To be honest, I've been putting off writing about how to make latte art. As an ex-barista, I remember full well how much time and patience is necessary when you're learning to master this skill.
To be honest, I’ve been putting off writing about how to make latte art. As an ex-barista, I remember full well how much time and patience is necessary when you’re learning to master this skill.
However, having also trained other baristas, I can tell you that anyone can learn how to create beautiful latte art. It’s simply a case of practice makes perfect.
So, before we get started, allow me to remind you that you’ll fail multiple times as you’re embarking on your latte art quest. But also remember that you will find your own technique and it won’t be long before you’ve nailed it.
And once you’ve learned how to make latte art, you’ll find that it’s really quite rewarding and very satisfying indeed!
Latte Art: What’s the Big Deal?
Just as we eat with our eyes first, a beautiful cafe latte is going to enhance our enjoyment of this specialty coffee drink. I mean, who doesn’t get a little thrill every time they’re presented with a latte sporting a pretty design on top?
Professional baristas go to great lengths to perfect their signature latte art designs, and it isn’t uncommon to see flowers, swans and all manner of crazy patterns in trendy cafes. Heck, there are even international latte art competitions, where the very best baristas in the world try to outdo each other.
As for home baristas, creating latte art can be really fun, elevating your daily coffee experience. And let’s not forget that this is a fantastic way to impress your friends! Trust me, invite your neighbors over for coffee, then blow their minds with your latte art repertoire. You’ll be the talk of the neighborhood in no time! Then again, I guess that could backfire – you might find that everyone and their brother is knocking down your door every morning!
Can You Really Make Latte Art at Home?
If you thought latte art was something only professional baristas can achieve, think again. Seriously, given the recent explosion in high-quality home espresso machines, there’s absolutely no reason home baristas shouldn’t be able to learn how to make latte art.
And don’t think for a second that you need to shell out big bucks for a prosumer espresso machine like the Rocket Appartamento or Nuova Simonelli Musica. In reality, there are tons of exceptional espresso machines costing less than $500, any of which is up to the task. The Gaggia Classic Pro immediately springs to mind. Heck, you can even find a beginner espresso machine that’ll do the job nicely.
What’s more, there are now a number of really cool machines that’ll steam the milk for you. I’m thinking of models with automatic steam wands like the Breville Barista Touch and Breville Bambino Plus. During my testing of these machines, I’ve consistently been impressed by what they can do. Namely, automatically whip up sumptuous microfoam and exquisitely textured milk.
Equipment You’ll Need
There’s just no getting around the fact that you’ll need the right equipment to do latte art. In other words, forget about experimenting with a moka pot and a standalone milk frother. You’ll be fighting a losing battle there. Here’s what you’ll need in your kitchen if you intend to learn how to make latte art:
Espresso machine with steam wand
Good espresso beans
Burr coffee grinder – preferably an espresso grinder
Milk steaming pitcher
Thermometer (optional)
Wide mouth latte cup
Coffeeness Signature Espresso Blend
Perfectly suited for your Super Automatic Espresso Machine
Notes of Chocolate & Hazelnut
Easy on the stomach
Freshly roasted right in Brooklyn
Medium roast
Best Milk for Making Latte Art
Without a doubt, full-fat cow’s milk is the best choice for creating latte art. Thanks to its high fat content, you’ll end up with a velvety and glossy texture. Plus, whole milk will give you a sweet and creamy taste as well as stable foam that won’t disintegrate at the drop of a hat.
As it happens, the proteins in the milk are responsible for that stable foam. And it’s the abundance of natural sugars in whole milk that add satisfying sweetness as they’re heated.
Oh, and those caramelized sugars work wonders to create a harmonious taste experience when married with a perfectly extracted shot of espresso.
You’ll have a much harder time creating stable milk foam when using nonfat milk. While some folks swear nonfat milk is better for latte art, I beg to differ. Sure, it’s possible to make latte art with fat free dairy, but the foam will be a lot less stable.
As for non-dairy milk, soy is probably your best bet. Even so, it does tend to foam up rather wildly. I’ve experienced mixed results with oat milk, but again, it’s a struggle to create convincing microfoam. And you can forget about doing latte art with rice, almond or coconut milk.
Microfoam: The Latte Art Holy Grail
When you’re first learning how to create luxurious microfoam for your latte art, it can feel like you’re fighting a losing battle. Trust me, I’ve been there. However, I encourage you to stick with it – you’ll end up going through a lot of milk at first, but you will eventually succeed.
And once you’ve got it down, making microfoam will feel like the easiest thing in the world.
One of the most important factors is to always start with fridge cold milk. Oh, and don’t ever try to re-steam milk from a previous attempt. That’ll just end in tears. Of course, you’ll need a suitable milk steaming pitcher, too. I recommend starting out with a 12-ounce pitcher, although you can get great results with a different size.
