Is Latte Art Good or Bad?

– Does Latte Art Make our Coffee Better or Worse? –

There are many great things we can admire about coffee.

Our own created coffee universe offers us endless versions of exciting drinks to experience.

Furthermore, coffee and its caffeine provide us with very much appreciated energy boosts, whenever we may need one. Plus, the dark liquid comes with a lot of great health benefits. Some people even say that it makes them happier and live longer.

Finally, there is the magnificent concept of latte art.

Just looking at the eye-pleasing and truly stylish latte art patterns makes me enjoy my cup of coffee even a bit more.

But, besides the obvious and visual pleasure for our eyes. Is there maybe even more to latte art, than we may think?

In our today’s specialty coffee world, latte art has surely become an essential part. Many times, we do not only just appreciate it anymore. But, we also expect it when ordering a cappuccino at a coffee shop, for example.

We can maybe all agree that it’s looking pretty. However, is latte art actually good or maybe even bad for our overall coffee experience? How much value does it actually add? Or, does it maybe even distract from other more important values when it comes to good coffee?

This article will look at the question, whether latte art is good or bad, from six different angles.

Let’s find out if latte art does make our coffee better or worse. After, you can decide. Whether you should skip latte art or not.

1. Taste – Is Latte Art Good or Bad?

If you want to put it simply, you can just summarize that any milk-based coffee drink is a combination of steamed milk and espresso shots.

However, that doesn’t mean that they are all just tasting the same. In fact, the particular way you are mixing these ingredients can have great effects. Each way can bring out different flavor profiles and experiences in your cup.

For example, Matt Perger from Barista Hustle made quite an interesting experiment with latte art a few years ago.

Firstly, he made two cappuccinos. Secondly, both drinks had the same espresso to milk ratio. Thirdly, he only stirred one of the two coffees then. So, the milk distributed evenly in that cup. Hence, the former latte art of this cappuccino was destroyed as well then. After, he blindfolded himself and tasted both versions.

So, what was the result?

It seems, that if you really want a balanced cup of coffee, latte art may be in the way of this. In fact, latte art creates a 360 degrees ring of pure crema. As much as this may look nice, it is usually not the smoothest flavor.

On the other hand, a coffee without latte art has the typical bitter and strong espresso crema flavor characteristics. And, when you are combining this with milk. It creates a rich and intense overall flavor.

But, is there maybe also a third option available?

An option that allows a balanced combination of both? Beautiful latte art and a truly delicious and flavorsome cup of coffee? Yes, there may be.

The New Latte Art?

Scott Rao, a well-known coffee expert and author, thought of a possible way.

His popular method firstly involves pouring a little bit of the heavier milk from the pitcher into the espresso shot. Then, you mix everything well. As a result, it removes the initial bitterness of the crema. Finally, you can finish off your drink with the usual latte art work.

In summary, this preparation method may not only remove the initial bitterness. Additionally, some people also feel that it eventually makes the latte art look better. Especially, the brown of the coffee is even more and distinct in color.

Maybe you can give it a try and let us know your results with this method.

2. Multi-Sensory Experience

What is usually happening when you are drinking a cup of coffee?

In general, you are experiencing a combination of taste, aroma and mouthfeel. Essentially, all of these key factors make up the final drink’s flavor.

However, some coffee enthusiasts argue that flavor is actually more important than the other two elements.

For example, Ida Steen, the author of SCAE Sensory Education said the following during an interview on The Little Black Coffee Cup. She said that “some authors would even call flavor a multi-sensory experience and include the senses of sight and hearing as well”.

That is a really interesting idea worth further exploring.

In addition to this, Olivia Auell wrote something similar about the impact of music in an SCAA blog. SCAA stands for Specialty Coffee Association of America.

She said that “if you were at the Re:co Symposium this year, you might have participated in the experiment where different types of music were played while you drank coffee. Slow, haunting music brought out bitterness, while bright sounds accentuated sweetness”.

Furthermore, a study at Oxford University, published in the former journal of Flavour, reported something similarly fascinating, too. Namely, when you are arranging salads in the shape of famous artwork, it can actually trigger the perception of ‘tastiness’.

So, what does mean for you and me?

It means that the flavor of your latte, flat white or cappuccino may actually depend on many more factors.

Firstly, it depends on the particular flavor characteristics of the coffee itself, of course. But secondly, it also depends on the smells all around us. For example, what room and scents are you surrounded with? Is there maybe any hot food next to your cup of coffee? Or, is there music playing? What kind of music is playing? And, so on.

Eventually, it may also depend on the design and pattern of the latte art on your coffee.

3. Value – Is Latte Art Good or Bad?

Some places want to be more than just simply serving food to their customers.

For example, high-standard restaurants and coffee shops don’t just care about the quality of their food. Additionally, they also want it to look amazing.

Because eye-pleasing food does not only suggest that this is most likely great food. Furthermore, these well-presented dishes or drinks also tell a story.

The story is about the moments before. Moreover, it showcases the chain and work process of experienced cooks or baristas having put attention into a great number of details. And, all of this happened to make the best product possible. They may think that their product and food is worth the extra work. Latte art can be a very valuable part of this entire idea process.

Indeed, there are studies proving this point to be true. You can find numerous studies arguing that a good presentation of food eventually also increases the monetary value of your food.

Of course, in this regard coffee and its latte art can work in a very similar way.

Undoubtedly, attractive latte art may represent the extra hard work, dedication and love that people were putting into when making our drink.

In fact, it shows that someone was interested in coffee in the first place. His or her thoughts, ideas and ambition went beyond just brewing and selling coffee. Not only that, through hours of practice they accomplished the craft of creating latte art.

As a result, they can deliver a high-quality drink that does not just taste good. It also looks great. To sum up, skillful latte art can add to the value of good coffee.

4. Question of Microfoam

What is potentially one of the most annoying things about latte art?

Sometimes, it can be real frustrating. When your masterful latte art results in poor microfoam. Maybe, you already experienced it yourself.

Your coffee looks great. Plus, your cup comes with a beautiful latte art pattern on top. However, when you are taking a closer look. The microfoam layer resting on top is very thin. Sometimes, it doesn’t even reach 0.1 mm of thickness.

Sarcastically speaking, you could make the same when simply adding some regular to a freshly brewed cup of coffee.

Some coffee-drink versions simply do not function without a proper layer of microfoam on top. For example, well-made cappuccinos should come with their luscious microfoam. You can literally feel the unique and very characteristic combination of thickness and sweet fluffliness of a cappuccino then.

Sometimes, it’s just sad. It can be a real shame when the usual mouthfeel is lost and sacrificed for a nice-looking piece of latte art instead.

Fortunately, it doesn’t happen very often. But sometimes the whole magic is already gone after the very first sip. At the end of the day, any barista just needs to find the right balance between all necessary factors.

5. Social Media – Is Latte Art Good or Bad?

To some people, the world of social media is a blessing. For others, it may be a nuisance and curse.

Nonetheless, social media became an essential part of almost every coffee business around the world these days. And, even more so, for many coffee drinkers as well. Basically, it is pretty hard to entirely ignore the power and significance of social media nowadays.

Moreover, for any barista, coffee shop or company every like or comment can litterally be like a business heartbeat. You don’t really want to miss out on them.

Every time a consumer shares your drink, it is like extra fuel added to the fire. It can tremendously help to keep the business running and even growing. Personal, creative and unique publicity attracts new customers. Latte art can help here as well.

Who doesn’t like to post a beautiful coffee flower on their profile, right?

However, there are also some coffee shop owners or coffee makers, who would like to disagree with that. Instead, they prefer making their coffee without latte art. Of course, this is fine. And, the coffee can still taste as amazing as others. But, you might also only have two or three followers on your social media profiles then.

Especially, social online platforms such as Instagram are perfect for things like latte art.

This platform lives by its images. As a coffee business owner, you can really benefit from it by capitalizing from your latte art, too. You may not only get more engagement and followers in the digital world of social media. At some point, these likes and followers can also turn into real, appreciative and paying consumers.

Plus, it may even be fun for you after all, too.

6. The Art of Latte Art

Some critics of latte art would argue the following. Latte art is only there for the art’s sake.

But, have you maybe ever seen the work of a World Latte Art Champion?

Then, you would surely know how amazing and creative latte art can be. When baristas are  trying to master exceptional latte art for many years. Eventually, latte art itself becomes one their coffee trademarks. In consequence, the coffee is only a tool and medium for their craft of latte art then.

As a result, some coffee lovers may say that the coffee is not real coffee anymore then. The artistically crafted beverage is potentially over-extracted. Or, it simply lacks the typical mouthful of coffee.

Indeed, judges of this specific latte art competition honestly don’t care much about the coffee itself. They are more interested in the design and overall visual attributes.

Firstly, it is more about the creativity of the design. Secondly, the execution or preparation of it is important. Thirdly, reliable consistency and visual coffee color contrasts across a number of drinks play a key role to win the award.

For example, some of the outstanding designs may feature certain food colorings. In fact, the preparation can take so long that the actual coffee is already cold again. Often, it is not enjoyable to consume after all.

Just imagine, you are sitting at your local coffee shop. And you literally need to wait minutes until your ordered drink is finally ready. Your coffee may be beautiful. But only lukewarm and not very tasty anymore.

In rather extreme cases like these, the value and significance of latte art has completely overtaken the actual value of coffee.

Now, it is more a form of art and not real coffee consumption anymore.

The Bottom Line – Is Latte Art Good or Bad?

Nonetheless, and even then, latte art can still offer value. For instance, outside of a coffee shop, when marketing online or locally.

So, how about you?

How much value or importance does latte art have to you? In your opinion, is latte art good or bad?

Furthermore, what are maybe some of your favorite designs, drinks and occasions to enjoy a beautifully prepared cup with latte art on top?

Do you like taking pictures of it and share with friends?

Overall, there are probably arguments for and against latte art. Maybe, it can provide a better consumer and coffee experience. For example, when the microfoam and taste has not been entirely sacrificed for the sake of latte art. But when the taste, aroma and body is still intact.

However, from a pure business perspective latte art can definitely be of great value.

Nonetheless, in my opinion, one thing can never be ignored. To me, beautiful latte art cannot save horrible tasting coffee. But, terrible latte art can maybe be saved by great tasting coffee.

Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences with us.

Until then, stay safe, healthy and properly caffeinated.

Cheers!