You might know John Cena for his 16 world championships in WWE or his starring roles in Hollywood, but he’s also a serious coffee connoisseur. For Cena, a coffee shop’s true quality isn’t found in its fancy seasonal drinks, but in its execution of a classic: the flat white.

He uses this specific drink as a universal test to determine if a cafe is genuinely “coffee first” or just a place that serves coffee as an afterthought.

Flat White vs. Latte vs. Cappuccino

Before diving into Cena‘s critique, it helps to know what a flat white is supposed to be. While all three drinks are espresso-based with steamed milk, the difference is in the texture of the milk and the ratio of ingredients.

• A cappuccino has a thick, airy layer of foam on top of a smaller amount of steamed milk. Think one-third espresso, one-third steamed milk, and one-third foam.
• A latte has much more steamed milk and only a very thin layer of foam on top, making it a milkier, milder drink.
• A flat white strikes a balance. It traditionally uses a double shot of espresso (or a stronger ristretto shot) with steamed milk that has a very thin, velvety layer of microfoam. This creates a stronger coffee flavor than a latte but a smoother, less foamy texture than a cappuccino. As Cena explains, it should be served in a smaller cup, typically around 5-6 ounces.

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John Cena‘s Flat White Test

In a video for Bon Appetit, John Cena was presented with what was described as an “American version of a flat white,” and he immediately knew it was wrong. He explains why he orders the drink and what this particular coffee tells him about the cafe that made it.

John Cena: Here we have an American version of a flat white. I can tell ’cause it’s too big and there’s too much milk, and the milk’s not steamed. The reason I love a flat white is ’cause coffee is a universal language throughout the world. So, I will judge a place based on its flat white. Some people misinterpret flat white, but that’s also how I can be like, “Oh, this place isn’t a real coffee shop,” or “This isn’t coffee first.” A lot of places are food first, coffee is an accoutrement.

Can I share with you that this is from the Condé Nast cafe?

John Cena: It’s obvious that they are not coffee first. Because it would be in a smaller cup, six ounces or less, probably five, six. This is more to the eight side. Think of the difference or like the in-between of a cappuccino, a foamless cappuccino or a cortado, and a latte. The best flat whites I’ve had are in Australia. Melbourne, Australia. They are coffee-first people.

The term flat white, everyone has a different interpretation of it, which is why I order a flat white instead of a latte, because I wanna see what I’m served. Now I’m gonna take a sip of this. It looks a little, a little too milk-forward. I would say that this is a shot of espresso with 8 ounces of milk. Here’s another catch with the flat white: it’s a double shot. So you get a little more strong coffee taste and a little less milk, which is why I like that 6 ounces, ’cause you should see a cappuccino cup in my hand, it disappears. And a cappuccino is like one sip.

@bonappetitmag

When it comes to coffee, John Cena is a purist. The actor explains why he judges a coffee shop based on how they make their flat whites.

♬ original sound – Bon Appétit Magazine

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On American Coffee and Creamer

In a separate interview, John Cena sat down with Idris Elba and others to discuss the typical American diner coffee experience and shared a story about how he used to make it palatable.

John Cena: The American fix for drip coffee is a sh*t load of cream.

Interviewer 1: Oh? We’ve got that here.

John Cena: Don’t you DARE.

Interviewer 1: Okay, sorry!

John Cena: Because in your hand, that’s 2000 calories.

Idris Elba: I’m apologizing.

Interviewer 2: Oh, what for?

Idris Elba: For America?

John Cena: The coffee.

(Everyone toasts their coffee cups)

Interviewer 1: Yeah, that sucks. But it’s like free refills, right? That’s the thing.

John Cena: That’s the thing! We’ll give you more of it.

Idris Elba: We’ll give you as much as you want!

John Cena: My fix was, no kidding, I used to go to an American convenience store, get the 64-ounce cups that they would give you, fill with ice, go to the drip coffee, fill it with drip coffee, and they give you the free tasty creamers. So like the cinnamon vanilla or whatever. I’d dump 25 creamers in there and paid like $0.74 for 64 ounces of coffee.

Interviewer 2: This is when you’re bulking?

John Cena: No, that was yesterday.

Idris Elba: Good economics. Not the calories.

Whether he is meticulously deconstructing an improperly made flat white or concocting a 64-ounce brew at a convenience store, John Cena’s passion for coffee is clear. His unique standards, from demanding the perfect espresso-to-milk ratio in Melbourne to finding a practical fix for American drip, reveal a surprising dedication. It seems that for Cena, a commitment to excellence applies just as much to his morning coffee as it does to his career.