or a double shot of espresso and handed over to an unsuspecting person to drink.  In Australia, it’s customarily served over a single shot but the kiwis do it differently.  They want you to temporarily lose the ability to blink, so they pour the milk over TWO shots of espresso.  Unlike a latte, there isn’t a lot of foam in a flat white (I guess that’s why it’s called a FLAT white), so you really get the essence of the coffee.  No hiding behind milk or other fillers here.  The result is a smooth and lovely drink that jacks you up so high, your hands start to shake.  Or at least that’s what happened to me.

I found two places in DC that served a flat white: Cassatt’s Kiwi Cafe in Arlington and Filter Coffeehouse & Espresso Bar in Dupont Circle.  I decided to try Filter first because, well, it wasn’t in Virginia.  And their reviews online were all pretty positive.  So on a very hot morning, I headed down to Filter…to get a hot coffee drink.  No one ever said I was logical.

Filter is in the bottom of a rowhouse on a quiet street in Dupont Circle.  If it wasn’t for the sidewalk sign, I would have walked right past it.  When I walked in, I immediately noticed the small amount of seating and worried I wouldn’t have a place to relax over my first flat white.  I ordered a flat white and almond croissant and tentatively told the barista it was for here.  I stood at a little bar near the entrance as I waited for my order to be made.  Just as “flat white” was called out, not one but two small tables opened up.  I snapped one up eagerly and situated myself.  As anyone who has eaten with me knows, I almost immediately take a few pictures of what I’m about to consume.  This was no exception, especially since I’d promised to report back to Sarah about my first flat white experience.  But I quickly put away my camera (sorry I didn’t get more pictures of Filter itself) so I could concentrate on this pretty cup of coffee before me.

I took a tentative sip and my eyes flew open.  This was a STRONG cup of joe…it was one step away from mainlining coffee straight into my arteries.  But there was absolutely no bitterness to the drink.  It had a soft, lovely texture and a rich, complex flavor of coffee beans.  I didn’t have to wade through a mountain of foam before hitting upon the actual espresso.  It was right up front, waving at me and offering me a chair to sit a spell.  Before I knew it, I’d polished off the entire cup (granted, they come in a small tulip cup).  Which naturally meant I had to order another…and another.

Since I’d brought along a book, I decided to slow down a bit and just enjoy the coffee and the relaxed atmosphere of Filter.  Even with a limited amount of seating, the staff doesn’t try to rush out the customers.  The baristas are friendly and I noticed regulars were greeted warmly.  And did I mention the free wi-fi (no password necessary)? I lingered for a while, engrossed in my book and the velvety goodness of my flat whites (let’s not discuss how many I consumed…it’s just better that way).  As I was ordering a flat white to go (don’t judge), I started talking to the owner, Rasheed.  He opened filter back in March after having moved from New York with the intent to open a coffeehouse.  I asked him if he liked living in DC and he said he did, even if he had been hit by a car while riding his bike recently (ouch!!).  We talked about my flat white interest, New Zealand, Germans and their love of unique eyeglass frames and the fact that I may never blink again.  Not that I cared.  I’d found my new favorite coffee drink and a nice little coffeehouse to feed my addiction.  I just hope my heart slows down soon…