It’s no secret that food and beverages should be just as pleasing to the eyes as to the palate, and the same can be said for coffee as baristas far and wide take care to finish their cappuccinos, lattes and the like with dainty designs etched into their frothy tops. We’ll be honest: latte art isn’t easy...but, like most skills in life, practice makes perfect. Our Michelle Cheng, Lavazza’s Los Angeles-based trainer shares some tips for the three designs demonstrated in the video: the Tulip, the Rosetta and the Inverted Tulip. Follow the steps below to try one (or all) of the three shapes — but before you proceed, there’s one important factor to keep top of mind: the texture of the milk. “If your milk is not like wet paint (Microfoam) it will be very difficult to pour latte art,” explains Cheng.
Repetition is crucial
For both the milk texture and latte art designs, repetition is crucial for building muscle memory. Grab some whole milk, a milk steamer, a shaker of cocoa powder and ceramic cups, and try the following Lavazza-recommended exercise.
1. Steam the milk to create microfoam, which has the texture of wet paint.
2. Pour 2 ounces of steamed milk into the ceramic cup.
3. Sprinkle some cocoa powder on top of the milk to recreate an “espresso shot” without any actual espresso.
4. Practice pouring the latte art.
5. When you finish, pour the contents back into the pitcher. Repeat steps 2-5 with the same liquid, so as not to waste any product.
Keep in Mind
When it comes to latte art, there are several factors at play. Lavazza’s expert suggests ensuring that the milk has taken on the correct texture and that you control the speed of your pour. “You have to be conscious of how you tilt the pitcher when pouring and make sure that when you are pouring, the cup is also tilted so you have more surface area and space to create latte art. Also, take care to pour 3 cm (a little more than 1 inch) away from the cup.”
Tulip
1. Hold the cup and tilt it toward you to create more surface area. Pour, filling the cup halfway — make sure there’s a distinct contrast so that the milk isn’t visible as you pour. The objective is to pour the milk under the espresso.
2. Start pouring the “stacks” but make sure that the base of the stacked tulip is at the back of the cup so you can maximize stacking space. Create circles within circles for a “moon” shape with each stack gently pushing into the previous one, and don’t forget to slowly straighten the cup while filling it.
3. When stacking the final tulip, form a heart, then lift the pitcher and pour at a slower pace, cutting through the design to the other end of the cup. Start by stacking 2-3 tulips at first until you become more comfortable with the process.
The Rosetta
1. Hold the cup and tilt it towards you to create more surface area. Pour, filling the cup halfway — make sure there’s a distinct contrast so that the milk isn’t visible as you pour. The objective is to pour the milk under the espresso.
2. Pour toward the center and when the contrast becomes visible, wiggle the pitcher from side to side, pushing the pitcher forward to build stacks. As you fill the cup, keeping wiggling as you pull the pitcher back, and don’t forget to slowly straighten the cup while filling it.
3. Once a heart forms, lift the pitcher and pour a little more slowly to cut through the design to the other end of the cup.
Inverted Tulip
The position of the cup is crucial for the Inverted Tulip — you need to spin it 180 degrees to finish the design.
1. Hold the cup and tilt it towards you to create more surface area. Pour, filling the cup halfway — make sure there’s a distinct contrast so that the milk isn’t visible as you pour. The objective is to pour the milk under the espresso.
2. The objective here is to pour the milk under the espresso, then you will want to start the base stacks. When making the stacks, pour as close to the edge as possible (closest to you) so that there’s enough space to complete the design.
3. Spin the cup 180 degrees and begin pouring stacks on the other side. Make sure you pour it in the center and gently push to create space for 3-4 more stacks depending on how much room is in the cup. While stacking don’t forget to slowly straighten the cup while filling it.
4 For the last stack, lift the pitcher once a heart has formed, pour at a slower speed and cut through the design, stopping just before the final base of the stack.