Hundreds of customers have been charmed by the latte art of Fomchai Pranomum, a barista at Uliveto Café in Sydney. He creates instant artworks in a cup, depicting intricate designs, and even landscapes, while customers take photos of his work on their mobile phones.
According to Pranomum:
“I can’t draw on paper but I can draw in coffee. It’s very weird, and I write with my right hand but draw coffee with my left hand. It’s crazy.”
Pranomum attributes the ability to work very fast as the key to good latte art, with works created in a matter of moments. Latte art is created by steamed milk forming patterns on the surface of an espresso, a technique that originated centuries ago in Italy.
Jack Hanna, award-winning barista at The Grounds of Alexandria, understands that taste and technique are related. He believes latte art is an important step in making a great coffee, as the art is reliant on coffee and milk being heated and ‘stretched’ at exactly the right temperature. Hanna is armed with the tools required for latte art, including quality coffee and a steaming wand. His most important advice for up-and-coming baristas is practice. He said:
“Persistence is key. If it’s not good enough, do it again. That’s our philosophy.”
The latte art is also grabbing the attention of nearby printing companies, where some of the café’s customers are going to have their images professionally produced for display. Once framed, the photographs make for some very interesting pieces.
