Making coffee is cathartic. Some people do yoga, some people meditate, I just like to make espresso. There is just something so soothing about the entire process. The meticulous nature of weighing your coffee to the nearest gram and grinding it at a specific RPM. The magical transition from grinds in a portafilter, to syrupy espresso...
On my journey to expand my coffee content... I'm once again trying something new that I lovingly call the Barista Challenge. The game is simple, roll the latte art dice, pour the design, and win some cash. Of course there are some additional multipliers in the mix. For example, if you roll a basic heart, that's...
Do you remember... the days before? The days before March 2020? I do, and it's wild being nostalgic for a time just a few short years ago. Yet, as things began to open up again I wanted to relive one of my favorite experiences of the pre-pandemic days, a coffee crawl. By that I mean, grabbing...
Over my time as a home barista... there are a handful of machines that get brought up in nearly every espresso conversation, and one of them is the ECM Synchronika. This makes sense because on paper it's a needle in a haystack. It comes with dual boilers, PID for consistent temperature control, the legendary (but divisive)...
Latte art was my first love... when it came to getting into coffee. There's something so appealing and calming to the process, but it is indeed a process. Learning how to consistently steam silky, wet paint-like textured milk was the first step, and that took me years to master. From there a barista's work isn't over....
For quite some time... beverage enthusiasts have been making and designing their own glasses to elevate their drinking experience, and the company Kruve has continued to try to innovate in the coffee vessel space. It all started with their award winning filter glasses, then the pro-swirl espresso versions, and now with the new Kruve Imagine line...
Dairy alternatives and I... have a bit of a contentious relationship, I've always wanted to like them, but I feel like they tend to fall short in one way or another. Whether it's how they taste, how they blend with coffee, their foamability or mouthfeel, they just don't check all the boxes. I'm clearly not the...
If you ask a barista... latte art isn't just an art, it's a lifestyle. It's also the quickest way to break a barista's heart, just stir it up right in front of them. As you become more and more versed in specialty coffee culture it becomes clear that the skill of steaming and pouring velvety milk...
I've said it before... and I'll say it again, consistently steaming glossy, smooth, microfoam is one of the hardest parts about being a barista. Even I have my off steams, but now there is a new product that claims to help you get that treasured latte art capable foam and it fits in the palm of...
Life is full of milestones... like getting your drivers license, moving out on your own, and of course your 100th YouTube video. The latter being what we'll be celebrating today. Putting together videos like this isn't something I'm used to doing as its pretty far outside of my normal program, but these more candid videos are...
Long before the days of caramel and whip... the macchiato was a mainstay on espresso bars around the world, and in most cases it still is. Yet like many drinks in the world of specialty coffee there are multiple ways to make it, and of course some debate. This small but mighty espresso based drink not only carries...
The wave heart... is most definitely one of those little known, little seen latte art pours. Personally, I don't think I've ever seen, or been served a drink with the wave heart in it. Nor does it get much love on all of those latte art focused Instagram accounts, which generally post everything from hearts to...
I've talked a lot... about how to make the best espresso, but not a ton of attention has been given to the best milk for coffee. I did talk a bit about raw milk awhile back, but I guess the universe realized this and dropped this article from Barista Magazine in front of me twice in...
The Fellow Monty... not to be confused with the "full Monty", is a newcomer to the milk cup market. At least they seem new to me, I didn't see them popping up until the last couple months. They looked intriguing to me, as I do love all things without handles (note my favorite handleless milk pitcher)....
The rippled heart... is always a nice way to stay in touch with the basics, but adding a little style. Personally, I prefer to do the slow style versus the quicker tighter wiggles because it's easier to focus on symmetry. Plus, I just like the contrast between layers. If you're into the quicker style, all you...
The Viennese is one... of my personal favorite specialty espresso drinks when I have a bit of a sweet tooth. As you may of gleaned from my previous posts and videos, I don't do a lot of flavored espresso drinks. Yet, the Viennese is a bit different. It's a classic, and most shops (at least here...
Hearts are great... but let's face it, a winged heart is better. On the last latte art tutorial I walked you through creating a rippled tulip. This is basically the same, in terms of the base, but instead has just a happy little heart on top. When you're pouring this design think of yourself as the...
The rippled tulip... is by far one of my favorite latte art pours. There is so much freedom in this pour in terms of both the base, the center, and the top of the design. You can really utilize the space and play around. With the rippled tulip, more so than any of the others, as...
Latte art in to go cups... is a totally different beast than your average porcelain pour. Outside of the fact that I think coffee is best enjoyed in for here cups, having the option for to go is non-negotiable. Especially in Westernized societies that are always on the go. While working as a barista I sent...
The pitcher does not make the pourer... but it can help you progress. As we all learn and advance in our abilities we also develop our style. The type of latte art pours we prefer can definitely be assisted by the pitcher. Over the years my style has changed, and my preference in pitcher has changed...
When teaching classes... I've noticed that regardless of the persons previous exposure to it, ranging from some to none, tend to make one of these three most common latte art mistakes These mistakes are pouring too fast or too much to start, which leaves you with a washed out surface and less room to pour your...
When I think of Swans... I think of that scene in Billy Madison. When I started progressing in latte art the Swan seemed like such a technical and unapproachable pour. Yet, as I began to become more and more consistent with my milk texture and understanding the dynamics of flow it really came pretty quickly. Like...
The classics are... classic for a reason. The Rosetta is an uncontested classic, and you’ll find a variation of it in nearly every craft cafe you walk into. Like all of the standard designs it’s also a building block to more complex pours. For me the Rosetta and I have a love-hate relationship. When I get...
Milk steaming consistently... is by far one of the skills that took me the longest to grasp. It's also a skill that I've found is somewhat challenging to teach. As a visual learner I've found videos and watching long-time baristas more helpful than anything else. With that being said practice make permanent, so prepare yourself to...
I'm a sucker for cool gear... but who isn't? Every industry I've ever worked in comes with its gear, and specialty coffee has a plethora new gadgets and gear that I always love to get my hands on. Steaming pitchers are of course one of those pieces of kit. In my fridge at home I've got...
This was my second visit to Coffee Fest... and I'm sure won't be my last. Compared to my first experience a few new things have occurred to me about the show itself that I didn't experience the first time (Anaheim in 2016). These things are all based solely on my position within the specialty coffee community,...
In my training I always harp on one thing... Intention. This is key to being not only a successful coffee professional, but in my opinion, a human being. Oftentimes we are intentional without even knowing it. It's ingrained in our routines, our day-to-day lives. But as this is a coffee blog, I'm going to write about...
Like most coffee professionals... my Instagram feed is chalk full of some of the best latte artists. There is something so oddly satisfying about watching a skillful latte pour. Thats why I am always challenging myself and trying to add new pours to my playbook. As of late I've fallen in love with the slosetta. The...
On espresso bars around the world... there are a variety of steaming pitchers. They are all intended for the same basic purpose, to pour steamed milk into coffee. Yet there are many differences ranging from the subtle, to the blatantly obvious. Some even have no handles if you can believe that. Having used quite a few...
Since Spring is always associated with the blooming of flowers... It's only appropriate to pour some sick tulips. The tulip is one of the simplest designs, but also has so many great variations on the original. You can do the standard three stack tulip, or endlessly add more stacks, wiggles, and even a swan if you're...
To celebrate Valentines Day I found it appropriate to start out with the heart design... Which is coincidently one of the most basic, but foundational designs in latte art. Even as a basic design, there is a lot going on in a short period of time. I felt a video would be a better representation than just...
