Zen and the Art of Lattes

 

For readers who may be unfamiliar with exactly what latte art is, the picture says most of it. It’s a design created by pouring perfectly foamed milk in just the right rhythm and pattern, so that as the foam separates from the milk, it rises to the surface of the espresso creating a design. Common designs are hearts, rosettas (a fern-like flower), or, if you are me, something resembling an amorphous blob or an alien fetus. Sigh.

One of the fun things about training new baristas at the Blue Moose is watching them attempt to pour latte art. Now you might think that this has a whiff of cruelty about it…me, the sadistic veteran barista somehow enjoying the sight of a frustrated rookie chasing that perfect pour. But I assure you, with heartfelt sincerity, that’s not what this is about (um, not entirely). The truth is, there is just nothing quite like the first time you manage to create something that looks more like a rosetta, and less like an alien fetus. And seeing other people have this experience is pretty fun too.

Here are a few of the key components to successfully creating latte art:

·         The espresso: latte art requires a good layer of crema, which is the rich brown layer of emulsified oils that will result from a properly extracted shot of espresso

·         The foam: micro-foam has teeny tiny bubbles, so small that the milk has a  gorgeous,  glossy, velvety texture (the reason that I die a little inside everytime someone orders a no foam latte)

·         The pour: as the steamed milk is poured into the cup, the barista has to keep in mind timing (the foam separates from the milk as it’s poured) while at the same time wiggling the pitcher in just the right way

If it all works out, the very best part is seeing the customer go: “wow!” Like a well plated entrée in a restaurant, latte art lets our customers know that we take pride in our work…even if sometimes it looks more like a funny-shaped cloud that a flower.