Coffee art

over_extracted

Hi everyone,just a thought on the new trend of coffee art what do you people think of this and is there a real need for it,does it show the true caliver of the barista,or is it done just in case the coffee tastes really dad so at least it will look good on the table. :P

The_Chicksta

O.E, Coffee art is done in very few cafes.  It shows true dedication of a barista to do coffee art.  If they do it on shocking tasting coffee, its simply a csse of mutton dressed up as lamb!! Chicksta

Unknown

I actually like coffee art. i think it shows that the barista has put alot of effort into his/her coffee. However, i wouldnt want somebody to spend alot of time on the coffee art and then have the coffee get cold when it gets to me. Also, if the coffee taste bad, no amount of coffee art is good enough for me to go back for a second cup. I think over the next few years more and more cafes will adopt coffee art. Perhaps, one day coffee art would become the new artistic medium, imagine, a dog made from the foam of your coffee. Just brilliant! hehe

ristretto

Interesting coffee art story number 3482:  I just this second finished a coffee in a relatively well know Sydney Cafe that roasts their own and was presented with a brew with some art? on the the top. Having been shown by one of the best going around I peered behind the machine to see the Barista? going at it.  What did I find, after making a mark with a spoon in the crema she would wipe the froth off the spoon with her fingers and then proceed to mark other marks. Moral of the story, art is great, hygiene is better. Ristretto  8)

mimmo124

When you say coffee art, do you mean that every single coffee must have some form of flower or leaf pattern on it? Where i work we usually put a love heart in the middle of our Flat whites, short macs, long macs lattes, with the milk. I also get nice swirls with the milk and crema on the FW and the Caps. As for the coffee art the big Baristas do with all the fancy leaf patterns etc i have never really tried, I dont think it is practical for busy service, especially the intricate designs. As long as the coffee goes out hot and looks nice and not foamy, most people are generally happy. What i dislike is when you have put a perfect love heart into a flat white to try and impress a girl on that table, only to find out it was her boyfriend who ordered it hehehe Mimmo

over_extracted

Hey ristretto i would not like someones finger in my latte either who ever that was that is really bad and should get their act together as for their boss ,hey try keep an eye on your staff what ever happened to hygiene. :P

Unknown

coffee art is for the true barista- check it out at piccolo pade - rozelle. busy or not- ferns with halo, love hears, ferns and love hearts, whatever you waqnt-everytime.- check them out.

johnronchi

coffee art shows the dedication of the barista! you have got to be kidding.... ok, coffee art is great and it may well be a skill worth learning, BUT quality and CONSISTANCY is paramount! and i believe is only successful in low volume cafes. i think it is being used too much by nervious baristas for the cheep thrill factor (oooooh  arhhhhh isnt that pretty!) >:(

The_Chicksta

John, I worked at a cafe that had numerous paper write ups due to: 1. its coffee 2. its barista's 3. its coffee art 4. its popularity There was never a dull moment, if anyone wanted a coffee with art on it and it was flat chat through the lunch break I would do it.  People would know that even during the busier times that if they wanted there coffee to have coffee art on it, they could have it, no questions asked. It is a great skill to have and not just anyone has it.  I still say that truely great coffee art is a sign of passion and dedication to espresso and my views won't change. Chicksta

Unknown

U win Jon! Quality and consistency is everything. 95% of "baristas" can't get master those two things so therre is no point  throwing latte art into the equation.

Unknown

Must go in agreement with the chicksta here. Though the real test of a competent barista is the quality of their espresso, and, like John says, consistantly so; a barista that has taken the time and effort to master latte art is reflective of skill and dedication. I have not met a Barista yet who could do good latte art but made espresso that sucked. A barista that will take time out in a rush period to put something together for a customer has, imho, demonstrated to that person a level of individual attention that is rarely seen in any retail enviroment. The oohs and aahs reflect that. It does not take enormous amounts of time to waggle a jug at the end of a pour. Milk covers a multitude of sins, and bad espresso tastes ok when you add 300ml of milk and two tsp sugar. Latte art demonstrates the barista can microfroth well and is interested in this coffee stuff enough to practice, practice, practice. JB 8)

Unknown

At our place we use 150mls cups and charge $3.90 for a cap f/w etc so the milk can't disguise a bad shot.

over_extracted

Coffee art not only shows the true caliver of the barista but it olso shows the passion that that person has to his/hers trade i have been to many cafes where the barista has tried to make some sort of patern on my coffee and i give them all credit for their effort,to me there is nothing wrong with getting a rose or a picture on your latte. :P