How To Make Latte Art - A Beginner's Guide
Do you find it boring drinking regular coffee at home? Is the latte art skill only for baristas with extensive training and expensive equipment? Of course not!
If you can learn to make latte art, you can pour delicious and dazzling cups for yourself, friends, and family whenever duty calls. Making a latte art design could spice up your coffee-making experience. You only need milk and espresso to create coffee latte art designs. They are easy to learn, and the use of the right equipment makes the process even easier. So let's get started and walk you through what's needed to make you the Longhi of lattes.
What Is Latte Art?
Latte art refers to steamed milk passed through an espresso to make patterns. It is also known as barista art, coffee art, or coffee designs. Latte art gives you a chance to be creative and personalise each cup you pour.
Steps In Making Latte Art
Have you ever wondered if making your latte art at home is possible? Here are four simple steps you can follow to make perfect latte art at home.
1). Prepare The Milk
It would be best to start by filling the jug with cold milk. Froth the milk until it looks like melted ice cream. After this, you need to heat the milk to 65° C. Leave the milk to heat as you focus on preparing the other steps.
2). Pull The Espresso
It would be best if you pulled a shot of espresso when the milk is heating. Use the espresso immediately after pulling it for the best results.
3). Groom And Pour The Milk
When your milk is hot and ready, groom the steamed milk by swirling it with your hand and tapping the pitcher on the countertop. This helps you eliminate large bubbles that formed during steaming.
Tilt the cup and start pouring from a high point. You should move the milk lower as you pour. By the time the cup is half full, you should be pouring the milk from as low as possible. At this point, make the initial pattern of the art you want to make. In the end, you should pour slowly, after which you should have your canvas ready.
4). Create Your Design
At this point, be as creative as you want to be. You can use chocolate syrup to make the experience better. Different latte art designs require you to use different procedures.
Expert Tips To Create The Best Latte Art For Your Coffee
Are you struggling to make latte art at home? Here are a few tips you could use to improve your milk pouring skills:
- Make sure to prep the milk before you can make a shot
- If your milk looks like wet paint, consider steaming it
- Use a blank canvas at every step
- Make sure you pour the milk at the centre of the espresso
- Steam only the amount of milk you need
- Have a clear idea of what you want to create before you begin pouring
- Ensure you have the right angle between the pitcher and the cup. You can move the pitcher closer or further if need be.
- Start by pouring slowly from the high point and then fast from the low point.
- You need to be closer to the surface to make sure the milk does not sink
- Wiggle evenly and consistently
Choosing The Best Coffee Latte Milk Jugs
Not every coffee latte jug will give you an easy time making your latte art design. Consider the following the next time you purchase a coffee latte milk jug:
1). Size And Shape
Determine the size of your milk jug by the amount of milk you want to use. You also require enough space for the milk foam when steaming. You can choose to purchase pitchers with bell-shaped bottoms or those that are straight-edged.
2). Material And Surface Treatment
The ideal coffee milk pitcher should be made of stainless steel and have a suitable thickness to prevent quick decomposition. You might consider having it coated with a nonconductor to protect your hands from getting burnt. Consider having a fashionable surface treatment that fits your preference.
3). Spout
Some spout shapes are easier to use than others. Different styled milk jugs help to make different latte art patterns. Avoid using spout-less pitchers by all means.
4). Handle
Some individuals find it hard to use pitchers without handles, while others prefer having handle-less pitchers. Always identify your needs before choosing a handle.
Final Thoughts
Learning to make latte art designs gets easier every time you do it. After developing a little muscle memory, you can create clean, glorious latte art designs time and time again. Use the tips provided above to get your head around the basics before moving on to more complicated designs. Happy pouring!
Get Your Coffee Equipment And Tools From The Artisan Barista!
At The Artisan Barista, you get the best equipment to help you make your latte art designs. We pay keen attention to the sizes and shapes to ensure our equipment suits our customers' different needs. Get all the supplies you need to make sensational and flavourful latte art!