Latte art

Latte art is a method of preparing coffee created by pouring microfoam into a shot of espresso and resulting in a pattern or design on the surface of the latte. It can also be created or embellished by simply "drawing" in the top layer of foam. Latte art is particularly difficult to create consistently, due to the demanding conditions required of both the espresso shot and milk.[1] This, in turn, is limited by the experience of the barista and quality of the espresso machine. The pour itself, then, becomes the last challenge for the latte artist. The term is not reserved to latte coffee only, it also applies for other beverages containing milk foam like cappuccino and hot chocolate.

Cappuccino with an example of a "tulip"
Four examples of latte art. The top right drink is a cappuccino; the others are lattes.
A latte with a tulip in the centre, above are two series of hearts, along the bottom a combined rosetta and a series of hearts.
Example of a free-poured flat white with feather pattern

History

Latte art developed independently in different countries, following the introduction of espresso and the development of microfoam, the combination of crema (which is an emulsion of coffee oil and brewed coffee) and microfoam allowing the pattern; it presumably was initially developed in Italy.[note 1]

In the United States, latte art was developed in Seattle in the 1980s and 1990s, and particularly popularized by David Schomer.[2] Schomer credits the development of microfoam ("velvet foam" or "milk texturing") to Jack Kelly of Uptown espresso in 1986, and by 1989 the heart pattern was established and a signature at Schomer's Espresso Vivace. The rosette pattern was then developed by Schomer in 1992, recreating the technique based on a photograph he saw from Cafe Mateki in Italy.[3] Schomer subsequently popularized latte art in his course "Caffe Latte Art". At the same time Luigi Lupi from Italy met Schomer on the internet and they exchanged videos they made on Latteart and Cappuccini Decorati. Luigi Lupi involved and growth up this art and invented the Tulip in Salonnico during an Exhibition in the MUSETTI booth (2004).

Chemistry
Further information: Microfoam § Chemical and physical properties

Latte art is a mixture of two colloids: the crema, which is an emulsion of coffee oil and brewed coffee; and the microfoam, which is a foam of air in milk. Milk itself is an emulsion of butterfat in water, while coffee is a mixture of coffee solids in water. Neither of these colloids are stable – crema dissipates from espresso, while microfoam separates into drier foam and liquid milk – both degrading significantly in a matter of seconds, and thus latte art lasts only briefly.

Technique
See also: Microfoam § Procedure

Latte art requires first producing espresso with crema and microfoam, and then combining these to make latte art. See microfoam: procedure for how microfoam is made; this article concentrates on the latte art once the foam is made.

Before the milk is added, the espresso shot must have a creamy brown surface, an emulsion known as crema. As the white foam from the milk rises to meet the red/brown surface of the shot, a contrast is created and the design emerges. As the milk is poured, the foam separates from the liquid and rises to the top. If the milk and espresso shot are "just right", and the pitcher is moved during the pour, the foam will rise to create a pattern on the surface. Alternatively, a pattern may be etched with a stick after the milk has been poured, rather than during the pour.

Some controversy exists within the coffee community as to whether or not there is excessive focus on latte art amongst baristas. The argument is that too much focus on the superficial appearance of a drink leads some to ignore more important issues, such as taste.[4] This is especially relevant with new baristas.

Styles
The winner of a free-pouring championship creating his signature latte art, that of an angel surfing on waves.

There are two main types of latte art: free pouring (pattern created during the pour) and etching (using a tool to create a pattern after the pour). Free pouring is far more common in American cafés, and requires little additional time in preparing a drink.

Free pouring

The two most common forms of poured latte art are a heart shape and the "rosetta" or "rosette",[note 2] also known as "fern" which resembles a type of flower or fern.[5] Of these, hearts are simpler and more common in macchiatos, while rosettes are more complex and more common in lattes.

For free pouring, the cup is either kept level or tilted in one direction. As the milk is poured straight into the cup, the foam begins to surface on one side (due to the tilt). The barista then moves the pitcher from side to side as they level the cup, or simply wiggle the spout back and forth, and finishes by making a quick strike through the previously poured pattern. This "strike" creates the stem portion of the flower design, and bends the poured zig-zag into a flower shape.

A more direct pour and less wiggling yields a heart shape, and minor variation (reduced lobes, larger stem) yields an apple shape.

More complex patterns are possible, some requiring multiple pours. Some examples of advanced latte art techniques are that of the tulip, wave heart, swan, or even a scorpion.[6]

Etching
Etching latte art.

Etched patterns range from simple geometric shapes to complicated drawings, such as crosshatching, images of animals and flowers, and are generally performed with a coffee stirrer of some sort. Etched latte art typically has a shorter lifespan than free poured latte art as the foam dissolves into the latte more quickly.

A crude but quick method with cappuccino is to pour chocolate powder through a metal cutout in which an image, typically a flower, has been incised. This is favoured by chain coffee shops like Costa where speed is of the essence when serving large numbers of clients during peak times.

Variants

Latte art is made by adding microfoam to espresso. Similar patterns, though much fainter, can be achieved by adding microfoam to brewed coffee, as in a café au lait or tea. Alternatively, patterns can be etched in the crema of an espresso, without adding any milk, in order to yield espresso art.

Notes
  1. David Schomer (Schomer 1994) describes pitcher-shaking in latte art as "quite standard in the world of Italian espresso preparation", indicating that it was well established in Italy by this time.
  2. Both the Italianate rosetta and the Anglicized rosette are used to describe this pattern; compare doppio and double for a double shot of espresso.
gollark: That definition seems pretty orthogonal to actual common meanings.
gollark: One could say it's kind of bees.
gollark: English is very flexible about horribly misusing words.
gollark: That's obviously insulty but in a weird way, it's better to be more surreal.
gollark: "Utter octahedron" and such.

References
  1. Imam, Febri. "Latte Art Guide". CoffeeGeek. Retrieved 2011-10-26.
  2. Bonné, Jon (May 9, 2003). "Meet espresso's exacting master — Food Inc". NBC News, MSNBC. Archived from the original on July 30, 2016.
  3. Schomer (1994). "Latte Art 101". CoffeTalke. espressovivace.com. p. 13.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  4. "Anti Latte Art". CoffeeGeek. Retrieved 2011-10-26.
  5. "Rate my Rosetta". Rate my Rosetta. Retrieved 2011-10-26.
  6. "What Is Latte Art?", latteartguide.com
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