The Art Of Latte Art

Are you interested in mastering the art of creating beautiful latte designs without leaving the cozy confines of your home? Look no further! We are here to provide you with the guidance you need.

What is latte art?

First, let’s address the basics. What is latte art? Latte art is a technique in which designs are created on the surface of a latte using micro foam. Mastering this skill can be challenging due to the specific quality of steamed milk required for achieving good results. Professional baristas can craft very intricate latte art. Sometimes, latte art competitions are held. This tutorial is intended for beginners who have an espresso machine with a steamer and want to try basic designs at home. Now, let’s break down the basics.

What You’ll Need
To make latte art, you must have an espresso machine with a steaming wand, a metal pitcher and temperature stick, and a 6-ounce mug.
1. Espresso machine with a steaming wand - It’s helpful to have a mid to high-quality espresso machine to get just the right steamed milk micro foam.
2. Metal pitcher with temperature stick - Use a metal pitcher and chill beforehand, which helps because the colder the milk, the longer time you must steam it. Even better, grab a metal pitcher with a temperature stick, which will allow you to see when it’s at the perfect temperature easily. A handheld thermometer will also do!
3. 6-ounce mug - It’s easiest to make latter art when you have a mug that’s the final size of the drink. This will help you add just the right amount of milk.

Instructions
1. Prep for the latte art: Grind and tamp the espresso, but don't pull it. Store your milk in the refrigerator. As we said earlier, the colder the milk, the more time you’ll have to steam it. Fill your milk jug to just below the spout, about ¾ of a cup, using your milk of choice.
2. Make the espresso: Use an espresso machine to make two shots of espresso and pour them into a mug.
3. Steam the milk: First, heat the steam wand. Once prepared, place the wand below the surface of the milk about ½ inch from the side, tiling the jug ever so slightly. Hold this position for about 5 to 10 seconds, stretching the milk by about 30% in height, with very slight up and down movements. Once stretched and lightly foamy, lower the nozzle another ½ inch and tilt the pitcher just enough to create a spinning vortex, which incorporates the foam, turning it into a velvety microfoam consistency. Keep it spinning until the temperature reaches 150 degrees Fahrenheit (this is when the temperature stick comes in handy). Then, turn off the steam before removing the wand from the jug. Wipe the wand clean using a cloth. Turn it on for 1 second to purge the nozzle. Tap and swirl the pitcher to incorporate any bubbles on top. The final texture should look like wet paint or melted ice cream, smooth and velvety. You’ll use only about half of this quantity and can discard the rest.
4. Make the latte art: Tap the milk container on the counter and swirl it to break down any large bubbles. Hold the jug a few inches above the coffee and pour in enough milk to fill the mug about halfway, swirling it to incorporate the milk. Then, lower the jug to the cup’s surface. Tilt the mug 45 degrees towards yourself. Pour the milk into the center of the mug, jiggling the jug left to right to make the heart design, then lift and make another heart design on the top. When the mug is almost full, lift the jug and draw a line through the center to make the stem.

This takes practice to perfect! If you need additional help, refer to this video. Good luck!