Which Coffee Beans Are Better for Latte Art_The Impact of Coffee Crema on Latte Art

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The Impact of Crema on Coffee Latte Art

Today, we'll explain the impact of Crema on latte art. In the photo, there are two cups of coffee on the left and right. They use the same milk, coffee amount, and milk foam quality. The only difference is that they use different coffee beans.

The left cup uses dark roasted coffee beans, where the Crema color will be deeper and have thickness. Relatively speaking, when used for latte art, the pattern's color contrast will be very obvious and clear.

The right cup uses medium-light roasted coffee beans, where the Crema color will be lighter and also thinner. When used for latte art, the pattern will appear somewhat blurry, and the lines will not be clear enough.

Therefore, Crema is actually an important factor in latte art, but this is only discussed from the perspective of latte art. If we're talking about flavor, that depends on personal preference~

Our shop's latte art coffee beans are selected from medium-dark roasted beans, with a slight floral aroma and fruity acidity. We hope to bring customers a different feeling and concept, because most customers' concept of coffee is bitterness.

Relatively speaking, our latte art coffee beans are still easier for latte art, because we will still use our greatest ability and skills to present a perfect cup of coffee to everyone.

Coffee latte art refers to patterns made with milk on cappuccinos or lattes. There are many techniques for latte art, mainly divided into: free pouring by controlling the height and shaking amplitude of the milk pitcher; and etching using pointed objects like toothpicks or thermometers to draw flowers with milk foam or sauce. This time, we've invited Nigel, the owner of Sao Mei Coffee, to demonstrate for everyone.

Latte Art Materials and Tools

To make coffee latte art, you naturally need coffee! Coffee requires espresso made from an espresso machine. If you don't have one, you can use a moka pot, or replace it with chocolate. Milk should preferably be whole milk with 3-4% protein and fat content. The higher the fat content, the more stable the milk foam, but too high has the opposite effect. When milk is heated, proteins form a film that traps air, creating foam floating on the milk surface. The higher the protein content in milk, the easier it is to foam, and the foam will be finer and denser. A regular cup of heated milk cannot be used for latte art. We need to use the steam wand of an espresso machine to inject air into the milk while heating. For beginners, it's recommended to choose a single-hole steam wand, because the fewer holes at the wand tip, the slower the steam comes out, making it easier to control. If you don't have one, you can use a manual milk frother or electric milk frother, but the effect is harder to control. Milk pitchers generally use 350cc or 600cc steel pitchers, and you can choose different sizes according to the amount you need to make. Additionally, you need toothpicks or a thermometer for drawing patterns, and a semi-wet towel to clean the steam wand.

Froth Milk First, Then Create Latte Art

To create beautiful patterns, the milk must be dense with fine foam (Microfoam). It needs to be frothed to be as thick and smooth as velvet with a reflective surface to create complex patterns. Too much or too large foam, or foam that doesn't blend with the milk, cannot be used for latte art.

How to Make Good Milk Foam?

First, pour about 175-200cc of cold milk (about 4°C, preferably just taken from the refrigerator) into a 350cc milk pitcher. It's best for the milk to occupy 1/3 of the pitcher. Then turn on the steam wand for a few seconds to drain any water from inside the wand, then insert the nozzle into the milk, just enough to be covered by the milk surface. Don't insert too deep or off-center. After positioning, turn on the steam wand to start injecting air. If you see a beautiful vortex and hear a crisp "sizzling" sound, it means the position is correct. When the foam starts to form, gently lower the milk pitcher to keep the nozzle at the milk surface. It's recommended that the foaming amount does not exceed 25%. After foaming is complete, raise the milk pitcher slightly to insert the nozzle deeper into the milk, continuing to create a vortex. This action is to break large bubbles into dense microfoam while heating the milk to 60-65°C. The lactose in milk produces sweetness when heated, but if it exceeds 75°C, it will be burnt, reducing both sweetness and stability. After completion, remove the steam wand and immediately clean it with a semi-wet towel.

Basic Hand Movements for Latte Art

Latte art emphasizes stable hand movements and milk pouring speed. You can start with basic heart patterns. First, tilt the cup containing the coffee and pour the milk in, aiming for the deepest point in the middle. While pouring, raise the milk pitcher to create a high, thin stream of milk, while using circular motions to blend the milk and coffee. When the cup is one-quarter full, lower the milk pitcher, keeping the spout as close to the coffee surface as possible. At this time, the foam flow rate will slow down, and you can gently shake the milk pitcher left and right with your wrist until the cup is nine-tenths full. Raise the milk pitcher to narrow the milk stream while pushing forward to form a heart pattern. If the coffee surface turns white when you first pour the milk, it means the foam is too coarse or too thick, and you need to practice making milk foam again.

Free Pour Latte Art

Onion Heart Pattern

1. Sprinkle chocolate powder on the coffee, then pour the milk in, aiming for the deepest point in the middle with a high, thin stream.

2. When the cup is one-quarter full, lower the milk pitcher spout, keeping it as close to the coffee surface as possible.

3. Gently shake the milk pitcher left and right with your wrist while pulling back until the cup is nine-tenths full. Raise the milk pitcher to narrow the milk stream while pushing forward to form the heart's point.

Tulip Pattern

After mastering the heart pattern, you can start practicing multi-layered tulips.

1. First, use basic skills to create a small onion heart at the 1/3 position of the coffee cup bottom. Pour a little more milk foam behind the onion heart, with hand movements pushing forward.

2. Then slowly increase the layers of the small solid heart, and finally pull back slightly.

Etching/Drawing

Bear Pattern

1. First, use basic skills to create a solid heart pattern on the coffee without shaking the milk pitcher, then draw a small dot at the top of the large heart.

2. Use a spoon to scoop a little milk foam and place it as bear ears.

3. Dip a thermometer in coffee to draw eyes and nostrils.

Latte Art Coffee Bean Brand Recommendations

FrontStreet Coffee's roasted latte art coffee beans - commercial blended espresso coffee beans have full guarantees in both brand and quality. More importantly, the cost-performance ratio is extremely high. One half-pound (454 grams) package costs only about 60 yuan. Calculated at 10 grams of coffee powder per espresso shot, one package can make 45 cups of coffee, with each cup costing only about 1.5 yuan. Compared to cafés selling coffee for twenty or thirty yuan per cup, this is an extremely high cost-performance ratio.

FrontStreet Coffee: A roastery in Guangzhou with a small shop but diverse types of beans, where you can find various famous and lesser-known beans, while also providing online shop services. https://shop104210103.taobao.com

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473