Latte art, step by step

One of the most enjoyable aspects of visiting a café is receiving a cappuccino adorned with an elegant design on its surface. These decorative creations, made by carefully poured milk foam atop espresso, are called latte art. While they don’t make the coffee taste better, they reflect a barista’s precision, skill, and dedication to crafting a visually appealing beverage.

Olivia Parker

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Here, we’ll guide you through the four key steps to create latte art, helping you understand the techniques behind those beautiful coffee patterns—or even giving you the confidence to try making your own.

Step 1: Brew the Coffee

Start with a well-made espresso using high-quality coffee beans. A reliable espresso machine ensures the drink highlights the coffee’s aroma and produces a stable crema—a creamy layer on top—necessary for supporting the milk foam for latte art.

To pull an espresso: force hot water under pressure through roughly 7 grams of finely ground coffee for about 25 seconds, yielding around 30 ml of concentrated coffee.

Step 2: Steam the Milk

Cold whole milk works best for creating a rich microfoam, which is the foundation for latte art. Tiny bubbles form a stable foam thanks to milk proteins, producing a smooth, velvety surface. Starting with cold milk helps trap more air, making it easier to achieve fine, uniform bubbles.

How to steam milk:

Fill a milk pitcher halfway.

Purge the steam wand to remove any water condensation.

Position the wand just above the milk, slightly off-center.

Turn the wand on fully, creating a vortex that aerates the milk.

Monitor the temperature—stop steaming before it exceeds 140°F (60°C). Use your hand as a guide if you don’t have a thermometer.

Remove the pitcher, clean the wand, and swirl the milk to blend microfoam with liquid.

Pour the milk into the espresso until the cup is filled.

Step 3: Select Your Technique

Latte art can be made using two main methods: free pouring and etching.

Free pouring: Pour the steamed milk directly from the pitcher into the espresso, tilting the cup gently to control the milk flow. Begin pouring from about 5 cm above the coffee, gradually lowering the cup as it fills. Patterns emerge at the end of the pour, when the pitcher is close to the liquid.

Etching: Pour the milk first, then use tools like toothpicks, knives, stencils, or chocolate syrup to draw detailed designs on the foam’s surface.