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.
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.
