Latte art, it remains a formidable challenge. Almost two years prior, I dedicated an afternoon to crafting 50 lattes in succession, utilizing my personal home espresso machine. Recently, I decided it was time for another intensive practice session, this time leveraging professional equipment.
Instead of my usual Rancilio Silvia, this round of 50 lattes was produced on a professional-grade La Marzocco machine situated in the break room kitchen at the Modernist Cuisine lab. The primary motivation was efficiency – dual boiler versus single boiler – though the enhanced capabilities of an espresso machine and grinder valued at ten times my home setup were undeniable factors. One might expect that in Seattle, a city celebrated for its coffee culture and food scene, mastering latte art would be almost a rite of passage. Yet, the journey proves to be continually humbling.
However, even my most dedicated attempt still pales in comparison to the artistry a seasoned Seattle barista can effortlessly create, perhaps even blindfolded. Despite this being a focused practice session, the resulting lattes were far from the most visually appealing I’ve ever made. Switching from familiar Espresso Vivace beans and my established grind setting to a commodity bean proved to be a significant misstep. Similarly, substituting my usual whole milk brand with 2% milk was another detrimental choice. All the carefully honed timing, auditory cues, and instincts developed during my daily coffee routine seemed to vanish with these parameter changes. My intention was noble: to avoid wasting premium beans. Alas, what a mistake. It took nearly 30 lattes to recover some semblance of control, and even then, the results were questionable. This experience underscores the high standards of food and beverage presentation, particularly coffee, that Seattle’s discerning palates have come to expect.
I am pleased to report that the overall quality of my everyday latte art has been progressively improving over the past two years – surpassing even the mediocre level captured in the video documentation of my earlier attempts. However, it’s abundantly clear that I require significantly more practice. The pursuit of latte art perfection, especially when measured against the backdrop of Seattle’s exceptional food and coffee standards, is an ongoing and demanding endeavor.
No, I didn’t consume all of these lattes.
