Hither are the nuts of how to make latte art! These tips for beginners will go y'all started practicing in the comfort of your ain habitation.

Latte art

Want to learn how to brand latte art…in the condolement of your ain home? We're here to assist! We're A Couple Cooks, 2 java obsessed habitation baristas (and mixologists). After years of practise, we're ready to unveil our tips on how to brand latte art at home! If yous're a professional person barista, this is not the post for you. Simply if you lot're a beginner with an espresso machine set up to learn the nuts…let'south get started!

How to make latte fine art: video tutorial!

Latte art is a manner to prepare a latte where the microfoam forms a design on the surface. It'due south a complex process to master because of the specific quality of steamed milk that's required. Professional baristas tin make extremely intricate designs (and there are even latte art competitions).

This tutorial is intended for beginners who have an espresso car with steamer and want to try basic designs at home. The all-time way to learn this skill is past watching information technology. So watch this video tutorial first, and so we'll intermission down all the basics beneath.

Required: espresso machine with steaming wand

To make latte art, yous must have an espresso machine with steaming wand. Why is it required?

  • You have to achieve perfect microfoam to make latte art. Microfoam has the magic "wet paint" texture that lets yous draw the designs in the espresso. You lot merely cannot achieve this with a milk frother: though it makes a tasty latte!
  • What'southward the best espresso motorcar? Hither's the espresso machine we use: information technology'southward middle of the road cost-wise and works corking. We tried a lower toll range espresso machine but information technology didn't go quite the quality of steamed milk that this 1 does. So it's worth investing a little more for quality, in our opinion.

What's so special almost microfoam?

Microfoam what'due south behind great latte fine art, and it'southward a hard thing to achieve. You lot're looking for an almost "moisture-pigment" like texture. Also chosen velvet milk, it's shiny and has very tiny, compatible bubbles. It's silky smooth and has a sweet, about nutty flavour that makes just the right espresso beverage.

If you can't achieve just the right texture and the correct amount of bubbles, it's impossible to brand latte art. It tin can take months to effigy out but the right affect using your espresso machine and equipment. Don't surrender! Practice makes perfect hither.

How to steam milk

What you need to make latte art

There are several specific things you need to make latte art, outside of the espresso motorcar of form! Here'southward what to brand certain you have on manus:

  1. Espresso car with steaming wand: nosotros use this Breville espresso machine; it's helpful to have a mid to high quality espresso machine to get just the correct steamed milk microfoam
  2. Metal pitcher with temperature sticker: Use a metal pitcher and chill it beforehand, which helps considering the colder the milk, the longer time yous have to steam information technology. Even ameliorate, grab a metal pitcher with a temperature sticker, which easily lets you lot run across when it'south at the perfect temperature! You can as well employ a handheld thermometer, or approximate past hand (go to the recipe below).
  3. half-dozen ounce mug. It's easiest to make latte art when you accept a mug that'due south the final size of the drink. This helps you add just the correct corporeality of milk. We apply these 6 ounce mugs and they work great!
Espresso machine

Best milk for steaming

In social club to brand perfect latte art, you have to start with the right raw material! The absolute best latte art is fabricated with whole milk. You can try oat milk for dairy complimentary, merely it'due south simply not the same.

  • Utilise whole milk. Whole milk makes the best microfoam because it has the highest milk fat.
  • Important: make certain the milk is as fresh every bit possible! Milk that'southward getting closer to its expiration engagement does not foam as well. (Trust u.s., we know from experience!)
  • You lot can try oat milk for dairy free. Oat milk does froth up better than any not-dairy milk, but it merely doesn't make the same quality latte art as a full-fat whole milk.
How to make latte art
Information technology's non barista quality, but it'southward decent homemade latte art!

