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Latte art = good coffee. Common myth

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  • Latte art = good coffee. Common myth

    I have read and heard this quite a number of times, and from my point of view at least, it’s just not the case.

    Latte art does not mean the coffee will be good, or even drinkable for that matter.

    If i can figure out how to resize some photos I will post some pics and describe the coffee used in each cup. I don’t consider myself to be great at art but can hold my own in the smack downs I have competed in.

  • #2
    This is a pic of a flat white on the house blend. Pours consistently good coffee. Roasted well and dialed in nicely. Toffee choc and hints of berries.
    Attached Files

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    • #3
      This one was made in a Colombian Cerro Azul Gresha. Should have been a great coffee. Roasted well and at a green price that most of us won’t look at should have been exceptional.

      However the coffee was old. I did my best but was difficult to extract a nice shot, so this one is a dbl ristretto and I didn’t finish it as it tasted flat.
      Attached Files

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      • #4
        I don’t think anyone is claiming that well-textured milk will magically improve bad espresso...

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        • #5
          Originally posted by woodhouse View Post
          I don’t think anyone is claiming that well-textured milk will magically improve bad espresso...
          Disagree there mate.

          But I did miss explaining that in the second pic the milk was steamed by a trainee which was too think.
          Through some tricks and removing some extra foam the milk was saved.

          I think some people would be surprised just how many assume the coffee is good cause it looks nice

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          • #6
            Originally posted by woodhouse View Post
            I don’t think anyone is claiming that well-textured milk will magically improve bad espresso...
            Originally posted by Ronin View Post
            Disagree there mate.
            Ummmmmmmm.. (scratching head emoji time)

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            • #7
              My main point being that latte are can be done with poor espresso and average milk.
              If you think it must be good cause it has latte art, you may be mistaken.

              I hear it at work and I read those comments on this forum

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              • #8
                Its just like sex.
                Good looking- doesnt mean good loving.

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                • #9
                  /\
                  |

                  Touche`

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                  • #10
                    Of course it doesn't.

                    What it does tell you is that the shot has decent crema, the milk is well textured and the barista has at least some basic competence and attention to detail, so it's still a good indication of quality.

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                    • #11
                      Very true, but on the other hand I have found that latte art absolutely increases the quality of the drink, not because it looks pretty (although I do smile when I am served well-crafted art, which one could say enhances the experience ), but well-textured milk really lifts the sweetness and gives a creamy texture to the drink. It's because the milk is well-textured though, the art is just sort of like a stamp of 'proof' of that. It just doesn't guarantee the drink will be nice hehe. The espresso base matters for sure.

                      Ronin that swan and tulip are incredible... nice work!

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Magic_Matt View Post
                        Of course it doesn't.

                        What it does tell you is that the shot has decent crema, the milk is well textured and the barista has at least some basic competence and attention to detail, so it's still a good indication of quality.
                        You don’t need crema to produce latte art MM
                        Look at any of the vids on YouTube with matcha, hot choc, velvet late (beetroot powder), blue algae ect. None of these have crema. It’s all about setting the milk evenly

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by simonsk8r View Post
                          Ronin that swan and tulip are incredible... nice work!
                          Thanks, but I can do much better.
                          The swan neck has a sharp corner and the tulip was started a bit high in the cup or I’d have another layer or 2 in it. It’s only a 10 stack ��

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Ronin View Post
                            You don’t need crema to produce latte art MM
                            Look at any of the vids on YouTube with matcha, hot choc, velvet late (beetroot powder), blue algae ect. None of these have crema. It’s all about setting the milk evenly
                            Yeh, but each of the examples you list have different viscosity to the base of an espresso shot. When using espresso as the base, surely you need at least some crema to provide the contrasting colour to the textured milk? I can't say that I've bothered wasting a shot to try it though.

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Barry O'Speedwagon View Post
                              Yeh, but each of the examples you list have different viscosity to the base of an espresso shot. When using espresso as the base, surely you need at least some crema to provide the contrasting colour to the textured milk? I can't say that I've bothered wasting a shot to try it though.
                              nah, i've poured latte art in a crema-less aeropress shot. there's the contrast of white on light brown as opposed to dark brown. you can make a design easily. but yes, it won't contrast as well as a shot with crema.

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