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How beautiful to draw on coffee. Let's take a closer look at some of these methods.

Each era has its own distinctive features: somewhere great artists appear, somewhere legendary musicians glorify their names, and somewhere the real Overseas word “barista” literally 5 years ago was not yet known to a simple layman. And today he can show how to draw on coffee.

A little about the profession and art

In Italy, local residents created a separate coffee culture several centuries ago, but the profession itself - coffee bartender - appeared relatively recently - about 50 years ago. Who is a barista? This is a professional coffee bartender who prepares all types of espresso, including lungo and ristretto, as well as all sorts of cocktails (cappuccino, machiatto, latte and coretto).

How to draw on coffee? A professional barista will say, "Very simple." The art of drawing on coffee has appeared quite recently, and in order to master it perfectly, it is not at all necessary to complete courses of a professional bartender.

Professional requirements or what should a coffee bartender be able to do?

An interesting feature: in Italy, most often men become baristas, since latte art requires the greatest skill, honed over the years, but in the domestic restaurant industry, ladies become coffee cup decorators.

A coffee bartender is not just an attractive appearance and the ability to create unpretentious squiggles. The profession has special requirements that a real barista must fulfill:

Thoroughly know the rules and techniques for preparing espresso, its varieties and coffee-based drinks.
Excellent understanding of coffee, its cultivation methods, varieties and preparation features.
Perfectly master the flair of a gourmet - be able to determine the type of coffee from half a sip.
Be able to make the most delicious coffee in the world, as well as draw unimaginable patterns and unsurpassed patterns on the foam.

To create a small masterpiece that will disappear with the first sip of the visitor, the master perfects his art for hours, or even weeks, tries, experiments and enjoys the amazing result. Understanding how to draw on coffee is not difficult. It is much more difficult to put theory into practice.

Master class from a real "barista"

Latte art - the art of creating designs on coffee crema - requires a certain level of craftsmanship and skill. Any beginner can draw a simple heart, but to create three-dimensional images or drawings with small details - you need to learn this.

First of all, it is necessary to whisk the milk with high quality and pour it into the espresso correctly. The image itself is created in two ways:

Regular drawing with a toothpick.
Infusion of frothed milk in a special way.

In one case or another, a wide variety of patterns are created on the surface of the drink, ranging from simple figures to true masterpieces of coffee painting.

Drawing technique

There are several of them, but to perform any of them, you should know a few secrets that will allow you to achieve an excellent result. How to draw on coffee:

It is necessary to create a thick base for the image (cappuccino or espresso).
Use cream with a high percentage of fat content. They should not be whipped for a long time - a slight thickening will be enough.
It is recommended to whip cream in a special jug - a pitcher. The device was created specifically for latte art and, thanks to its design features, allows you to create magnificent drawings.
To attain best result, you need to sprinkle the surface of the drink with cocoa powder.

These small but very important secrets form the basis of coffee art. Everything else is a skill honed over the years.

How to make drawings on coffee?

There are several basic techniques that are used to create original decorative elements on the coffee surface. These are the basics of art that even a novice barista can master.

Pitching. This is the main and most difficult drawing technique. To create it, a special stainless steel pitcher is used - a pitcher. With it, you can draw a heart or a "rosette" - this is the base of latte art.
Etching is a technique derived from pitching. For drawing, not only a special jug is used, but sticks, toothpicks or skewers, which allow you to create more detailed images.
Mixed media - the name speaks eloquently for itself. It is a combination of the above two techniques. Distinctive feature- the ability to decorate the picture with cinnamon, syrup or chocolate.

Art is developing rapidly. Currently, there are special courses that provide latte art training and today various competitions and competitions are held in this area, where professional baristas demonstrate their skills.

Stencil and 3D painting technique

This is the simplest technique for drawing a pattern on the surface of coffee. To create a pattern, special stencils for latte art are used, with which you can make complex and detailed images. The technique is available even to an unprepared beginner - stencils are available for free sale. Having tried several times to create original drawings, you can surprise your family and friends with an unusual drink, decorated with fancy decorations.

3D technique is the most spectacular and impressive way to create a picture. Barista from Japan Kazuki Yamamoto has achieved the greatest skill in this area of art. He easily creates incredibly voluminous and realistic images from whipped cream, from which it is impossible to take your eyes off.

From simple to complex

The theory is clear. It remains only to put the knowledge into practice and figure out how to do it. It is worth recalling once again the pitching technique - the basis of all the basics - and the two main shapes - the heart and the rosette. To get a simple one, you need to whip the milk in a special jug and carefully pour it into the espresso, while shaking the pitcher from side to side. This is necessary in order to obtain petals of various sizes. must be held at an angle - this is necessary so that the coffee foam does not fall. At the very end, all that remains is to draw a thin stream of milk - the stalk of the "rosette".

