Latte art: the art of decorating coffee

Put simply, latte art is the art of drawing pictures on coffee with milk. Although it is a barista skill that can take considerable practice, any coffee lover can learn it. Basic patterns are not as difficult as they look: a little practice goes a long way.

Latte art, literally “milk art”, began developing in the 1980s. The idea quickly became popular, giving baristas an opportunity to demonstrate not only excellent brewing but also artistic presentation.

The key is preparing milk with the right texture and learning to control it. That takes training, dexterity and a little artistic imagination.

Two ways to decorate coffee

Free-pour latte art uses the stream of steamed milk from a jug to form patterns. Etching involves drawing on the surface with a small tool or sauce. Flavoured syrups, toppings and even toothpicks can help with decoration. Complex designs may combine both techniques.

Common patterns include hearts, apples and rosettas.

What will you need?

1. Your favourite coffee, ideally espresso or a double espresso. A longer espresso can also be used. Espresso’s crema provides a helpful background; moka coffee can be used for practice, though it does not have the same crema. Filter and instant coffee are less suitable for classic latte art.
2. Cold milk with a good protein content. Whole milk, around 3.4% fat, is a useful starting point for a silky, yoghurt-like texture. Other milks can work, but their foaming behaviour varies.
3. A milk frother or an espresso machine with a steam wand.
4. A milk jug with a pouring spout.
5. A toothpick or etching tool.
6. Optional chocolate, cocoa or brown sugar for decoration.

Preparing the milk

Correctly textured milk is the first important step. You can use a steam wand, a frother or a manual method. Pour slightly less milk into the jug than the final quantity you need, leaving room for it to expand by roughly a fifth and plenty of safe working space.

With a steam wand, introduce a small amount of air near the surface and then create a rolling motion to combine the foam with the milk. Aim for about 60°C, using a thermometer while learning rather than relying only on how hot the jug feels. For manual frothing, heat the milk first, then froth it until smooth and fine-textured.

Pouring a pattern

Start with coffee filling roughly a third of the cup and tilt it slightly. Pour steadily into the deepest part, initially holding the spout a little higher to mix the milk with the coffee.

As the cup fills, bring the spout closer to the surface and increase the flow to lay white foam on top. Control the jug to form the design. For a rosetta, make gentle side-to-side movements, then draw a fine stream through the pattern to finish it.

A toothpick, etching tool or sauce can add finishing details. Your first piece of coffee art is ready!