Often, cafes and coffee shops serve coffee with something drawn on it. This drink not only has a pleasant taste and aroma, but also gives you a good mood.
The art of painting on coffee is called latte art - this is the careful pouring of foamed cream into a hot drink, which requires mastery of a certain technique that comes with practice. There are even world championships in latte art, this art is so popular.
Basics of coffee art
The main condition for creating a pattern on the surface of the drink is the density of the milk foam. You can check its quality using ground cinnamon. To do this, spice is sprinkled onto a small mound of foam. If it stays on top without falling down, then the quality of the drawing material is normal.
To make the foam dense and last on coffee for a long time, it is made from high-fat milk or cream.
You can beat with a mixer, shaker or whisk by hand, or use kitchen tools:
- cappuccino maker;
- blender with whisk attachment;
- French press;
- steam wand in a coffee machine.
Before preparing the foam, the milk or cream needs to be warmed up a little.
To paint on coffee you may need the following tools:
- pitcher - a small metal mug with a spout for dispensing milk foam;
- a clean salt shaker with holes - for making patterns using a stencil method;
- wooden skewers or toothpicks - for drawing details;
- confectionery syringe - for applying inscriptions or drawing with toppings (syrups) using the engraving method;
- small spatula - for forming three-dimensional figures;
- tea spoon.
Start the process of drawing on coffee foam using any technique by:
- Espresso is being prepared.
- Foam and cool milk or cream.
- Sprinkle cocoa using a strainer or salt shaker onto the surface of the coffee to create a denser base.
How to make a stencil
To prepare such a masterpiece, you just need to brew coffee, add a little milk to it and prepare a strainer. Pour coffee, cocoa powder, grated chocolate, cinnamon or sweet powder onto this strainer. Take a stencil, place it over a cup and shake a strainer over the cup onto the stencil. The stencil should be slightly larger in diameter than the cup. You should not touch the foam or the coffee itself with the stencil.
The stencils themselves can be purchased at the store or made independently. The most common method for making a stencil is to print out a regular sketch and cut a hole along its outline. To make a more than one-time stencil, you can cover a sheet of paper with tape or make it out of plastic.
Using a stencil you can apply any inscriptions, congratulations or pictures. If you prepare coffee or a confectionery product, and later make some kind of inscription, then you can congratulate you on your birthday, happy new year, or any other holiday.
A stencil inscription will always give positive emotions to those to whom you give such a gift. You can get great pleasure from such a cup of cake.
Such stencils can also be ordered on the Internet, but, of course, you can prepare them yourself. To make stencils, you need to prepare a stationery knife, scissors, stencil printouts, a marker, etc. if necessary, tape.
Decoration methods
There are several ways to decorate the surface of your coffee. The most popular are:
- stencil;
- engraving;
- pitching;
- etching;
- 3D.
Stencil
This method is simple, so it’s suitable even for those who don’t know how to draw and have never decorated coffee. Cocoa, instant coffee powder or ground cinnamon are poured onto the milk foam through a stencil using a salt shaker. As a result, a pattern appears on a white background.
To decorate a drink using this method, you must first buy or make a stencil yourself. If you decide to make the template yourself, proceed as follows:
- They choose a pattern: download it from the Internet, ask someone to draw it, or make the image themselves.
- Cut out the inner part of the design on paper.
- Place the workpiece on a dense, flat base: plastic, cardboard, whatman paper.
- Transfer the outlines of the inside of the stencil with a sharpened pencil onto the base.
- The workpiece is removed.
- Cut out unnecessary parts.
Decorate the drink like this:
- Brew coffee any way you like.
- Prepare milk or cream foam.
- Place it on the surface of the drink.
- The stencil is brought as close as possible to the surface that is planned to be decorated with a pattern, but so that it does not come into contact with the foam.
- Using a strainer or salt shaker, sprinkle grated chocolate, cocoa, and ground cinnamon through the holes in an even layer.
Engraving
This method is based on applying a design using a pastry syringe, which is filled with topping. To prevent the pattern from falling through, the tool should be kept as close as possible to the surface to be decorated.
Dark patterns look most impressive on light foam. Therefore, toppings must be chosen taking into account color and taste compatibility with coffee.
Good results can be achieved by using flavored syrups:
- chocolate;
- nuts;
- cinnamon;
- caramel;
- amaretto;
- Roma;
- raspberries;
- cherries.
Pitching
You can decorate your coffee using a special mug with an elongated spout. This device is called a pitcher. During operation, it is tilted relative to the surface of the drink at an angle of 45°, foam is poured out and the desired pattern is immediately drawn.
Etching
This decoration technique is based on drawing small details on milk foam poured into the middle of a cup with a wooden skewer, brush or toothpick.
3D
You can create three-dimensional images on coffee from thick foam even at home. To do this you will need the following tools:
- small spatula;
- tea spoon;
- wooden skewer or toothpick.
Instructions for creating a three-dimensional drawing “Bathing kitten”:
- Using a spatula, spread a mound of milk foam onto the surface of the drink. This will be the animal's head.
- Scoop up the foam with the tip of the same instrument.
- Using a teaspoon, place it on the edge of the cup. This will be the kitten's paw.
- In the same way, lay out the second portion of foam at a short distance from the first. This will be the second paw.
- Scoop out some ear foam again.
- It is placed on the kitten's head, slightly shifted to the side.
