Unlike with other latte art techniques, starting with a bed of frothed milk on top of your drink isn't a necessity here. As long as your cup of espresso has a layer of crema to hold the design, it ...

Two lattes sit in front of three judges. They stare intently at the beverages, critiquing every aspect of the art on top.

Ainsworth said you can create art on espresso, latte, mocha, or cortado but not plain coffee because the physics of plain coffee are different. Learning to position the steam wand to heat the milk ...

I invested in an espresso machine, learned how to grind beans, pull a shot and steam milk. Sometimes I even try my hand at abstract latte art (which often resembles Rorschach-style milk blotches ...

For years, I used the espresso machine in its predefined way: for making espresso drinks. But as the years went on, I began to get curious about what other kinds of things one might do with it.

Breaking down the art of latte-making A latte is a combination of espresso and steamed milk. So, the "art" of making designs in the foam comes from pouring the steamed milk.

That 3-D creation is the work of Japanese latte artist Kazuki Yamamoto. The 26-year-old resident of Osaka creates ephemeral works of art in espresso and foam.

Latte art competitions are spreading across the country, and coffee business owners are hoping that the creativity - delivered on a frothy, 5-inch-diameter canvas - will bring attention to the ...