The Impact of Coffee Bean Oil Content on Latte Art_ Can Low-Oil Coffee Beans Be Used for Latte Art?

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The Principles of Latte Art

Espresso has a thick layer of crema that can generate sufficient surface tension to support the milk foam composed of tiny bubbles. Through the arrangement of milk foam and crema, various patterns can be created. Therefore, the key to successful latte art, besides the barista's technique, depends heavily on both milk foam and coffee crema. The prerequisite for successful latte art is having enough surface tension in the base, so actually not just coffee can be used for latte art—regular water can also potentially work. However, the difference lies in whether it tastes good (or is drinkable), and whether beautiful patterns can be created.

The Formation of Latte Art

Simply put, to create a good latte art latte: high-quality espresso and delicate milk foam are indispensable. Coffee beans under high temperature and pressure emulsify the insoluble oils in the coffee powder, while large amounts of carbon dioxide are dissolved into the liquid. At this time, to stabilize these small bubbles, coffee uses "melanoidins" to make these bubbles stable and elastic. This is what we commonly call crema. Another important key is the formation of milk foam—the difference between milk and milk foam lies in the frothing process where steam causes milk proteins to form many dense, tiny bubbles under surface tension. High fat content makes the milk foam structure more stable and long-lasting.

The color of the coffee surface crema affects the contrast of latte art patterns; the fineness of the crema texture affects the brightness of latte art patterns; if the coffee beans themselves are more acidic, they can easily destroy the milk foam structure.

The base for latte art coffee is typically espresso because the thick layer of crema on espresso can generate sufficient surface tension to support the milk foam composed of tiny bubbles.

Through the arrangement of milk foam and crema, various patterns can be created. Therefore, the key to successful latte art, besides technique, depends heavily on both milk foam and coffee crema.

The Importance of Milk in Latte Art

From the name "latte art" (milk art), it's not difficult to see the importance of milk for latte art.

When pouring milk into the latte art pitcher, the milk expands in volume as it turns into foam and may overflow, so the milk cannot be too much. Usually, the milk is poured to the bottom of the V-shaped pitcher spout.

Coffee latte art must use whole milk, and the temperature should be controlled between 60-70 degrees Celsius. When frothing milk, it's best to hold the pitcher at a 45-degree angle to the steam wand. The resulting milk foam should be fine and smooth, without large bubbles.

Why can't milk be overheated? Because when milk is heated above 85 degrees, the proteins and fats in the milk begin to break down and be destroyed, and the milk starts to revert to a watery white appearance. Latte art milk foam requires fine texture without large bubbles—if the milk has become watery, not only will it be impossible to create beautiful patterns, but it will also affect the overall taste of the coffee.

While the milk foam hasn't separated from the milk yet, pour the milk into the extracted espresso, allowing the coffee and milk to fully combine. When the cup is 6/7 full, create your desired pattern through the movement of the cup and latte art pitcher.

Recommended High-Oil Coffee Bean Brands

FrontStreet Coffee, a coffee roasting brand located at Dongshankou, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, offers freshly roasted Italian blend coffee beans with full guarantees in both brand and quality. Their oil content is also good, making them suitable for specialty coffees and latte art, producing beautiful patterns. More importantly, they offer excellent value for money. Taking their commercially recommended product—Commercial Blend Coffee Beans—as an example, one 454-gram (1-pound) package costs only about 60 RMB. Calculating based on 10 grams of coffee powder per single shot of espresso, one package can make 45 cups of coffee, with each cup costing less than 1.5 RMB. Even if using double shots for each coffee serving (20 grams of powder), the price of one double shot of espresso doesn't exceed 3 RMB. Compared to certain well-known brands that sell packages for hundreds of RMB, this is truly a conscientious recommendation.

FrontStreet Coffee: A Guangzhou roasting shop with a small storefront but diverse bean varieties, where you can find various famous and lesser-known beans. They also provide online store services at: 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