Latte Art for Beginners: Create Café-Worthy Designs at Home ☕🎨

Ever ordered a coffee so beautiful you almost didn’t want to drink it? (Almost.) Latte art takes your daily brew from basic to barista level, turning every cup into a masterpiece. And guess what? You don’t need a fancy café setup or years of experience to do it, you just need a bit of practice and the right coffee!

Don’t be put off if your latte art looks more like an abstract masterpiece than a perfect heart! The truth is, great coffee is all about taste, not how it looks. That velvety microfoam and rich espresso will be just as delicious, with or without a swan on top. Latte art is just a fun extra. So... enjoy the process

At RISE Coffee Box | B Corp, we’re all about making specialty coffee fun, accessible, and ethical. We send you the best independent, taste tested coffees every month, so you can experiment with high quality beans and elevate your coffee game at home. Today, we’re diving into the magical world of latte art so you can hopefully give it a go and enjoy it along the way.

Step One: Get Your Essentials Ready

You don’t need a professional coffee shop setup, but a few key tools will make all the difference:

✔ Espresso Machine – A solid shot of espresso is the base of all great latte art. If you don't have a machine, check out the next section below.
✔ Milk Steaming Wand (usually on your espresso machine) – Essential for creating that smooth, silky microfoam.
✔ Steam Pitcher (usually comes with your espresso machine) – A metal jug with a pointed spout for precision pouring.
✔ Fresh, High-Quality Coffee – The foundation of everything. Luckily, we’ve got you covered. 😉 - if you are running low on coffee order online here
✔ Milk (or Alternative) – Whole milk works best, but oat milk (Barista edition) is a fantastic alternative.

Bonus Extras: A thermometer (to get the milk temperature just right) and a toothpick (for detailed designs) can take your skills to the next level.

No Espresso Machine? No Problem!

🚀 Aeropress or Moka Pot – These can make strong, espresso like coffee, which works just as well for latte art. Don't make a filter as this will be too light. 
🚀 French Press – Brew a stronger coffee (using less water), then froth the milk separately.

No Steaming Wand? Try These Altneratives!

🔄 French Press – Pour warm milk in and pump the plunger up and down until foamy.
🔄 Handheld Frother – Battery powered whisks can aerate milk in seconds.
🔄 Mason Jar Trick – Shake warm milk in a sealed jar until frothy, then microwave for 20 seconds to stabilise it.

No Pitcher?

A small jug, measuring cup, or anything with a narrow spout can work for pouring patterns just be precise! Even a gravy jug will do!

Step Two: Master the Microfoam

Steaming milk is an art in itself, and the key to latte art success is getting the perfect microfoam. Here’s how:

1️⃣ Fill your steam pitcher with cold milk.
2️⃣ Submerge the steam wand and turn it on. Keep it just below the surface to create that creamy foam.
3️⃣ Once the milk starts expanding, move the wand a little deeper and let it swirl into a velvety texture. For more foam, move it higher up the jug.
4️⃣ Aim for 55-65°C (or stop when you can’t touch the jug for more than a second).

🌟 Pro Tip: If your milk is too bubbly or flat, don’t stress! It takes practice, and even baristas mess it up sometimes.

Step Three: Pour Like a Pro

Now for the fun part! Turn that silky microfoam into a work of art! Hold your espresso cup at a slight angle and pour slowly, letting the milk mix with the coffee. As the cup fills, bring the pitcher closer to the surface to create patterns.

Five Easy Latte Art Designs to Try

💖 Heart – Start pouring in the center, then pull your pitcher up quickly at the end for that signature heart shape.

🌿 Tulip – Layer small blobs of milk on top of each other, then cut through the middle with a quick pull.

🦢 Swan – One of the hardest designs to make! First, create a tulip, then drag a fine line up the side for the neck. Finish with a tiny heart as the head.

🐻 Bear – Pour two small blobs for ears and a larger one for the face. Use a toothpick to draw the nose and eyes.

🌸 Flower – Pour a central dot, then drag a toothpick through to form petal shapes.

🌟 Pro Tip: The key is a steady hand and control. Don’t rush, take it slow, steady movements create the best results. And if it goes wrong? Just swirl it and call it abstract art!

Why Rise Coffee Box Makes Latte Art Even Better

Latte art isn’t just about technique, it’s about starting with exceptional coffee. That’s where Rise Coffee Box | B Corp comes in. Every month, we send you independent, ethically sourced coffees from some of the UK’s best roasters. That means no guessing, no bad beans, just top-tier coffee hand-picked for you.

✔ Taste-Tested Excellence – Every coffee is tried and tested before it reaches your cup.
✔ Always Something New – Different roasters, origins, and flavours to explore.
✔ Ethical & Sustainable – As a B Corp-certified business, we only work with responsible roasters.

Level Up Your Latte Art with Special Extras

We love a surprise, which is why our boxes often include extra coffee goodies! Sometimes it's a barista approved oat milk, a bottled iced coffee, or even a sweet treat to pair with your brew.

These little bonuses make your home coffee experience even better because who doesn’t love a little extra?

The Joy of Coffee Discovery

Part of the fun of getting Rise Coffee Box is trying new things. With so many incredible roasters out there, why stick to the same coffee every day? One month you might get a rich, chocolatey Brazilian coffee, and the next, a bright Ethiopian with fruity notes. Every cup is a new adventure and that’s what makes coffee exciting!

Ready to Become a Home Barista? ☕

Latte art takes patience, but with the right coffee and a little practice, you’ll be making café-worthy creations in no time. And if you need top-notch beans to experiment with, Rise Coffee Box has got you covered.

Subscribe today, start your coffee adventure, and who knows your next cup might just be too pretty to drink (almost). 😉