Drawing a heart is even easier. To do this, you need to direct the milk flow to the center of the cup, and then, swinging the pitcher from side to side, form a small circle. After filling the cup, lift the jug and cross out the circle along the diameter with a small stream of milk. So the circle is slightly extended in the direction of the last movement and a charming heart is created.

Latte art is art in its truest manifestation, which is perfectly mastered by professional baristas. However, anyone who wants to touch coffee art can create small masterpieces.

Julia Vern 19 155 0

Milk foam painting on the surface of good coffee can be found in popular coffee shops and cafes. Latte art is a means of self-expression for a barista (master coffee maker), an opportunity to show your creative potential. Through images on coffee, he respects the guest, cheers up, surprises, and contacts with him.

However, the creative approach is based on strict compliance with the laws of the genre. It is known for sure that coffee gourmets, struck by the skill of a professional to the very heart, are ready to pay up to 100 euros for a cup with an exclusive drink.

Drawings on coffee are very original

Milk foam and barista skills

In the early days of the art of drawing on coffee, coffee bartenders made do with the bare minimum. To amuse customers, they came up with the idea of leaving a small “compliment” on the surface of the foam: a simple cream pattern in the form of a heart or an apple, sprinkled with fragrant cinnamon. Soon the figures became more and more complex, experiments resulted in a real direction - latte art.

Now you will not surprise anyone with championships in drawing on coffee. Real works of art are created there, new application technologies are invented, aerobatics and virtuoso performance are shown.

Craftsmanship plays a huge role in the latte art technique. But the main components are required:

the highest quality espresso, prepared in compliance with all the rules;
the freshest milk of the desired fat content and temperature.

They simultaneously serve as a canvas and paints, and a brush is a trickle of whipped milk or a pointed stick. Decorations are built using chocolate or fruit syrup, chocolate chips, cinnamon powder, natural cocoa.

With the help of a sharp object, the barista brings the drawing to perfection

Directions of latte art

Latte art has standards and criteria as a trend that has received worldwide recognition. With the help of them, the quality of the prepared drink is evaluated. According to the drawing method, 4 directions have gained distribution:

Etching. A popular, massively used direction of latte art. A distinctive feature is the pattern on the coffee, applied with foamed milk and a pointed object.
Cappuccino art. Allowed to use food coloring. Plain latte art is decorated with chocolate syrup and chocolate chips.
Multi art. A combination of the first two directions. The skill of the bartender in possession of equipment is characteristic. Create dynamic images in a cup of espresso.
Espresso art. A simple pattern is applied to the espresso cream.

Informally, one more line stands out - "unusual art". Usually this is a way to play a joke on the client, creating funny faces and characters on the surface of the coffee, in order to improve the mood.

Very complex patterns can be created on the surface of the coffee

Professional skills in using the latte art technique

The idea of latte art is to deliver taste and aesthetic pleasure to the visitor of the coffee shop. Masters even more than the quality of the brewed espresso, pay attention to the preparation of milk foam. Density will depend on the consistency and size of the bubbles, delicate taste, the height of the "cap".

The cooled milk is whipped under pressure and at the same time heated to a certain temperature. Another method of whipping does not guarantee the desired consistency and preservation of the applied pattern. High-quality foam retains "art" for more than 10 minutes.

Draw with coffee and milk jets. On cappuccino, drawing is done with milk foam, on latte - on the contrary, with a jet of coffee over the foam. They also use improvised means of various sharpness and subtlety, and for taste and decor - syrups, cinnamon.

A beautiful drawing requires hard, careful work.

There are basic figures that even novice masters can easily reproduce:

Heart. The flow of milk foam forms a circle in the center of the cup until it is completely filled. The last stroke in the center of the circle is the final movement of the drawing.
Apple. A small portion of the foam forms a "peduncle" at the wall. The milk flow then moves to the center of the cup. A jet forms a circle, the cup is filled to the top.
Flower. Direct the milk jet to the far wall and carefully fill the cup 1/2 full. Then bring the milk jug closer to you, making swaying movements so that the foam is poured in a “snake”. The last movement is crossing out the pattern with a small amount of milk.
Rosetta. Simultaneously resembles both a flower and a leaf. The barista shakes the vessel, pouring milk, which creates petals of various shapes. The final thin strip in the middle forms the stem of the flower.

The pattern created by the master is influenced by the technique of the master and the following factors:

the height of the milk jug above the surface of the cup;
milk jet oscillation frequency;
the point at which the jet of milk enters the cup;
infusion rate.

Coffee with voluminous figures looks very cute

Secrets of taste

A real barista always has his own secrets for creating a unique latte art:

The brewed coffee has its own foam. If you sprinkle it in a cup with cocoa powder, then the poured stream of milk foam will turn dark beige.

