Latte art is the method of creating drawings or patterns on the surface of a coffee. This aesthetically pleasing and edible art was developed by baristas and is becoming very popular among coffee lovers. With a little practice and imagination, the technique can be mastered in a few steps.
Step 1: Find Good Milk for Frothing
To create latte art, the most important step consists in creating good foam. At Café Liégeois, we use Laiterie Chagnon’s 3.8% whole milk, which foams very well. Plus, the higher concentration of fat will keep the milk from separating easily.
It is important also to get the milk to good temperature. At the beginning, the milk must be cold and ideally frothed in a pitcher with a spout.
Step 2: Froth the Milk
Pour the cold milk into the jug 1cm below the spout and purge the steamer into the pitcher at a 15° angle to heat. The milk will begin to froth when the liquid begins to turn like a vortex. Continue moving the steam wand up and down to create air and remove the bigger bubbles. When complete, remove the steam wand and clean immediately.
For those who own a professional machine, you can prepare your coffee and to froth the milk at the same time. For other machines, you must first prepare the coffee before frothing the milk.
Step 3: Pour the Milk
Next, the milk pouring must be done at the correct distance from the cup of coffee. In the beginning, the spout of the pitcher must be super close to the cup to pour the milk. When the foam comes out, you can begin to draw!
Step 4: Create Your Drawings!
Now the fun begins! To create a flower, tilt your cup slightly away from you and fill the cup with 2 to 3 centimeters of milk. Move the pitcher closer to the cup to speed your pour and begin to wiggle your wrist back and forth. To finish the flower, bring the cup back up and draw a straight line of milk through the drawing. If your latte art doesn’t come out “Instagram worthy” the first shot, don’t stress. A bit of practice is needed before making latte art!
Final Tip: There are stencils and toothpicks that can help in the creation of your latte art.