Beautifully crafted latte art design is the mark of a skilled barista and can elevate your coffee experience to new heights—so much so that you want to try it yourself at home.
To help you along, we’ve compiled an easy beginner's guide to walk you step-by-step through the process of creating simple latte designs using easy latte art techniques.
Get ready to impress your friends and family with your newfound coffee art skills!
What Do You Need to Make Latte Art?
Before starting the latte art tutorial, let's make sure you have all the necessary tools and ingredients:
- An espresso machine with a steam wand
- A milk pitcher or milk steaming jug
- Fresh, cold whole milk (or your preferred alternative milk)
- High-quality, freshly roasted espresso beans (we recommend our Espresso Lover Coffee Bundle for a variety of popular coffee options)
- A thermometer (optional but helpful for beginners)
- A clean, pre-warmed mug or cup
How to Steam Milk for Latte Art
The key to creating beautiful latte art is properly steamed milk with the right texture and microfoam. Here's how to steam the milk for your latte art:
- Fill your milk pitcher about 1/3 to 1/2 full with cold milk. Avoid filling it more than halfway, as the milk will expand during steaming.
- Purge your steam wand by turning it on briefly to release any condensation.
- Insert the steam wand just below the surface of the milk, slightly off-centre.
- Turn on the steam and keep the tip of the wand just below the surface, creating a vortex in the milk. You should hear a gentle hissing sound.
- Once the milk has doubled in volume and reached around 37°C (or feels warm to the touch), move the pitcher to submerge the steam wand deeper into the milk.
- Continue steaming until the milk reaches around 60-65°C (or feels hot to the touch). Use a thermometer for accuracy or place your hand on the bottom of the pitcher (when it's too hot to touch for more than a second, your milk is ready).
- Tap the pitcher on the counter to break up any big bubbles and swirl it gently to create a smooth, velvety texture.
Pouring Techniques for Simple Latte Art Designs
Now that you have perfectly textured milk, it's time to pour your latte art. We focus on two classic latte art designs that are perfect for beginners: the heart and the rosetta.
How to Pour a Heart
- Start by pulling a shot of espresso into your pre-warmed mug.
- Hold the mug at a slight angle and position the spout of your milk pitcher close to the surface of the espresso, just above the centre of the mug.
- Slowly and steadily pour the steamed milk into the centre of the espresso, allowing it to sink beneath the surface.
- Once the mug is about halfway full, gradually move the pitcher backwards while lifting it higher and increasing the milk flow. This will create a white dot in the centre of the espresso.
- To finish the heart design, quickly move the pitcher forward again while decreasing the height and flow of milk, "cutting through" the white dot you just created.
- Serve and enjoy your beautiful latte art!
How to Pour a Rosetta
- Follow steps 1-3 from the heart design tutorial above.
- Once the mug is about halfway full, start wiggling the pitcher from side to side while simultaneously moving it backwards and lifting it higher. This will create the "leaves" of the rosetta.
- As you reach the end of the mug, gradually decrease the height and flow of milk, drawing a thin line through the centre of the leaves to create the "stem" of the rosetta.
- Serve and admire your stunning latte art creation!
Tips for Latte Art for Beginners
Creating beautiful latte art takes practice and patience. Here are a few tips to help you along the way:
- Use fresh, cold milk for the best texture and microfoam.
- Experiment with different milk pitchers to find one with a spout that works well for you.
- Practice your pouring techniques using water and dish soap to create foam without wasting milk.
- Don't get discouraged if your first attempts don't turn out perfect—keep practising and you'll see improvement over time.
- Try different espresso beans and roast levels to find the perfect base for your latte art.
Making Latte Art at Home Something to Rave About
Latte art for beginners is a fun and rewarding way to elevate your coffee experience and impress your guests. By following this step-by-step beginner's guide, you'll be well on your way to pouring stunning latte art designs like a pro barista.
At Rave Coffee, we want you to love your coffee, no matter your skill level. We offer delicious, ethically sourced coffee beans at great prices, perfect for brewing amazing coffee at home.
Fancy a monthly delivery of your favourite coffee? Why not check out our coffee subscriptions service? We guarantee you won’t be disappointed!