It is necessary to study well the behavior of the foam when applying drawings. To "pull" the image into the right side, you need to sharply draw a line-jet. The height of the milk jug above the cup, the strength of the jet are also taken into account. Training sometimes takes months.

Baristas know that the main taste of coffee is concentrated in the coffee foam. To emphasize perfection, you need to correctly position the picture. The execution of the classic "heart" allows the coffee foam to stray to the walls. This enhances the aroma and taste of the drink.

Trying to make latte art at home

Delightful masterpieces encourage connoisseurs to reproduce coffee designs at home. The miracle of technology used by professional baristas in coffee shops cannot be found at home. But there are several ways to properly foam milk without special units.

Important!
The main responsibility for quality foam lies with the freshness and fat content of the milk. A watery product will never work. Better then use cream.

The most affordable whipping tool is a hand mixer. Only frothing milk is required simultaneously with heating. Desired temperature- 70°. Whip until smooth with a dense and tender texture.

You can also use a manual cappuccinatore. An affordable household appliance operates on the principle of a mixer. The advantages of the device are in the special design of the whisk - milk is whipped in a matter of minutes.

By the time the milk froth is made, the coffee should be ready. Don't skimp on quality varieties. Cook in your favorite way: in a Turk, coffee maker, French press.

Coffee with a pattern on the foam is very beautiful and unusual

Experiment and create your own masterpieces using any method described or invented by you. Wonderful plants, funny images of animals, declarations of love will be the most sincere gift for loved ones.

Do you want to surprise your loved ones, friends with your skills or treat yourself to a truly beautiful coffee served in trendy coffee shops? Then go ahead on cooking yourself the best coffee In my life!

Latte art is the modern art of pouring frothed milk into an espresso in such a way that intricate patterns form on the surface of the coffee. Also, a small thin wooden stick, such as a toothpick, is used to create drawings.

Usually a professional barista does this art, but we have prepared detailed instructions for you to help you create a coffee pattern at home, even if you are just trying your hand at this art.

1 way "Creating a pattern on coffee"

This method is just the most suitable for beginners.

Required Ingredients:

- coffee;

- a small jar;

- milk;

- tooth stick;

- microwave.

Pour a little less than half the amount of milk into the jar. (Depends on jar size). Shake the milk until a lot of bubbles appear.

Remove the lid from the jar and place the jar of milk in the microwave for about 15 minutes or until you see the milk begin to rise.

Pour into a cup of coffee and use a teaspoon to fill the top of the coffee with foam to the very brim.

To prepare the "ink" for painting on foam, in another cup, dilute half a teaspoon of instant coffee in 2 tablespoons of water.

You can also use chocolate syrup instead of coffee. Dip your toothpick into the black coffee ink, and slowly start drawing on the foam. Now it all depends on your imagination and patience.

Barista's Secret: If you sprinkle cocoa powder on coffee, the pattern will be brighter.

That's it, your first coffee masterpiece is ready!

Method 2 "Using a stencil"

You need:

- stencil for latte art. You can download on the Internet, draw yourself or buy;

- coffee;

- milk or cream;

- strainer (optional);

- choice of grated chocolate, powdered sugar, chocolate powder, cinnamon, cocoa powder (optional).

We prepare coffee, add some milk to it. Then we take the stencil and place it on the cup. It is best if the stencil is larger in diameter than the cup. In this case, it will not touch the coffee and will not smudge further drawing. Now, using a strainer, pour grated chocolate, cinnamon, powdered sugar or cocoa powder. If there is no strainer, you can carefully pour the selected additive manually. We remove the stencil, and your drawing is ready!

3 method "Infusion of foam in the form of a flower"

If you have successfully tried out the first option for creating latte art and now want to try a more difficult way to draw on coffee, then these instructions are for you.

You will need:

- espresso or thick cappuccino as the basis for the pattern;

- heavy cream (30-35%);

- a special jug for latte art or a jug for frothing milk, which is called a pitcher.

We make espresso or thick cappuccino in a coffee machine or brew in a coffee maker. Then whip the cream right in the pitcher. After we get a gentle foam, we begin to slowly pour the foam into the coffee from the pitcher's spout, moving the jug from side to side.

Thanks to this, flower petals are obtained. When all the petals are ready, run a strip of foam from top to bottom - this will be the stem of the flower.

Of course, a little skill is needed to create a flower. Practice and you will succeed!

Try one of these simple ways, and you will get a real latte art right at home. Please your loved ones, children and yourself by turning your coffee break into a real aesthetic pleasure!

I wish you a great time,
Ekaterina Akhmetzyanova, author of the article.

