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