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Your support makes all the difference.As anyone with an Instagram account can attest – no latte is now complete without the obligatory milk masterpiece atop.
Latte art can simply be defined as just that. Art with milk. The artist is the barista, the canvas is a beautifully extracted shot of espresso, and the palette is a jug of freshly steamed milk.
For some it comes quite naturally, while for others it’s more of a struggle… Regardless of which, the key four factors that go into creating latte art remain the same: The Jug. The Cup. The Milk. The Hand.
Traditionally plant based milks were impossible to use in latte art, as they would just curdle when heated, but with the at home coffee market growing at the pace it is, many brands have launched special formulas that allow you to create barista standard latte art from your own kitchen… all that’s left for you to do is master the technique.
We got some top tips from renowned latte artist Luke Shilling, who has been in the coffee industry for nearly two decades.
Here’s how you do it…
The Jug
Always match the size of your jug based to the size of the cup you’re pouring into. This will ensure you have enough milk to fill the cup and vice versa.
Secondly, look for a jug with a well pronounced pointed spout, as this will enable you to gain greater control in how and where milk will mix into the espresso.
Like the jug, cups too come in various shapes and sizes. The perfect cup for latte art is one with a curved wall with a large surface area. This will allow the milk to flow freely into the espresso and give plenty of space for the pattern to develop into.
The Milk
Milk should be like Goldilocks' porridge - not too thin, not too thick, just right. You should aim to steam your milk until it’s the consistency of pouring cream or wet paint. Any thinner than this and latte art will not happen. Any thicker, and you’ll just get a blob of milk on top.
And latte art isn’t just for dairy lovers - milk alternatives work just as well.
Luke said: "I opt for almond varieties, such as Almond Breeze Barista Blend, as its high protein content means it steams up to the perfect consistency in no time. Plus it’s nutty flavour adds a perfect hint to your coffee."
The Hand
The hand controls how fast the milk goes into the cup. Like the milk, it can't be too slow or too fast. It needs to be at a pace where the milk will flow freely without agitating the creme too much and allows the pattern to develop gradually throughout the entirety of the pour.
The hand also allows the jug to move side to side to create different effects. This side to side motion creates a squiggly, snake like design used to create one of the most common design called the Rosetta.
And there you have it – your morning cup of coffee will soon be clocking up the Instagram likes in no time!
Award winning Australian Latte Artist Luke Shilling will be at London Coffee Festival this weekend (13th – 15th April), and is teaming up with Blue Diamond Almonds to run plant based latte art workshops using Almond Breeze Barista Blend throughout the festival – and we're not just talking hearts and swans.
London Coffee Festival, 15 Hanbury Street The Old Truman Brewery, London E1 6QR