Slowly but surely we are coming to the end of our online barista course. We have not yet fully addressed a particularly important but also interesting part that should be part of every online barista course. It is about latte art. Never heard of it?
Latte art is the greatest art of pouring cappuccino. It is artistic decorations in the milk foam that make every cappuccino, flat white or cortado a real eye-catcher. But latte art also has an influence on the taste experience . A lot of it is about the right pouring technique and the correct mixing of espresso and milk . But what is latte art and how does latte art work exactly? We will deal with that in the last two parts of our online barista course! Our barista Robin Matthjisse will show you exactly what is important for good latte art. Elias Fischbacher from the Wildkaffee Rösterei wishes you lots of fun trying it out.
What is Latte Art - where does the term come from, where does the art come from?
Latte art is made up of the words latte (Italian for milk) and art (English for art). Translated, latte art simply means milk art. The term can also be traced back to Italy, the country where the cappuccino and many other milk-based coffee drinks originated.
Just like the term barista, which refers to a bartender who prepares coffee drinks based on espresso, the term latte art was first used in Italy . Latte art is a basic skill for every barista and describes the ability to conjure up artistic figures in your cappuccino cup using creamy, foamed milk.
What is Latte Art - Is Latte Art Important?
The art and goal of cappuccino preparation lies in the harmonious interaction of the three basic components of the Italian classic: espresso, milk and milk foam. However, other coffee drinks such as flat white , café au lait or cortado can also be prepared from these basic components. Therefore, the ideal mixing ratio of the cappuccino is essential.
One third of the cappuccino consists of espresso, the remaining two thirds of milk and milk foam. The transition from milk to milk foam should be as smooth as possible. This means that the foam should not be too thick, otherwise it will float on the coffee-milk mixture , which is not only unsexy, but also simply not convincing in terms of taste. Pouring milk correctly for a cappuccino ensures that the Italian classic tastes as expected! You will find out exactly what you need to pay attention to in the next sections.
What is Latte Art - The reference to the third coffee wave
Latte art only found its way to Germany as part of the third coffee wave , also known as the Third Coffee Wave. The Third Coffee Wave arrived in German-speaking countries around 15 years ago and brought the wide world of specialty coffee to Europe.
From that point on, single-origin coffees from different countries became increasingly popular and the perspective on the quality of the coffee gradually improved. Since then, people have taken significantly more time to enjoy and prepare coffee so that the end result is as flavorful as possible. This coffee hype is also being celebrated on social media. Latte art and the many different preparation methods are quite photogenic and therefore offer excellent image material for Instagram. But short videos of latte art, preparation methods and recipes on TikTok are also particularly popular today. Regular visits to the café have thus developed into a real lifestyle!
What is Latte Art - The perfect milk for Latte Art
In the 5th part of our online barista course, we have already devoted ourselves entirely to the perfect milk for cappuccino. In this section, however, we will briefly recap or remind you of the topic "What is latte art?" Our barista Robin recommends whole milk with a high fat content, around 3.8%, and a high protein content of around 3.5%. Fresh milk tastes particularly good, as UHT milk tastes a little more bitter than fresh milk.
It's best to use milk from farms in your region . Not only does it taste great, it also supports local farmers and the local economy . If you want a plant-based alternative, we recommend the Oatly Barista Edition . An oat milk with special pouring properties and a taste that is almost indistinguishable from conventional cow's milk.
What is Latte Art - The cup also plays a role!
It is not the size that is important for the perfect latte art. The shape of the cup is what determines how detailed your latte art can be. It is particularly important that the milk can easily break up the crema of the espresso. This creates the optimal composition between coffee and milk and also allows the creamy milk foam to rise to the top. This technique makes the artistic motifs really visible and therefore stand out perfectly.
The light brown background of the patterns shows you that the cappuccino, or any other milk coffee drink, has been poured perfectly. It is the best possible mixture that makes your perfect cappuccino with perfect latte art . The optimal cup is quite narrow at the bottom and gets wider at the top. This also ensures that the latte art is clearly visible and that the coffee and milk can be mixed excellently.
Conclusion!
What is latte art? Latte art is the art in your coffee cup! It is created with foamed milk and gives your coffee cup that certain something extra. But latte art not only looks good, it also ensures recognition and a positive impression on your customers or friends. In addition, latte art, as well as other preparation methods, is particularly photogenic and therefore often ends up on TikTok, Instagram & Co! So it is also a good external advertising medium . 😀
If the latte art is poured correctly, you can see whether the espresso and milk have mixed to create a flavorful composition . Ideally, the latte art should be clearly visible on a light brown layer. The coffee cup and milk have a particularly big influence on the end result of your latte art and your delicious drink. Are you now interested in making your own cappuccino with artistic latte art? Then get ready for the next and final part of our online barista course! There we will show you in detail what you need for latte art and how you can learn latte art. In the meantime, we hope you have fun taking part! #staywild
