Latte art is the design you typically see on top of drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, and similar milk-and-espresso beverages.
1. Are there different kinds of latte art?
Of course! The most popular style of latte art among coffee aficionados and specialty shops is free pour latte art. In this technique, milk, or a milk substitute, is steamed into compact bubbles and then poured into the coffee with careful movements—angle and height matter here—to create the desired pattern, such as a rosetta, tulip, or heart. While more elaborate patterns are possible with free pour, if you're just picking up a morning cappuccino, you're most likely to see one of the basic designs.
2. Where can I find latte art?
Many cafes now serve coffee with some degree of latte art, depending on the skill of the baristas. For example, you can find this art and enjoy delicious coffees at any of our CFS Coffee locations.
3. How does latte art work?
Latte art begins by steaming milk, or a substitute, into a thick but not frothy state that baristas call 'microfoam.' Both the bubble size and the temperature to
which the milk is steamed will affect how easily it can be worked with. Once steamed, the milk is poured with precision into a cup containing espresso.
The most important part of creating latte art is the skill of the barista. Knowing the right texture, volume, and temperature of the milk is crucial, as well as understanding the angle and distance at which to pour, how much milk to pour to achieve a tight surface tension, and even how to stand when pouring.
With CFS Coffee Lab you can learn to master Latte Art, learn all its secrets, and train your barista skills. Come and join us!
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Original text by Liz Clayton for Sprudge.
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