More Latte Art, Upstate Style
By Devorah Freudiger | Nov 17, 2009
At the upstate stores, and in the lab, we've been playing the game of swirling foam too. Here's some worth showing off, starting with a rosetta in progress by yours truly.
Photo by Devorah Freudiger, Gimme! Coffee
Josh H. is fairly new to the world of coffee, but he's turning out lovely loose loopy rosettas.
Photo by Allison Hancock, Gimme! Coffee
He's also working on making them spin in the cup.
Photo by Devorah Freudiger, Gimme! Coffee
Benn is our resident master of multiple rosettas in one cup. This particular pair is a bit uneven, but that's a macchiatto folks. Smallest cup we've got. How does he fit two designs in such a small drink? Don't ask me, I've seen him pour it and I still don't believe it's possible.
Photo by Devorah Freudiger, Gimme! Coffee
Benn is currently practicing his swan. It gets better and better.
Photo by Allison Hancock, Gimme! Coffee
James is great at multiple layered tulips.
Photo by James Neidhardt, Gimme! Coffee
Allison is also a fan of the multilayer tulip design.
Photo by Allison Hancock, Gimme! Coffee
This is a new design she's working on, the twisty tulip!
Photo by Allison Hancock, Gimme! Coffee
This well decorated cappuccino was served to me by Emily H. Alas, I was a little slow digging out my camera from my winter layers and the drink got bubbly. Oh, how the good things in life are ephemeral!
Photo by Devorah Freudiger, Gimme! Coffee
Carrie F Norton Nov 27, 2009 – 4:07 PM
That is freakin cool!!!!
Dre Jan 8, 2010 – 10:30 AM
Wait a second? So you CAN make "latte" art in a cappuccino? I am a barista in Denver and all of my coffee colleauges insist that a cap has too much foam to create designs with. I think when you've got that much foam there is too much separation in the drink and it tastes like poo. Maybe its just me.
devorah_freudiger Jan 14, 2010 – 12:10 PM
Hello Fellow Barista!
Yup, here at Gimme! Coffee we pour beautiful cappuccinos decorated with latte art, and we DO texture our cappuccino milk thicker than a latte. The key is to not stretch the milk too much, and to keep the texturing gentle. You've gotta keep the milk swirling in the pitcher as you are adding air to get that silky mirofoam. If you are pouring art in lattes then you know how to do this. Try adding a bit more air during the first part of steaming, again, be gentle! You can have a thick and creamy cap without taking the milk to the point of separation.
Sounds like the place you work at is looking for a more "classic" style of cappuccino. It's not wrong to serve cappuccinos this way, it's just not what we here at Gimme are going for. I agree with you, in that it's not what I prefer either. Another thing to help with latte art using thicker milk is to polish (swirling in your pitcher after steaming) your milk more aggressively. This creates a smoother more and more consistent milk/foam mix to pour with. It allows you to pour under and through your espresso, rather than laying milk and then foam on top of your shot.
Check out some videos from barista competitions (or better yet attend one!), for great examples of thick, yet silky, cappuccinos with latte art on them. This may help you open the minds of your colleagues, and show them that it's not just you looking for smoother caps!
Keep fighting the good fight of better and better coffee drinks!
Charlie Feb 6, 2011 – 9:50 PM
We use gimme at Andaz wall st, I have been practicing and am finally turning out some decent rosetta's, but thanks to your milk texturing guide I have understood a bit better how to get the perfect milk, cant wait to practice at work, you guys are awsome! Thanks!
devorah_freudiger Feb 7, 2011 – 11:50 AM
Oh good! I'm so happy that post was helpful!