How to Create Microfoam
Add your cold milk to the pitcher, filling to just below the inside lip. Once that’s done, purge your espresso machine steam wand of any excess water. Then, submerge the steam wand tip just below the surface of the milk and open the steak valve.
Depending on how powerful your machine’s steaming function is, you might not want to go all the way.
Finding the right position will be a case of trial and error, but you’ll know you’re on the money when you’re able to gently stretch the milk without creating a big mess of bubbles.
Once the milk has expanded a little, submerge the steam wand and angle the pitcher slightly. If all goes well, you’ll see a spinning vortex form in the middle. Maintain this position as the milk heats up, keeping a close eye on the temperature.
It’s a good idea to use a thermometer when you’re starting out seeing as you’re aiming for a temperature of around 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius).
Once your milk is ready, wipe off the steam wand with a damp towel, then firmly knock the bottom of the pitcher on a hard surface to break up any bubbles that may have formed. Finally, swirl the milk to help maintain a consistent texture without separation.
If all goes well, your steamed milk will be glossy and luxurious, with the texture of wet paint. And if it’s a little on the thick side, you can dump a little of the excess foam once you’ve swirled.
How to Make Latte Art: Step by Step Guide
OK, now it’s time to start creating a beautiful cafe latte! I’ve found that pouring a leaf pattern is the easiest way to go at first. Here’s how to do it:
Steam your milk. Follow the instructions above to create silky and homogenous microfoam in your milk pitcher.
Pull a shot of espresso. Naturally, you’ll want to pull a nice, well-balanced espresso with plenty of aromatic crema. Check out my guide to making the perfect espresso if you need a refresher. While the espresso is extracting, make sure to constantly swirl your steamed milk to prevent separation. Alternatively, you can steam the milk while the espresso is extracting if you’re lucky enough to have a dual boiler espresso machine.
Start pouring. Hold your latte cup at a slight angle and start pouring milk onto the espresso from a height of a few inches. Be careful not to pour too quickly – you don’t want the crema to disappear. Once the cup is half full, pause and gently swirl the contents.
Start creating your pattern. Swirl the milk once more, then lower the pitcher until it’s almost touching the rim of the cup. This will allow the thicker foam to start emerging. Starting at the back of the cup, use a gentle side-to-side movement. It’s all about your wrist here – you want the movement to be relaxed rather than jerky.
Continue “drawing” your leaf. Slowly and gently, continue the side-to-side motion while moving the pitcher toward the front of the cup. You’ll see the pattern emerging, and once you’ve reached the front edge, draw a line back through the “leaves.”
Marvel at your creation. Take a moment to step back and admire your beautiful latte. Consider how cool it is that you can make something so pretty with just coffee and milk. Heck, why not snap a photo and post it to Instagram. I mean, one more social media latte can’t hurt, right?
Common Mistakes
As already mentioned, it takes time and patience to learn how to make latte art properly. Still, the learning process can end up feeling frustrating if things just aren’t clicking.
To help you achieve beautiful results more quickly, here are a few rookie mistakes that’ll hinder your progress. As long as you avoid developing these bad habits, you’ll be golden. Pinkie swear.
Milk that’s too thick and bubbly: You’ll need to spend time learning how to aerate your milk properly to create just the right texture for making latte art.
Pouring too slowly: Doing so will cause the steamed milk to separate as you’re pouring. You’ll end up with too much foam left behind at the end.
Pouring too fast: On the other hand, pouring too fast will cause the crema to dissipate. You’ll also struggle to create a pretty design.
Keeping the pitcher too high or too low: It’ll take time to find the sweet spot, but if the pitcher is too high, the foam won’t sit nicely on top of the crema. Conversely, if the pitcher is too low, the foam will spill out and separate.
Final Thoughts
I really do believe that anyone can learn how to make latte art at home. As I’ve said again and again, all it requires is patience and a will to succeed.
Plus, once you’re confident in your abilities, there’s nothing to stop you from taking things to the next level and experimenting with different designs. These include tulips, rosettas and even swans. That’s right – I’ve seen expert baristas bust out gorgeous swan designs that blew my mind! So, get to work and see what you can come up with.
Heck, there’s nothing to stop you from becoming the next world barista champion!
Do you have any tips or tricks for learning how to make latte art? Feel free to share ’em with the Coffeeness community by leaving a comment below!
How to Make Latte Art FAQ
To make latte art you’ll need an espresso machine, milk steaming pitcher and plenty of patience.
Learning how to make latte art takes time and patience. But once you have it dialed, it’ll feel like the easiest thing in the world.
Without a doubt, full fat cow’s milk is the best option for making latte art.