Many people start the morning with a fragrant cup of strong coffee, but only a small part of lovers of this wonderful drink know that very interesting and unusual drawings can be made on its surface! By using this method people confess their love to each other or just want to give a pleasant surprise to a loved one. How to make drawings on coffee is the topic of this article. Thanks to the instructions given here, you will learn the basic methods and secrets for making the most beautiful coffee designs.

Drawing on coffee began several centuries ago in Italy. At first, the images were mostly flowers or hearts. Today, this type of art is called latte art, and artists are called baristas or coffee bartenders, who have advanced far in their creative work and can depict not only standard flower leaves, but also beautiful portraits and landscapes. However, is it possible to do this at home and, most importantly, how?

Drawing on coffee at home - drawing methods

Today, among amateurs and professionals of latte art, as a rule, there are five main techniques:

Etching - drawing with a thin pointed object (for example, a toothpick)
Pitching. With the help of a pitcher - a special jug made of stainless steel, you can draw a heart, a flower, an apple and other drawings that are considered their derivatives. Pitching is the most difficult type of drawing and requires experience and considerable time to learn.
Mixed media is a combination of the first two methods.
3D technique is the creation of three-dimensional figures on the surface of the drink.
Stencil - the easiest and simplest, with which you can master the art of latte art without any special skills!

Let's take a closer look at some of these methods:

The essence of the first method is as follows: you need to add whipped cream to the coffee surface (previously turn them into thick foam), tint them a little chocolate icing and then start drawing any drawing with a toothpick! However, the disadvantage of this method is that not everyone has good artistic abilities. Using this method, you can draw a twig with leaves, a heart or a tree, however, more complex drawings (portraits, landscapes) are best done using a stencil, given the lack of preparation and lack of experience.
The stencil technique is simple in that it only requires a stencil to work, which can be created in any shape (drawing, inscription), and then you just need to attach it to a mug of coffee and sprinkle grated chocolate or cinnamon through the workpiece. As you can imagine, this is done quite simply and quickly!

Step by step instructions on how to draw

Pre-heat the mug, and brew coffee in a Turk. You can also melt chocolate or regular instant coffee, which will be used as a "touch-up".
How to whip cream - one of the ways: heat pasteurized milk to 65-70 degrees, and then beat with a mixer or blender (ideally, a French press).
Pour whipped cream into a mug of coffee, apply a stencil and start drawing. Use cinnamon, chocolate, or cocoa for a clearer image.

Now you know how to draw on coffee. Try, experiment, and you can surprise your friends or loved one with your amazing coffee surprise!

Today, drawings on coffee is a modern art that has been called "Latte Art".
The idea of painting on the surface of a drink first arose in Italy among blacksmith monks. In the modern world, the masters of creating drawings on coffee are called barista (coffee bartender).
Initially, this art was not very diverse. The first images were in the form of simple flowers, leaves and hearts. But over the years of intensive development, "Latte Art" has improved, becoming a very popular and expensive art.

Drawings are the main technologies

The first step in creating a beautiful pattern is a well-brewed, thick espresso and high-quality whipped foam using high-pressure steam.
In practice, there are several basic technologies for applying patterns to coffee drink- using a toothpick and a stencil. The first option is considered the most difficult.
Using a stencil allows you to create complex compositions with maximum clarity. You can make such a stencil at home, for example, from thin cardboard. In addition, drawing on coffee can be done using a variety of syrups - caramel, chocolate, strawberry, etc. In elite restaurants and coffee houses, "Latte Art" is carried out with a special printer.
Pitching is a unique Italian technique. Its essence lies in the fact that the pattern on coffee is applied using a jug - a pitcher, in which milk is preliminarily whipped.
Etching is an original addition to pitching. To implement this method, the whipped milk is first poured into the espresso, and then, using a pointed object (skewer, toothpick), we draw the desired picture.
Cappuccino art - this technology is distinguished by the additional use of chocolate syrup and, rarely, food coloring.
Multi art is a skillful combination of etching and cappuccino art.
Espresso art - a picture on coffee is created on cream (espresso foam).

The most common elements of "Latte Art"

The basic elements of this art include:

First, to add brightness and saturation to the image, you need to sprinkle cocoa powder on the espresso.
Secondly, well-whipped foam is the key to a perfect pattern.

In general, drawing on coffee is a rather interesting, but complex science that requires special knowledge and skills of the master.

Each illustration is an individual manifestation of the imagination of a barista who is able to bring real artistic masterpieces to life.
To date, annual Latte Art championships are held, where coffee bartenders can fully demonstrate their skills. Such events are very interesting, because in addition to the skill of professionals, there you can get acquainted with new drawings and innovative technologies for applying images to the “energy drink”.
The beauty of Latte Art art is hard to overestimate. Indeed, with its help, an ordinary cup of espresso turns into a real compositional masterpiece of thoughts and fantasies.