Project Description

Create a gorgeous pattern on a latte coffee drink’s surface

Develop your knowledge and skills as a barista by getting to grips with beautiful latte art. Heart shapes, flower patterns including the popular Rosetta and Tulip, leaves, myriad other pretty designs… Latte art is fun; immensely satisfying to do; and is rapidly becoming a necessary, expected skill for all practising baristas.

Here’s how to do it

1. Make sure that you’ve prepared a good espresso base, and that your jugged milk is textured properly, with the foam being as it should be.

2. Starting high, pour your textured, steamed milk (aka crema) into your cup of coffee; we’re going to use the light foam finish to ‘draw in’ the design. Aim for the cup’s middle, to ensure an even design that isn’t biased to one side.

3. Get your cup about three quarters full and pour in evenly so that it covers the surface of the coffee. And as you pour, whilst maintaining your pour speed and position, lower the jug’s spout.

4. Let the milk settle.

5. Wait until your milk resembles a velvety texture.

6. Swirl your milk for half a minute, using a wiggle movement. Don’t overdo this, though; maintain composure and control.

7. Now, using a stacking approach, build up your layers, progressing almost to your cup’s rim.

8. Find your inner Rembrandt or Cezanne (!), by drawing in your design, slicing through the milk, keeping your pattern symmetrical and, again, unbiased to one side of your cup. While doing this, it would help to drop the pour from your jug back a little, so tilt your jug a bit.

As with anything, perfecting latte art techniques takes practise, practise, practise. Don’t expect awesome results immediately. With each attempt, you’ll master correct pour speeds, distances from the cup, and middle positioning.

Lattes without limits

Well, as with any form of art, there are no ‘rules’, but following these instructions should see you get a firm grasp of the essential latte art fundamentals, before taking things to the next level, and then higher, to the point where you can be as artistically experimental as you want to be.

The most common mistake inexperienced baristas make in latte art? Deviating their jug pouring from the cup’s middle area. Don’t do that. When pouring your steamed milk, remain mindful of the flow, position and height, and you’re well on your way to creating a latte art masterpiece.