Never in your wildest dreams did you imagine seeing pictures floating on the foam of your cappuccino, right? Neither did I. However, when ordering a coffee now, I’m disappointed if my cuppa doesn’t boast a striking design. Who would have thought that creating tiny works of art in coffee cups would become so fashionable? Latte art has evolved into an international obsession, with World Latte Art championships, how-to classes and online galleries demonstrating the popularity of this contemporary art form.
The Origins
The origins of latte art presumably lie in Italy, however, latte art was largely developed in the U.S in the 80s and 90s and then spread to the rest of the world. The beginnings of latte art essentially followed the development of the espresso and microfoam (an ideal standard of steamed milk). Microfoam is the perfect texture for creating Latte Art, and is thus an integral part of the technique. As the white milk foam is poured and rises to meet the light brown surface of the Espresso, a contrast forms and the design emerges.
Latte Art Techniques
When it comes to Latte Art, there is definitely more to it than meets the eye. Latte art has two different styles, namely free pouring and etching. Free pouring essentially means that the latte art design is being created during the pouring of the milk into the coffee. Etching is when a tool is used to create the latte art design after the milk has been poured. This post will focus on free pouring, and etching will be explored in more detail in a later post.
Free Pouring
Free pouring is the most popular style of latte art and is used in many coffee shops and cafés around the world to add a bit of beauty to their customer’s cup of coffee.
There are two ingredients needed for latte art – espresso with crema (the creamy brown surface) and microfoam, which is best produced by a steam wand on an espresso machine.
The microfoam is poured into the espresso with the cup tilted, causing the foam to surface on the one side of the cup. The barista will then move the milk jug from side to side as they level the cup, and then finish by making a strike through the pattern. This latte art form is one of the most popular forms and is known as the ‘Rosetta’. Another common pattern is the heart shape, which is created by less wiggling of the jug and a more direct pour. There are many more complex designs which are created by different pouring angles or multiple pours.
I’m sure any coffee lover will agree that the perfect cup of coffee is an art form in itself. So, a cup of java that boasts both good coffee and a stunning design is a real treat. I think latte art is just the beginning. I’m interested to see what else evolves in the world of beverage art.
At Life Café, we endeavour to serve every customer a cup of coffee with an attractive design. Some designs turn out prettier than others, but just know that each cup is unique and made with lots of love!