- The second portion of foam is placed on the head symmetrically to the first.
- Using a spatula, shape the sharp tips of the ears.
- Use a wooden skewer to scoop out a little coffee foam.
- Draw the inner parts of the ears, claws on the paws, the tip of the nose and mustache.
Using the same algorithm, other three-dimensional figures are created: rabbits, hippos, tigers, hedgehogs. You can add other colors to the 3D design using a syringe or toothpick, dipping it into melted chocolate or topping.
Tip 3. How to hold the stencil over the cup correctly?
The main rule of aesthetic decoration is that under no circumstances should you touch the coffee or its foam with the stencil. If you carefully prepared the coffee, observing all the proportions, then you can simply put a stencil for decorating the coffee on the cup.
But in this case, when the coffee foam is very voluminous, you will have to hold the stencil suspended with one hand, and sift the cocoa or cinnamon with the other. In general, the closer the stencil is placed to the foam, the more clear and understandable the sketch will be.
Perhaps the most difficult thing about using a coffee stencil is learning how to carefully hold the sketch over the foam without touching it. If at first it seems to you that there is a danger of smearing the foam, when decorating the coffee, place the cup at eye level or try to work together.
Making basic shapes using coffee
To help the novice decorator of an invigorating drink, detailed instructions for applying the most popular and simple patterns using the pitching technique are given below.
heart
To decorate a drink with this design, you need to:
- Holding the pitcher at a distance of 5 cm from the surface of the coffee, pour a little foam into the middle of the cup to create a white circle.
- Bring the mug's spout closer to the surface.
- Bring it down sharply through the center of the circle.
The milk foam will stretch in the direction of movement of the instrument. The circle will split in half. The starting point of the division will fall below the circle, and the end point will move down. The result will be a heart.
Bunny
To decorate coffee with such a pattern, pitching and engraving techniques will be used. To draw a rodent, proceed as follows:
- A large circle of foam is drawn just below the middle of the cup. This will be the face of the beast.
- In the free space, a heart is drawn using the pitching technique. The sharp end should be in contact with the muzzle. These will be the rodent's ears.
- Using a toothpick, draw eyes, nose, and mustache with coffee foam.
Star
The decoration algorithm is as follows:
- Milk foam is poured into the center of the cup from the pitcher in the form of a circle.
- Using a syringe filled with chocolate glaze, trace the outline of the white spot.
- The second chocolate rim is made in the same way, but a little larger.
- Using a toothpick, draw stripes from the center to the edges of the cup.
The number of rays of the star depends on the number of lines made with a wooden stick.
Apple
The sequence of actions is as follows:
- A circle is depicted in the center on the surface of the coffee.
- Place a point with the pitcher near the edge of the cup.
- With a sharp movement of the spout, direct the stream downwards, crossing the circle to its middle. This is how the fruit stalk is formed.
- A small circle is drawn in the upper free part near the stalk.
- Bring the pitcher's nose closer to him.
- With a sharp movement, they cross out the circle with a jet, bringing the end point to the stalk. This way you get 2 apple leaves.
Rating of mid-price segment products
Motta
Product from an Italian manufacturer. Designed for decorating milk froth. The set consists of a dispenser and three shaped nozzles. Made of high quality steel, which guarantees its operation without loss of original characteristics for a long period. The quality of the product is excellent. Defects are not found on sale. Reviews about the product are only positive.
Purchase price – 1450 rubles.
coffee decorator Motta
Advantages:
- functionality;
- strength of the materials used;
- durability;
- ease of care.
Flaws:
- none.
Cappuccino decorator COM (02030120)
The products are manufactured by an Italian company. The lid is red, the container is solid, with a volume of 300 ml, a diameter of 8 cm and a height of 13 cm. Durable steel is used in production. Can be purchased for both domestic use and commercial use. An indispensable assistant for bars, restaurants and other drinking establishments. To get high-quality drawings, you need to gain experience.
The average cost is 1500 rubles.
Cappuccino decorator COM (02030120)
Advantages:
- versatility;
- quality of materials used;
- safety;
- functionality;
- attractive appearance.
Flaws:
- not found.
Cappuccino decorator (Italy)
Products from the renowned manufacturer ILSA. Produced at Indian production facilities. Belongs to the classic category. Made from high quality steel. The set consists of one element with a volume of 100 ml. Color – metallic. Parameters (diameter, length, width) – 6*2*2 cm. An indispensable attribute for drinking establishments that respect themselves and their clients. It is in high demand in our country.
You can purchase the product at a price of 1198 rubles.
Cappuccino decorator (Italy)
Advantages:
- positive reviews;
- value for money;
- ease of care;
- long service life;
- reliability;
- aesthetic appearance;
- safety.
Flaws:
- not identified.
Stencil material
As for materials, both cardboard and thin plastic caps are suitable for the stencil.
First you need to find the necessary stencils on the Internet, print and cut out the lightened areas with a stationery knife. Then apply the standard to a dense material and cut out a finished stencil from this material.
If you decide to use cardboard for this, it is better to cover it with tape after cutting it out so that the stencil can be used a couple of times. But it’s best to take plastic - these can be yogurt lids or something else. A plastic stencil will last longer.
If you know how to carve wood, then this will be the best option. In this case, you can cut a stencil out of wood, coat it with varnish and use it virtually forever. The main thing is to make a uniform sketch, which is why it is better to use a strainer.
