<>Introduction>
Latte art is the art of drawing in milk, or more precisely, with frothed milk. And let's be honest, it's not exactly obvious at first glance.
We have all seen a magnificent drawing in a cup of coffee, chocolate or tea one day, and surely you have said to yourself like us "Wow, you have to be really good at doing that! It looks so hard to do!".
Then the idea stuck in your head that maybe you too could do it! Well yes, it's entirely possible! But to do so, you need to follow a few steps, and for that, the Ma Caféine team and this article are here to help you.
- The necessary equipment
- Choosing and heating your milk carefully
- Role of the "crema"
- Tea & Latte Art
- Basic creation
- Useful books
<>The necessary equipment>
As with anything in life, the first step is to be well equipped. Here's what you'll need to master latte art:
- an espresso machine:
The basis for latte art is a good espresso with a nice crema. And the best infusion to achieve one is a good espresso machine, preferably manual.
- a milk frother/a steam nozzle :
There are a multitude of milk frothers, from the simplest, like the manual one, to the most elaborate. You also have the option of using the steam nozzle on your espresso machine. Either way, you'll achieve the same results.
- a milk pitcher:
If you're using your espresso machine's steam wand, you'll need a milk pitcher. It will serve as a container for the milk you'll froth. It's very important to choose a pitcher with a capacity suited to your needs, but also one with a sharp spout to make it easier to pour the frothed milk into your coffee to create your designs.
- cups of different sizes:
From espresso to cappuccino, don't hesitate to practice on different cup sizes. This will allow you to learn how to adjust depending on the amount of coffee in the cup, and the space left for your heated and frothed milk. Choose ceramic cups, which retain heat better.
- a sharp object for drawing:
To help you create certain designs, equip yourself with a pointed object. This can be the handle of a spoon, a skewer, a toothpick, or something else, as long as one of the tips is thin enough to help you with the details of your latte art.
- a damp cloth:
Have a damp cloth handy to wipe the tip of your chosen item after each decoration, or to wipe off any damage to the rim of your cup.
OPTIONAL
- food colorings:
You can definitely add powdered food coloring to your milk froth. You'll get some unique creations!
<>Choosing and heating your milk carefully>
Choosing the right milk will be the most important factor if you want great results. Not all milks are designed to froth, so you'll need to pay close attention to this.
If you choose cow's milk, the fattier it is, the better it will froth.
If you choose a plant-based milk, it absolutely must be from a Barista range, which is always indicated on the packaging. Otherwise, you won't get beautiful frothed milk.
You must heat your milk before pouring it into your espresso.If you're using your steam wand, equip yourself with a thermometer. You should steam your milk until it reaches about 60°C. Your mousse should have a velvety consistency.
The amount of milk used will depend on the size of your cup. For example, for a 60 cl cup, you will need to use 47 cl of cold milk.
If your foam is too thick, it means you incorporated too much air when frothing your milk. If, on the other hand, you only have hot milk and very little foam, it means you did not add enough air, and therefore did not let the steam heat and froth your milk long enough.
Little tip: If you don't want to waste milk during your workouts, use water with a drop of dish soap until you are comfortable with this technique.
<>Role of the cream>
To create latte art, the combination of crema and hot, frothy milk is essential. Crema is the velvety, brown layer that forms on top of your coffee as it brews.
Latte art involves creating a beautiful decoration that contrasts between the chocolate color of your crema and the white of your milk.
You must follow the instructions carefully so that your crema does not break down with the milk and disappear completely.
Please note: When you are going to pour your hot frothed milk as the base of your decoration, be careful to keep the crema on the surface of your cup throughout the process.
<>Tea and Latte Art>
And yes, the art of drawing in milk isn't just for coffee! It's totally possible to create latte art in your chai or matcha!
The rules and principles will be the same as for coffee, so don't hesitate and try it!
<>Basic Creation>
- Choose your cup and pour an espresso into it. If your cup has a handle, place the handle facing you and then tilt it 45 degrees.
- Take your pitcher with your preheated and frothed milk and gently pour your milk into the center of your cup (still tilted) to a height of about 8 cm. This will allow the milk to flow into the espresso without damaging your crema, making it even softer.
- Continue pouring the milk in a zigzag motion from left to right and right to left, this helps keep the crema on the surface.
- While continuing to pour your milk, move the pitcher as close to the surface of the coffee as possible until your cup is full. Then create your design.
<>Useful books>
At Ma Caféine, we have a few books on the world of caffeine, and some of them are about latte art!
Here is a small selection to help you in your learning:
