"CoffeeArt" news and stories

This weekend, if you're in the D.C. area, you should check out the Millrock Free Pour Latte Art Championship. It's held three times a year and features the best latte artists in the country battling it out for a top prize of $5,000.

The practice of latte art has been going on for years, and is an opportunity for local, independent cafes to distinguish themselves from chains. The precision and careful technique required for each masterpiece is appealing to many customers used to the "get in, get out" mentality and rushed service of larger coffee chains. Coffee art is like mint on your pillow in a hotel or a soft blanket on an airplane, delivered without being asked - nowadays, it's unexpected but greatly appreciated, and denotes an attention to detail that is often missing from our day-to-day life.

Contestants compete in "free pouring," a technique in which a slight maneuver of the wrist can produce museum-worthy rosettas, tulips, and hearts on the surface of the drinks. If done properly, the dark espresso brings out the glossy designs in the crema, producing a stunning effect that is almost too pretty to drink. However, in cafes, the deconstruction of the drink by the act of sipping is part of the fun.

The baristas have five minutes to make up to three lattes using espresso and steamed milk, and are rated on beauty, balance, color infusion, definition, and creativity.

Check out this cool Washington Post video of two guys from an Annapolis, Maryland cafe who demonstrate this unique talent.

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A flat white is a popular coffee drink common to Australia and New Zealand. It is an espresso-based drink in which volumized milk is blended to create a creamy fluff out of the milk that forms on the top, this is then folded in to the less-volumized milk at the bottom of the pitcher, making for a velvety consistency. The mixture is then poured into the espresso. It sounds like a dreamy cloud of caffeinated heaven.

Flat white creators do not stop at the mere mixing of the drink, the true artists continue on to birth creative works of genius. Using a wide-mouthed, curved mug, the milk is poured directly through the espresso so that it pierces the creme. The process begins in the middle and continues outward, towards the edge. The technique involves moving the wrist from side to side while also manipulating to the opposite side of the cup. While following the above steps, the cup can be moved in such a way that a design or shape is formed. This procedure sounds rather complex, but the end result is quite stunning. I have never seen a flat white listed at any of our local cafes but I am going to poke around to see if I can find one, if I do I'll be sure to post a picture.

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