The secret to perfect milk frothing

Milk frothing is an essential skill for any barista, and it starts with choosing the right milk. Whether you use cow's milk or a plant-based alternative, consistency is key. Cow's milk with a higher fat content (3.5% or more) gives a creamy texture and sweeter flavour, while skim milk and plant-based alternatives like oat milk or almond milk can create a lighter foam. Oat milk is particularly popular for its fine foaming properties and neutral flavour.

• Cow's milk: Higher fat content gives a creamier froth, ideal for latte art.
• Oat milk: A great plant-based alternative that froths relatively well and has a neutral flavour.
• Soya milk: Can provide a stable foam, but requires more precision to avoid it breaking down.

Tips for frothing milk

1. Cold milk and jug: Start with cold milk as it gives you more time to reach the right temperature. Use a cold steel jug to keep the temperature better during frothing.
2. Position of the steam tip: Place the steam tip just below the surface of the milk and slightly to the side of the jug. This helps draw air into the milk and create small bubbles. Subsequently, the steam tip should be lowered a little deeper so that the milk starts to "swirl" - a process called "rolling".
3. Temperature control: The goal is to reach a temperature of 60-65°C. If the milk gets too hot (above 70°C), you risk burning the milk, which ruins the flavour and texture. If you don't have a thermometer, you can use your hand as an indicator - when the jug is too hot to hold for more than a few seconds, the milk is ready.

Latte art: Create small works of art in your cup

When you have perfectly frothed milk, it's time to dive into latte art. Latte art is all about pouring the milk in a way that creates beautiful patterns in your espresso, which is not only impressive but also adds a visual delight to the coffee drink.

The classic patterns

1. The heart: The easiest thing to start with is the heart. To make a heart, start by pouring the milk from a little distance to mix it well with the espresso. When the cup is half full, lower the pot closer to the surface and pour a quick blob in the centre. Finish by passing the pour through to form the blob into a heart.
2. The Rosetta: The Rosetta, which resembles a fern leaf, takes some practice but is one of the most popular latte art designs. Start by pouring gently and then begin to move the pot from side to side as you approach the surface. This creates waves and you finish by passing the pour through to give the "leaf" a stem.
3. The tulip: The tulip consists of several small "blobs" on top of each other. Each time you pour a new blob, you move the pot slightly forwards and finally finish with a quick pull through all the blobs, creating a tulip-like pattern.

Important tips for latte art

• Timing and pouring technique: When pouring, start high to break the surface of the coffee and mix the espresso with the milk. When you're ready to create art, lower the pot closer to the coffee to allow the frothed milk to lie on the surface and form patterns.
• Control over the pot: The movement of the pour should be precise and controlled. Practice makes perfect and many baristas recommend practising with water and a little washing up liquid instead of milk to get the pouring technique down without spilling coffee and milk.

Milk chemistry - why is it important?

When you froth milk, you change its structure. By incorporating tiny air bubbles, you create microfoam, which gives a silky smooth texture. The protein content of the milk plays an important role as it helps to stabilise the foam. Cow's milk has a natural composition of proteins and fats that provide a rich and stable foam, while plant-based milk alternatives may need a slightly different treatment - oat milk in particular is easy to work with for latte art because it often foams evenly and has a rich texture.

Practice makes perfect - become a home barista

Milk frothing and latte art takes patience and lots of practice, but it's an incredibly satisfying part of making coffee at home. Start by perfecting your milk frothing - once you get the right texture, latte art becomes a breeze. Don't be afraid to experiment with different types of milk and designs. Small steps make a big difference and once you master it, every cup will become a personal signature.