How to Pour Latte Art, Step 1

Now that you’ve learned how to properly steam milk for latte art, you next need to properly pour the milk into the coffee. Before attempting some basic designs like hearts and tulips, you need to learn the basics of holding the cup and jug, and incorporating the milk into the espresso to set yourself up for success.

Latte Art, Step 1 – Setting the Base

Once you’ve steamed your milk, it’s time to pour. Phase one of the pour we refer to as ‘setting the base’, also known as layering or creating the canvas.

Hold the cup with the handle facing directly at you to ensure the latte art is oriented correctly when served to right-handed customers. Tilt the cup slightly so the espresso is closer to the rim, which helps you get the jug closer to the surface of the espresso.

Begin your first pour from about 10 cm above the cup. This height allows the milk to dive under the crema and mix with the coffee. As you pour, gradually tilt the cup back to a parallel position with the floor to avoid spilling. Fill the cup about two-thirds full, creating a canvas for your latte art, and give the cup a slight swirl to mix the espresso and milk evenly. If any areas of white appear, go back over it with the stream of the milk to push the white back underneath the surface of the crema.

Once you have set your base and the milk and coffee are nicely mixed together with a nice layer of crema over the top, step 1 is now complete and it’s now time to pour your design. We recommend experimenting with some of the more beginner-friendly latte art designs such as hearts and tulips to get a feel for the milk and how to pour before moving on to more intricate designs.

In Summary:

• Tilt the cup and hold it with the handle facing towards you
• Swirl the espresso in the cup
• Pour the milk from a 10cm height to dive underneath the crema
• Pour in a circular motion to mix the coffee and milk
• Fill the cup to 2/3rds of the way up

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