The beautiful world of latte art uncovered

The Dos and Don't of Latte Art

Latte art is not one uniform process that you can just follow. Artists need to be informed of multiple elements like pouring techniques, design types and of course, do’s and don’ts while venturing into the field. As widely discussed, etching and free pouring are the two major artistic techniques used for the creation of these designs. The latter is usually observed more in American cafes more than anywhere else and is taken to be a time saving process while the former requires skill and time which may be a deterrent for cafes which have multiple customers to attend to.

The free pouring technique usually spawns designs like the rosette or fern design and of course, the acclaimed heart shape. The latter is easier to execute while the former represents a newer level of complexity. Flowery shapes are created when latte artists keep the pitcher moving sideways or back and forth while leveling and striking into the heart of the pattern forces it into the shape of a flower. Heart and apple shapes are created with pouring techniques that are more blatant in comparison and variations of the same. Poured latte art stays longer as compared to etched designs which are executed with coffee stirrers. 

Extraordinary Latte Artist

There are some other dos and don’ts for latte artists which are covered below:

• Only fresh and cold milk must be used by latte artists
• Milk should never undergo light or heat exposure before being steamed
• Same milk portions for different designs are avoidable
• Artists should use stainless steel jugs with spouts that are narrow
• A little more milk should be used than required to prevent unnecessary heating up
• Artists should consult thermometers that can be attached to jugs and should be readable easily
• Steam wands have to be freed of possible condensation before usage
• These wands are only to be switched on after being inserted into the milk
• Strong and thick crema layers are required for the espresso
• Always make use of cups with wider surfaces
• Foaming should only be carried out till 40 degrees Celsius

There are some popular designs which have fascinated latte artists and customers alike and these are listed below:

Amazing Latte Artist not with the Strip View Cafe

• The Rosette design has been covered earlier and takes loads of practice to master
• Heart designs have been in vogue since 1989 and are the most common ones you find at most cafes
• The devil design with a tongue sticking out in some cases, is an iconic latte symbol
• Ghost designs are well liked with a phantasmal effect created by the fading of foam round the edges

There are multiple other bird and animal themed designs including bears, bunnies, dinosaurs, giraffes and squirrels which can only be created by seasoned latte artists with considerable experience under their belt. Latte art is a beautiful expression of creativity and is steadily catching the attention of the global populace who want more than a mere coffee guzzling experience so go to your next coffee house and make use of the full latte art experience.

The Rising Trend of Latte Art and its Artistic Values.

Getting to know Latte Art

Coffee House Latte Art

Artistic expression is never confined to traditional mediums, as the emerging popularity of Latte art proves. This is essentially a coffee preparation process where steamed milk is required to be poured into espresso shots for the creation of distinct designs and patterns on the surface. With the advent of Baristas and other coffee giants, latte art is being heralded as a game changer in the coffee sector. The method mentioned above is also followed by embellishments on the upper most foam layers. This is a demanding art and requires time and effort in addition to specific conditions for both the milk and espresso shots used. 

Vanilla Latte

Latte was an independent development in multiple countries which came after espresso and micro foam development were popularized. Italy was the initial breeding ground and the US took it to the next level with practitioners like David Schomer. This led to the advent of newer designs including the heart design and courses for latte artists where Schomer played a vital role in conjunction with Luigi Lupi and Jack Kelly. 

 

There are two colloids which are indispensable for any latte artist, i.e. the brewed coffee and coffee oil emulsion known as crema and the air foam in milk or micro foam as it is popularly known. These are unstable and can degraded in rapid time and this acts as a challenge for the latte artist with regard to finishing off a design. Latte artists usually follow some commonly acknowledged techniques. The process kicks off with the production of espresso and micro foam and crema in tandem. Thereafter, these are all combined immaculately for the creation of latte art. Micro foam making is itself an art and is essential for latte artists too!

 

The espresso shot should definitely possess a surface in a creamy brown shade before an artist can add the milk. This emulsion is called the crema and the actual contrast comes into the picture upon the confluence of the milk’s white foam with the espresso shot surface. In a flash, the desired design arises out of this wonderfully exciting process almost like supreme creation amidst conflict. While pouring the milk, the liquid is steadily torn apart from the foam which is then propelled automatically to the surface of the cup used. 

 

The espresso shot and milk have to be perfect and this creates a lovely design pattern on the surface as mentioned earlier. Many latte artists take to creating their own pattern with sticks after pouring the milk as opposed to the traditional process stated above. Latte art is perceived to be the exclusive forte and domain of Baristas and this is something that has generated wide debate among the coffee community. Many Baristas are accused of neglecting other vital factors like taste and flavor on grounds and focusing only on the creation of latte art masterpieces. 

 

All in all, latte art makes for a fascinating study and there are multiple design patterns, artistic techniques and pouring forms that are intrinsically associated with it.

                                                                                                                       

By: Your Las Vegas Coffee Baristas at the Strip View Cafe  

In a coffee shop, What makes a good barista?

 The Barista Art and Great Coffee Makers!

Why You Need to Value Your Barista

Most coffee shops attribute their success to several people within the business. Apart from the manager and the owner of the café, the baristas are considered the backbone of the business and they play a crucial role towards the café’s success as a business. What makes a barista an important asset to a restaurant or a café?

Before we delve deeper into what makes a barista so important in a café business, it is important to note that a barista could either be a male or a female. Not so long ago, the profession is mainly dominated by men. Nowadays, women have stepped up their game and can now compete with men when it comes to barista skills. So what do baristas usually do in the first place?

What’s is a Barista?

Coffee House Desserts

As you already know, a barista is the one who makes your favorite cup of coffee. However, what baristas actually do is unlike what most people do every day at home where they mix instant coffee with a cup of boiling water. Baristas make use of far more intricate process when making coffee. What they do on a daily basis requires practice and a certain degree of expertise. This is the reason why you will likely notice that the coffee served at your favorite café tastes a lot better than your regular instant coffee.

Before one becomes a barista, he or she needs to undergo rigorous training. Baristas know and understand how to make the most exquisite cup of coffee. They make use of complex processes to make sure that they provide only the best coffee to their customers. Hence, the baristas are behind the success of any café. 

The Bond between the Barista and the Customer

A barista is considered as the link between the café and the customers. Baristas are trained when it comes to customer service. Aside from making the best coffee, baristas also make sure that customers feel easy and at home while in the café’s premises.

Strip View Cafe Front Patio

A café is not a café without good coffee. Always remember that what makes customer patronize a café is its best tasting coffee coupled with great service. Having a good ambience is not enough to make customers stay. Baristas who make good coffee and provide the best customer service are the foundations of any café business. A good cup of coffee and a certain sense of hospitality is what makes customers keep coming back for more.  

Strip View Café

You can catch all of these qualities at Strip View Café. Situated on the corner of Desert Inn & Rainbow Boulevard in the City of Las Vegas, Strip View Café offers one of the best tasting coffee and delicacies. It offers a good and relaxing ambiance that provides a certain feeling of warmth to each and every customer. Customers frequent Strip View Café for a quick coffee, lunch and even to book a special event.

Strip View Cafe Interior

The reason behind the café’s popularity among its patrons is its breathtaking view of the Las Vegas strip, casinos and hotels. Their baristas are also very hospitable with their amazing smiles plastered across their face. They also serve the best tasting coffee that you seldom come across in any café in the metro. If good coffee, great tasting food and customer-oriented baristas are what you’re looking for, Strip View Café will surely not disappoint.

Las Vegas Coffee Shop