How To Make Latte Art The Basics

Want to learn how to make latte art…in the comfort of your own home? We’re here to help! We’re A Couple Cooks, two coffee obsessed home baristas (and mixologists). After years of practice, we’re ready to unveil our tips on how to make latte art at home! If you’re a professional barista, this is not the post for you. But if you’re a beginner with an espresso machine ready to learn the basics…let’s get started!

How to make latte art: video tutorial!

Latte art is a way to prepare a latte where the microfoam forms a design on the surface. It’s a complex process to master because of the specific quality of steamed milk that’s required. Professional baristas can make extremely intricate designs (there are even latte art competitions). This tutorial is intended for beginners who have an espresso machine with steamer and want to try basic designs at home! The best way to learn this skill is by watching it. Watch this video tutorial first, then we’ll break down all the basics below.

Required: espresso machine with steaming wand

To make latte art, you must have an espresso machine with steaming wand. It’s the only way to make a consistent texture for the microfoam that can form the designs.

An espresso machine makes the perfect microfoam texture for latte art. Microfoam has the magic “wet paint” texture that lets you draw the designs in the espresso. This texture can’t be achieved with a milk frother, though it makes a tasty latte! Invest in a quality espresso machine. Here’s the espresso machine we use: it’s middle of the road price-wise and works great. We started with a lower price range machine, but it didn’t get quite the quality of steamed milk that this one does. So it’s worth investing a little more for quality, in our opinion.

What’s so special about microfoam?

Microfoam is what’s behind great latte art, and it’s a difficult thing to achieve. You’re looking for a “wet-paint” like texture. Also called velvet milk, it’s shiny and has very tiny, uniform bubbles. It’s silky smooth and has a sweet, almost nutty flavor that makes just the right espresso drink. If you can’t achieve just the right texture and the right amount of bubbles, it’s impossible to make latte art. It can take months to figure out just the right touch using your espresso machine and equipment. Don’t give up! Practice makes perfect here.

What you need to make latte art

There are several specific things you need to make latte art, outside of the espresso machine of course! Here’s what to make sure you have on hand:

Best milk for steaming

To make perfect latte art, you have to start with the right raw material! The absolute best latte art is made with whole milk. You can try oat milk for dairy free, but it’s just not the same. Here are a few tips for latte milk:

Use whole milk. Whole milk makes the best microfoam because it has the highest milk fat. Make sure the milk is as fresh as possible! Milk that’s getting closer to its expiration date does not foam up as well. (Trust us, we know from experience!) You can try oat milk for dairy free, though the foam is not as high-quality. Oat milk does froth up better than any non-dairy milk. However, it doesn’t make the same quality latte art as a full-fat whole milk, so keep that in mind.

Important tips for how to do latte art at home

Ready to get started? Before you scroll down to the recipe below, here’s what to know about how to make latte art at home:

Grab your espresso machine, fresh whole milk, chilled metal pitcher, and 6 ounce mugs. Store your metal pitcher in the refrigerator. The colder the milk, the longer time you have to steam it to the perfect microfoam. Read How to Steam Milk to learn how to achieve microfoam. Latte art is all about achieving the right microfoam, so that’s 95% of the process. Watch the video above to create a tulip shape. Watch it as many times as possible before you go to the recipe below. Practice, practice, practice. You have to be very confident in your movements to make great latte art. Slow movements result in poor quality latte art (though of course it’s still drinkable!). Keep practicing until you’re able to make each design with better control.

Latte art designs

The recipe below shows you how to make a tulip shape of latte art. But there are lots of easy designs for beginners! Here are some ideas:

Tulip: Tilt the mug 45 degrees towards yourself. Pour the milk into the center of the mug while jiggling the jug left to right to make the heart design (for the leaves), then lift and make another smaller heart design on top (the tulip flower). When the mug is almost full, lift the jug and draw a line through the center to make the stem. See the video in the recipe below. Rosetta: See these instructions. Heart: See this video.