There’s no denying that every coffee connoisseur loves latte art. From tulips to swans, those milky patterns in cappuccinos, lattes and flat whites make consumers go crazy. It’s benefits not only include impressing consumers, but also increasing value in your coffee offerings, as a study found that customers will pay 11–13% more for coffees with latte art than for those without it. It really is that impactful.
It is believed that latte art was born in the late 1980s, in a coffee shop called Espresso Vivace in Seattle, US, when the owner and his team started experimenting with different patterns. In 1989, he mastered the rosetta, and this innovative and personalised touch to crafting coffee resulted in latte art soon becaming popular across the US, slowly spreading across to the rest of the world.
Today, latte art is a worldwide phenomenon and a highly rated skill, with world championships held in different countries every year, which has been battling it out for the most beautiful cup since 2005. The championships test symmetry within the design, harmony between the cup size and the latte art design, the clarity of the design and quality of milk. It’s essential to master all four factors when creating latte art designs, as it only takes one aspect to let the whole design down, which of course includes not properly steaming your milk.
There are many different types of latte art designs, with the easiest being the heart. Mastering the heart design allows you to create the foundations for many other drinks, including the tulip, rosetta, and swan, for example. The most complex designs include lots of innovation and skill, and some of the champions from the WLAC have produced caterpillar designs, dragon designs and turtle designs, to name a few. To understand how to create the heart, tulip and swan designs, watch our video here.
Not only does latte art reflect a barista’s skill, but it also adds a sense of personalisation to the drink, and highlights the quality of the café, barista and drink itself. According to barista instructor, Kolpatski, “a great-tasting drink that’s delivered fast and has good pattern definition is a sign of a professional barista who values their work, ingredients and customers”. Moreover, due to the increase in popularity of latte art, thanks to social media, it has resulted in latte art becoming more of an expectation rather than luxury, as consumers know if they can’t get a coffee with latte art in one café, they will in the next. For coffee lovers, drinking their favourite drink isn’t always just about that caffeine kick, but also the experience they receive when ordering their go-to, and latte art always enhances this, if not only to put a smile on someone’s face.
At Bridge Coffee Roasters, we understand the importance of crafting that perfect cup of coffee every time, which is why we offer SCA Barista Training for all our clients which includes the knowledge to creating the perfect latte art designs. If you’d like more information, please contact our team at coffee@bridgecoffeeroasters.co.uk or call us on 0800 092 8992.