Coffee Knowledge | The most basic coffee latte art techniques

You ordered a latte at a cafe. Even though the aroma of coffee made you drool, you still took out your phone and took a photo of the latte art on the cappuccino. What a perfect heart shape!

You secretly glanced at the handsome barista at the bar, and your heart was beating fast...

Emma, ​​handsome guy, do you have any idea about me, or do you have any idea about me?

So, how is such beautiful coffee latte art made?

Definition of coffee latte art:

First of all, we need to know what is the definition of Latte Art?

There are two types:

One is Free Pour

“Pulling” the pattern while pouring the foamed milk into the espresso;

One is Etching

After making the latte, use auxiliary tools such as chocolate sauce and latte art needles to "carve" directly on the foam on the surface of the latte.

Today, we will mainly talk about Free Pour.

Step 1. Make a good cup of espresso

The acidity and bitterness are balanced, and the cream is thick and smooth without any holes.

Step 2: Froth the milk

Prepare refrigerated milk (4°C), a milk jug, and a coffee machine.

1. Pour an appropriate amount of refrigerated milk into the milk jug.

2. Use an empty spray to clean the steam wand.

3. Insert the steam wand into the milk to form a foaming angle, with the steam wand outlet located 1 cm below the milk surface.

4. "Frothing" stage: Open the steam valve. When the milk starts to rotate, move the milk jug downward at a constant speed to form milk foam (accompanied by a sizzling sound). During the movement, the milk must be rotated, and the position of the steam wand and the milk must be maintained.

5. "Beating" stage: When the milk foam reaches the required amount, slightly lift the milk jug (without hissing sound), keep the liquid surface rotating, and continue heating. When the temperature approaches 65°C, close the valve.

6. Use an empty spray to clean the steam wand.

How to define good milk foam?

The ideal foamed milk should be as smooth as velvet, with a reflective surface, and the perfect foam is very fine "micro foam". Down-to-earth ways to practice this step include: using water instead of milk; adding some detergent to the water.

Step 3: Coffee fusion

Congratulations on reaching the last step. You now have a cup of perfect espresso in your left hand and a tank of amazing foamed milk in your right hand. Now, it’s time to witness the miracle!

Heart Shape:

1. Place the nozzle close to the wall of the cup, aim at the center of the espresso liquid surface, and inject a small stream of milk.

2. Gradually raise the milk jug and use small streams of milk to draw circles to blend.

3. When the milk tank is half full, move it close to the liquid surface (note the position where the milk is injected in Figure 3, called the starting point) and increase the milk flow.

4. Maintain the position and shake the spout evenly to allow the milk foam to naturally form a semicircle.

5. When the milk tank is 80% full, gradually raise it, reduce the milk flow, and slowly pull it forward to produce Figure 5.

6Center tip effect.

Leaf shape:

1. Place the nozzle close to the wall of the cup, aim at the center of the espresso liquid surface, and inject a small stream of milk.

2. Gradually raise the milk jug and use small streams of milk to draw circles to blend.

3. When the milk tank is half full, bring it close to the liquid surface (note the position where the milk is injected in Figure 3) and increase the milk flow.

4. After forming a semicircle (small) as shown in Figure 3, swing the spout evenly and move back.

5. When the milk is 90% full, gradually raise the milk jar, thin the milk flow, and pull it forward to complete the petiole effect shown in Figure 6.

The practical practice methods for this step are: fill the milk jug with water and practice controlling the water flow; pour the coffee after latte art back into the milk jug, shake off the coarse foam, shake well, put a small spoonful of coffee powder at the bottom of the cup, and repeat the latte art.

How to progress

It's very simple, just learn and practice. Here is a video of Japanese Yawen Latte Art, you can enjoy it:

Try to make milk foam with better fluidity, learn the combination of patterns one by one, change different milk jugs, different latte art cups, different roasted beans with richer fat, and practice, practice, and practice again!

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