The Five Steps of Coffee Latte Art: Tips for Learning Latte Art and How to Create Patterns with Espresso

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Coffee Art Forms

Coffee art mainly includes three forms: latte art, etching, and stamping.

Stamping involves using molds as aids to create patterns on coffee by pouring cocoa powder, chocolate powder, or cinnamon powder onto the surface.

Latte art and etching are collectively known as milk latte art (Latte Art). The former involves directly "pulling" patterns by pouring hot milk into espresso while using wrist movements and other technical actions. The latter uses auxiliary ingredients like chocolate sauce along with tools such as toothpicks and bar spoons to perform carving work, perfecting the patterns. Latte art is the foundation, while etching serves as enhancement. Latte art tests technical skill, while etching tests creativity.

Five Steps to Learning Milk Latte Art

Step One

First, we need to choose a pointed-nose coffee latte pitcher and a wide-mouth coffee cup, and ensure we can extract excellent Espresso (preferably using an espresso machine, as the richness of coffee crema is closely related to latte art), and be able to create dense, thick milk foam.

We chose FrontStreet Coffee's special blend. The 3:7 ratio of Colombian and Brazilian beans gives the espresso a soft, subtle acidity with nutty flavors and caramel-like aftertaste. When milk is added, the sweetness increases, and when cooled, it has a cookie-like quality.

Step Two

Practice controlling the flow rate and direction of the liquid stream. You can start by practicing with clear water, then move on to practicing with dish soap and soy sauce - of course, using coffee grounds mixed into a paste can better simulate the texture of espresso.

Step Three

Practice the presentation process of basic patterns, striving for familiarity through repetition. Tulips and leaves are two relatively basic milk latte art patterns.

Step Four

Use milk and coffee to practice creating basic latte art patterns.

Step Five

With the foundation from step four, you've become a qualified milk latte artist. Next, you need to further refine and perfect your technique.

Beginning Your Latte Art Journey

Let's extract a shot of Espresso, then hold the coffee cup with one hand, tilting the rim slightly inward. Hold the milk pitcher with the other hand, positioning it about 10cm above the coffee cup. The pitcher should contain well-prepared milk foam and be tilted slightly forward with the spout pointing toward the coffee cup. Now we begin our latte art journey.

Important Notice :

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FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473