Sometimes art is not found in a museum, or a gallery. In fact, some of the art we can appreciate show up in mundane every day places. Going against my love for black coffee, let's talk about some of the art found in hot beverages, with an occasional fully caffeinated mind wandering to other subjects.I am a barista and latte artist by day after all. I need to pay my rent somehow, and I also need some damn recognition for what I do!
"Black as midnight on a moonless night", yes, Twin Peaks is back and the characters in the first two seasons shared my dark coffee preferences. The third season has shown a more modern turn towards latte's however (Twin Peaks is actually unrelated to this essay, so you don't have to be afraid of reading any spoilers here, I will merely use the show's coffee-related content here).
What about latte's these days, why do these milky excuses for coffee keep showing up with different designs, what is the mysterious history behind this habit and why does nobody question its existence?
"Black as midnight on a moonless night", yes, Twin Peaks is back and the characters in the first two seasons shared my dark coffee preferences. The third season has shown a more modern turn towards latte's however (Twin Peaks is actually unrelated to this essay, so you don't have to be afraid of reading any spoilers here, I will merely use the show's coffee-related content here).
What about latte's these days, why do these milky excuses for coffee keep showing up with different designs, what is the mysterious history behind this habit and why does nobody question its existence?
My opinion on having more milk than coffee in your "coffee" might be a strong one, I do actually enjoy practising making latte art in drinks ordered by people who haven't grown out of their hot chocolates completely but want their peers to view them as professional adults. It's just not really coffee, rather than hot milk with a strange after taste innit?
It's okay, I won't judge. I'm just saying that if you really enjoyed the bitter taste of coffee you'd be drinking it differently.
The history of Café Latte is actually not all that wild. As anything else related to stylish coffees, it started in Italy, where espressoshots were added to warm milk as early as the 17th century as an uplifting part of breakfast and as anything hip it was later commercialised by American culture. The script flipped when the warm milk later was added to the espresso, and not vice versa, and some folks in Seattle found a way to steam the milk to a velvety frothed heavenly goodness and perfected the pouring techniques to create hearts and plantmotives in your overpriced coffees! This only happened in the mid 1980's, making Latte Art super modern and one of the many things millennials spend all their money on instead of buying houses. (Overpriced latte is only overruled by avocado toast. Scientific fact.)
By pouring the frothy milk halfway mixing it and then pouring it over the creamy espresso with some steady and smooth hand- and wristwork, one can design a steamy artwork. Other ways of creating art in hot beverages is by "etching" into the layer of foam with a little stick dipped in the darker layer of coffee, but I call this cheating.
Here is the evolution of my own artwork, call it my Latte Artist Portfolio if you will:
(yes, that second one is meant to look like a vulva, feminist barista at your service)
It's okay, I won't judge. I'm just saying that if you really enjoyed the bitter taste of coffee you'd be drinking it differently.
The history of Café Latte is actually not all that wild. As anything else related to stylish coffees, it started in Italy, where espressoshots were added to warm milk as early as the 17th century as an uplifting part of breakfast and as anything hip it was later commercialised by American culture. The script flipped when the warm milk later was added to the espresso, and not vice versa, and some folks in Seattle found a way to steam the milk to a velvety frothed heavenly goodness and perfected the pouring techniques to create hearts and plantmotives in your overpriced coffees! This only happened in the mid 1980's, making Latte Art super modern and one of the many things millennials spend all their money on instead of buying houses. (Overpriced latte is only overruled by avocado toast. Scientific fact.)
By pouring the frothy milk halfway mixing it and then pouring it over the creamy espresso with some steady and smooth hand- and wristwork, one can design a steamy artwork. Other ways of creating art in hot beverages is by "etching" into the layer of foam with a little stick dipped in the darker layer of coffee, but I call this cheating.
Here is the evolution of my own artwork, call it my Latte Artist Portfolio if you will:
(yes, that second one is meant to look like a vulva, feminist barista at your service)
In conclusion, things like steamy hot milk poured skillfully into a shot of espresso might not be considered art, but realise its history and practise next time you order your double lactose free vanilla latte.; it takes some proper willpower and effort from your underpaid barista, who might as well dump the milk into your hot coffee milkshake all at once. It's all about that tiny bit of extra effort for you to feel the love with which your coffee is served. Tip your barista, or support her on Patreon (smooth subtle advertising, thank you!)
A whole latte love,
Sue
A whole latte love,
Sue