A flat-tube evaporator and a refrigeration system including a flat-tube evaporator. The flat-tube evaporator can include an inlet manifold, an outlet manifold separated a distance from the inlet manifold, a distributor tube positioned within the inlet manifold and fluidly connected to the common distributor, and a plurality of flat tubes positioned to fluidly connect the inlet manifold and the outlet manifold. The distributor tube can include a plurality of orifices, each of the plurality of orifices positioned to direct the refrigerant into the inlet manifold in a first direction. Each of the plurality of flat tubes can be positioned to direct the refrigerant from the inlet manifold to the outlet manifold in a second direction, the second direction being substantially opposite the first direction.