Of import tips for how to do latte art at domicile

Prepare to get started? Before you lot scroll down to the recipe below, hither'southward what to know about how to make latte fine art at dwelling house:

  • Grab your espresso machine, fresh whole milk, metal pitcher and half dozen ounce mugs. Encounter the sections above for details. Store your metallic pitcher in the refrigerator, because the colder the milk, the longer fourth dimension you have to steam it to the perfect microfoam.
  • Read How to Steam Milk to acquire how to achieve microfoam. Latte art is all about achieving the correct microfoam, so that's 95% of the process.
  • Spotter the video above. Watch information technology as many times as possible before yous go to the recipe below!
  • Practice, practice, exercise. You take to exist very confident in your movements to make great latte art. Irksome movements issue in poor quality latte art: simply information technology's nevertheless drink! Keep practicing until you lot're able to make each design with meliorate control.
How to steam milk

Latte art designs

The recipe below shows you how to make a tulip shape of latte art. Only there are lots of easy designs for beginners! Hither are some ideas:

  • Tulip: see recipe below
  • Rosetta: see these instructions
  • Center: see this video

Set to become started?

Scroll down to the recipe and allow's get going!

Print

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Description

Here are the basics of how to brand latte art! These tips for beginners will get yous started practicing in the comfort of your own domicile.


  • 2 espresso shots (2 ounces)
  • 4 ounces steamed milk

  1. Prep for the latte art: Grind and tamp the espresso, but don't pull it. Shop your milk jug in the refrigerator: the colder the milk is the more than time you have to go the right texture.  Or, rinse it in very cold water, dry and refrigerate for a few minutes. Fill your milk jug to only below the spout, nearly ¾ cup, using very fresh whole milk (or oat milk for vegan).
  2. Make the espresso: Use an espresso machine to brand 2 shots of espresso and pour it into a mug.
  3. Steam the milk: Rut the steam wand. Once prepared, place the wand just below the surface of the milk about ½ inch from the side, tilting the jug slightly. Go along information technology in that position for about 5 to x seconds, stretching the milk by about xxx% in height, with very slight movements up and down. Once stretched and slightly foamy, lower the nozzle almost another ½ inch and tilt the pitcher only enough to get a spinning vortex, which incorporates the foam, turning information technology into a velvety microfoam. Keep that still and spinning until the temperature is virtually 150 degrees Fahrenheit. (Using a pitcher with a temperature sticker is very helpful.) Plow off the steam before removing the wand from the jug. Wipe the wand with a clean cloth. Plough it on for i second to purge the nozzle.  Tap and swirl the pitcher to incorporate any bubbling on height. The final texture should await like wet pigment or melted ice foam, smooth and velvety. You lot'll use only nigh half of this quantity and can discard the residual (see the * annotation below).
  4. Brand the latte art (lookout the video first!): Tap the milk container on counter and swirl information technology to intermission downwards whatsoever large bubbles. Concord the jug a few inches above the coffee and cascade in enough milk to make full the mug about halfway, swirling to incorporate the milk. So lower the jug all the manner to the surface. Tilt the mug 45 degrees towards yourself. Pour the milk into the eye of the mug while jiggling the jug left to right to make the heart pattern (for the leaves), then lift and make another heart design on top (the tulip flower). When the mug is near full, lift the jug and draw a line through the center to make the stem. Make sure to watch the entire video several times to meet how to form the tulip shape. This takes practice to perfect (it took us months!). Good luck and let us know any questions in the comments beneath.

Notes

*This makes enough for 2 drinks, because it's easiest to steam a larger quantity of milk. Discard the extra milk. If you have an espresso machine with 2 espresso taps, y'all could use this to make another flat white. (The milk becomes less frothy while information technology sits, so it'due south non ideal for waiting to make another espresso.)

  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Espresso machine
  • Cuisine: Espresso
  • Nutrition: Vegetarian

Keywords: Latte fine art, how to make latte fine art, how to do latte art

About the authors

Sonja & Alex

Run into Sonja and Alex Overhiser: Husband and wife. Practiced home cooks. Authors of recipes you'll want to brand again and again.