Latte Art – The delicate art of making a cup of coffee LOOK as good as it tastes!
Latte art is the creative final step in the creation of a barista-prepared cup of coffee. Although I’ve always referred to it as Latte Art, it can quite often be found on other coffee-based beverages, such as your classic cappuccino.
It is created by carefully mixing the foam with espresso and creating a pattern or design on the surface of the latte. Alternatively, it can be created by skillfully drawing a pattern on top of the coffee in pure foam.
I’ve always been fascinated with latte art, for it is just as unique as the images created by artists with a pen, brush, or paintbrush. I look at the foam with great interest, watching as the barista extracts a hidden pattern or design that will – more often than not – be much more interesting than a mere wash of color.
I know that it is simply the simple joy of creating a beautiful cup of coffee that makes the latte art experience the most fun.
The Origins of Latte Art
The origins of latte art can be traced back to the early days of the espresso machine. Back then, a latte was made by essentially adding milk and then pushing the plunger to dispense a shot of espresso. Thus, it was very common to see a pattern of swirls and lines on the side of a traditional cappuccino.
Once the espresso latte became popular, the baristas created the simple straight line or swirl that is typically seen on espresso drinks today. One of the first attempts to draw a pattern on a latte was by a barista named James Mills, of Paris, France. Mills started drawing simple geometric designs in the foam on top of his coffee in 2006. These simple shapes are fairly easy to create on top of a latte, though there are some unique challenges when creating the wave patterns.
The development of latte art also spawned a lot of different latte art design ideas, ranging from simple forms to intricate designs, and the competition among espresso baristas has gotten much more intense in the past few decades.
There are a number of different shapes that are most commonly found in the art of latte art. The simplest and most widely known design is the waffle or pineapple. Another common shape is a heart, often combined with the American flag. But the usage of circles and triangles are by far the most popular shapes to use in latte art.
How To Create Latte Art
For an even more advanced look, you can use thick chocolate syrup or your drink of choice to draw your design. This is particularly useful for latte art creations that need to show a lot of detail.
To begin, add your coffee (or the hot drink of choice of your choice) to a glass mug, and begin adding your foam to the mug. I find it’s easier to mix the foam and espresso together rather than mixing the foam in a separate glass, which would help keep your decorating skills as sharp as possible.
The foam can be rinsed off when done, and then you can begin drawing with your finger or a pencil, making sure you let any excess foam get absorbed into the foam to save your decorating skills. The idea is to create a horizontal, spiral-like pattern.
The two most popular designs in the latte art world are The Rosetta (also referred to as The Fern), and The Heart. Many of these unique coffee creations build on those basic designs as their foundation.
At least as far as I understand.
I have never – in my entire life – tried to create latte art, and I will be very surprised if I ever tackle this particular skill. That is partly because I truly admire the skill and delicate hands that it takes to create some of these marvelous creations. And partly because I enjoy the mystery of how these magnificent coffee creations come to be.
Granted, it doesn’t take much to impress me, given that they are making art out of coffee and foam, but some of the patterns go well above and beyond the usual.
If you’re a coffee lover – like me – you will appreciate it when a cup of coffee looks as good as it tastes.
I have certainly not included EVERY fantastic latte art design ever created, that would take an entire blog all of it’s own. However, here are some of my favorite latte art creations, crafted by master baristas around the world.
54 Examples of Beautiful Latte Art
A classic example of latte beauty. This little kitten is almost too cute to drink. Almost. A beautiful two tone latte swirl. This delicate creation takes the Star Anise as its inspiration. You scream. I scream. We all scream… for Latte! I think I might actually be able to pull this design off myself! Which is saying a lot. But I love the simple cuteness of it. Music notes and a swan in the background combine into this lovely creation. Perfect for the last coffee of the evening! Who says that latte art can only served in a round cup! Such a pretty little latte flower. The Peanut Gang gets it’s own delicious representation. Possibly the happiest latte on earth. 🙂 Three Little Latte Duckies – All in a Row. Coffee has never been hotter! A garden of deliciousness! Put some Spring in your coffee and some spring in your step with this tulip-inspired caffeinated design. If you’re as much of a fan of Teddy Bears as I am, then this is probably one of your favorites in the entire collection. Albert Einstein Latte Art A lovely little flower is etched into the foam of this delicious latte creation. Creating Giraffe Latte Art is a tall order. (See what I did there??) Classically elegant, and thoroughly inviting. You just want to stare at this coffee for at least 28 seconds before drinking it down… art and all. This adorable creation is perfect for the cat lover. A beautiful butterfly floating on the lovely foam of a beautiful latte. This classic fern design also looks like the symbol for Wi-Fi. Perfect for an Internet Cafe. A simple smiley face is surrounded by swirls that bring to mind sun and summer. It takes two cups of coffee to create this fun 3D Cats foam art. An intricate heart surround by caffeinated curls. Taking traditional latte art and making it very colorful! A simple (for those who know what they’re doing) but unique and lovely coffee creation. For those who like their coffee with a little something added. The likeness might not be on point, but that’s quite a unique latte design. Classically elegant latte presentation. This adorable little bear looks quite content in his (or her) bubble bath. That is, until you start drinking the bear with the bath water. Haven’t you always wanted a monkey? Latte Art doesn’t have to be super intricate to be truly beautiful. These may not be the most intricate of designs, but they are lovely. Such a quaint little bouquet of latte flowers! A coffee within a coffee.. for the true coffer lover! This reminds me of bleeding heart flowers, with the hearts dangling from the stem. A cup of coffee that will make you smile, if you do what you’re told! This 3D Swirly Star looks like it’s about to overflow the cup. Sharp contrast in the fern with some dusting on the side to frame it off. Most likely a teddy bear paw, but still… super cute! Monkey See. Monkey Drink. Monkey Gone. Show your love for fine coffee with hearts. Lots and lots of hearts. The elegance of the swan and the deliciousness of coffee combined in a single cup. A simple but lovely design is all you need to make a latte feel really special. If you love flying, then this is the latte for you! Best served at or near an airport. That’s a BIG bowl of coffee with a large and beautiful flower on top. Such a cute little kitten looking up at you from your coffee. I dare you to drink it. (Never mind, that’s an easy dare). The classic fern design, but with a sharp contrast that makes it really stand out. Best for use with Irish Coffee. A delicate little flower on a sea of foam. Get hopping with an extra shot of espresso! The classic Banksy painting “Girl With Balloon” becomes a lovely piece of drinkable art.
Those are just a few of the fun examples that I loved. It is certainly not an all-encompassing list, but it should be enough to fuel your creativity and stir your desire for a beautiful cup of coffee.
Looking for More Extraordinary Latte Art?
There are hundreds of examples to be found on Pinterest!
Think You Can Do Better?
If you’re an expert at the art of latte creation and have some beautiful designs that you think deserve a place in this hall of fame, contact us and let us know about your creation.
You might find yourself and your artistic latte creation featured in this gallery!