Latte art class

I have always wondered how baristas produce such a wide array of coffee art, from 3D cats floating on my coffee, to intricate heart patterns from frothed milk and chocolate swirls. Since I don’t have a coffee machine with steam wand, I got myself into yet another coffee class.

Latte art can be adding patterns with chocolate syrup, or with frothed milk. In both cases, it is a delicate balance between espresso making, and pouring of milk/swirling the chocolate syrup.

Here is my take on how to make relatively decent latte art (because to be honest, there’s no way I can make it to professional level in barely 2 hours and 6 coffees, BUT I did get to reunite with my beloved half auto Simonelli coffee machine)

Latte art 1:  Foamed milk heart

Before I could elaborate about foam milk patterns, it is important that you know how to make foam milk out of a coffee machine. I couldn’t upload the video now but here’s the idea to foam milk http://hkccea.org/2010/05/16/king-4/

The main idea  to make good foam milk is to maintain the steam wand inside the pitcher, keep it at 70C and swirl the bubbles. Of course, clean the steam wand because nobody wants an insect infection the next day (since insects love the scent of milk and have crept inside the machine for it if left uncleaned)

                       This is my failed attempt to make the heart pattern. The difficulties is not pouring the foam milk in a  (counter) clockwise drizzle for 5 times, but to aim the milk at the center after it to accumulate the foam and finish it. Next time.

Latte art 2: Chocolate syrup patterns

Chocolate syrup patterns  are considerably easier because all you need to do is squish the chocolate syrup in a swirl and then use a toothpick or bamboo stick to swirl out your pattern. But regardless, you still need to foam the milk to get chocolate syrup pattern looking great.                    As you can all see, the chocolate patterns are considerably better.

But again, taking another coffee class just inspires me to be like the teacher who opens a coffee shop due to her immense love of coffee…one day girl…