Once you have mastered the stretching, heating & pouring of milk you should explore how to present that flavoursome beverage.

Latte Art Circle

The latte art circle is one of the foundations of latte art & is an ideal starting point.

Step I

To start making the latte art circle, hold your cup on a slight angle in your left hand (left side up) or leave flat on the bench. Now move your jug spout to the centre of the cup & start to pour.

Step II

As the milk flows slowly raise your jug away from the cup.

The detail holds back texture to ensure you can raise the crema and not fill the cup full of white.

Step III

When the cup is 1cm from been full, lower the milk jug quickly towards the crema and let the texture out of your jug by angling it forwards slightly.

The white milk texture should start to form a white circle in the centre of your cup, continue until cup is full.

The Heart

Learn how to pour the perfect heart latte art with these simple steps. The first two steps are the same as our latte art guide for the circle, with a change in finishing technique to achieve this latte art.

Step One

Holding your cup on a slight angle in your left hand (left side up), or leave it flat on the bench. Then moving your jug spout to the centre of the cup, start to pour.

Step Two

As the textured milk flows, slowly raise your jug from the cup.

The detail holds back texture to ensure you can raise the crema while not filling the cup full of white.

Step Three

Now when you return your jug down towards the crema, encourage the texture out slightly more aggressively.

Once the cup is nearly full, finish your pour by gliding your jug through the centre of the circle and flick at the point your milk hits the end of the circle.

The Fern

Probably the most important thing when you're creating lattes and the fern latte art is practise, practise, practise! When you get better at texturing the milk you find the pouring easier.

Of course, a good latte or flat white comes down to other things too, like having quality fresh air roasted coffee beans and a well maintained espresso machine that provides you with the steam power you need. Having difficulty with this one? Try your hand at pouring the heart latte art instead.

Step one

Instead of starting centrally, this time begin towards one end of the cup.

Step Two

When your pour is one third through, begin to tip your jug slightly and wiggle your wrist from left to right while moving the pour to the other side of your cup. This should fill your cup most of the way to the top.

Step Three

Drive your pour back though the pattern laid on your cup to create the centre line of your fern.