Classical latte art, which originated in Italy, is based on the use of special techniques of pouring frothed milk in a cup when preparing cappuccino and latte. The frothed milk, mixed with the coffee, forms various patterns and silhouettes on a surface.

The way the patterns end up depend on:

-The movement trajectory of the pitcher when you pour the frothed milk,

-The height of the pitcher compared to the cup,

-The resonance of fluctuation in the shaken up pitcher,

-Where exactly in the cup you pour the milk,

-And how fast you pour the milk.

Some advice about latte-art:

Firstly, espresso should be poured in a cup. The espresso should be dense, with good, thick cremá. Then the frothed milk is poured in a cup. It’s easier to manipulate it with the pitcher, if you make the movements by hand.

In order to make a more distinct pattern, you can first pour some cocoa powder on the surface of the espresso.

When you pour milk into the espresso, try to imagine the nose of the pitcher as a pen.

Latte art demands extensive practice and a good spirit; even skilled baristas can’t always reproduce a drawing exactly.

Basic Figures in Classical Latte-Art:

Latte art has some basic figures, like flowers, hearts, and apples. Other patterns can be considered derived from basic shapes.

Modern Art:

Modern latte art, as opposed to Classical Style, is the drawing of patterns on the milk’s surface with multi-colored syrups, hot chocolate, cinnamon, or cocoa-powder.

In modern latte art various techniques are used:

1. Stroking a toothpick or a thin stick on the milk’s surface, instead of using “dyes” (See below). The dark points on the surface remain after pouring the espresso in the cup.

2. Creation of special stencils that allow you to reproduce silhouettes from cocoa-powder on the milk’s surface.

3. Painting on the milk’s surface with syrups or food dyes. Usually you can’t use regular syrups from bars and coffee houses, because they’re much too dense and sink in the milk. Latte art experts usually prepare special syrups that have a small amount of starch added.