Drinking coffee is a ritual one does not give up easily. The taste of that first cup of joe in the morning may well define the rest of your day. It’s not the liquid itself that boosts your mood; it’s that feeling that coffee brings, the feeling of relaxation and pleasure, whether you’re having it alone or not. A true coffee lover appreciates every aspect of that daily caffeine fix.
Although making an exquisite cup of coffee is an art in itself, the attention paid to the visual presentation of it has been rapidly gaining popularity. If you take your coffee with milk, you must have come across some jaw-dropping latte art. Nowadays, not having a professional background doesn’t mean that you can’t try your hand at creating these frothy masterpieces yourself.
If you feel that you might not have enough time for this or you’d like to enjoy more complex designs and still be able to do it yourself – you’re in luck! While the human artists perfect their strokes, advancements in technology have brought about the creation of a latte art machine which comes extremely close to replicating this unique talent. The Evebot is a device utilizing innovations in 3D that can print a range of drinkable designs right onto your beverage in 20 to 40 seconds.
Let your imagination run wild since you can literally print anything – photographs, quotes, messages, logos, you name it. You can, of course, have it at home for your own unique pleasure, or take advantage of the endless marketing possibilities while having it at your company, coffee shop, restaurant and the like.
For those that prefer the analogue approach, you might like to try your hand in the traditional art that involves only your deft touch. Here’s some advice that’ll help you get on the right path to making a perfect cup every time.
For a start, what you need is a fresh shot of espresso, a proper amount of crema and appropriately textured steamed milk. What is crema? It is the flavourful, creamy-brown froth that rests on top of a shot of espresso. It forms when air bubbles combine with the ground coffee’s soluble oils. The thing that takes some practice is actually achieving a perfect harmony of these ingredients. The trick is to add steam to milk which is then rapidly heated. In order to get the desired look, the milk needs to be poured in such a way that it drains first and finishes with the foam that makes the design.
Although it might sound simple enough, let’s take a look at some mistakes that you might want to avoid while practicing. You already know that there can be no results by adding regular milk to regular coffee. Another thing you should be wary of is pouring the milk too slowly. The foam needed for your design will remain in the pitcher and you won’t be left with much to work with.
Furthermore, the height at which you hold the pitcher is vital for the success of your design. Raising it away from the surface will allow the milk to sink into the crema and you will be able to form the art. Master the height, position and flow, and you’ll be able to pour your own work of art in no time.
There are a number of different designs that one can learn, however starting off with a couple of classics, like the ones listed below, should be enough to impress a few of your friends with your recently acquired barista skills.
The leaf or rosetta pattern: The milk should be poured by moving the jug from side to side until the foam surfaces.
The heart pattern is created by pouring the milk from side to side in one area of the cup.
However you decide to have your coffee, always make sure that it gives you the absolute pleasure you deserve. Made by man or machine, it still provides the same thrill you look forward to during your day. Remember – your coffee, your rules.
