101
Sometimes you make a decent rosetta, sometimes you make an airplane with testicles
(files.catbox.moe)
Two cappuccinos I made one after the other in my cafรฉ today. This couple came in and wanted large cappuccinos, so I made them in our 16oz cups. Not my cup of tea (nor coffee) but if I can make what you want, I will! Unfortunely, my muscle memory is attuned to steaming/pouring 8oz capps, and so the first one came out somewhat more phallic than I intended ๐
The only thing worse than a shitty pour is a shitty pour in the same order as a drink you nailed.
My credentials (nearly none):
I'm a six-espresso-shot in the morning kinda guy and I don't think I've ever said no to a cappuccino. I have a super-automatic espresso maker/milk frother that my wife and I bought in exchange for not buying coffee while out for 6 months. When I wanna get fancy with my cappuccino, I pull the espresso using a hand pump press and foam the milk by hand.
My opinion:
Once I'm done admiring the crema of my espresso and have smelled all the potential ingredients to decide what will make me happy for this cup, I pour them into a cup and drink it. I like my coffee drinks to look like someone put the ingredients in the cup in a way that makes sense. I get really sad when people make art in my drinks because my gluttonous drinking style and mustache are going to ruin it immediately. I feel like someone showed me a painting they'd completed over the course of a month and I were to run my fingers across it saying, "oh wow! I love the feeling of dried oil paints!"
Summary:
Between the two, I guess I prefer the Italian style, but even that would drown me in guilt the moment I took my first sip.
As a barista, I often get customers who express this same kind of sentiment; feeling bad for "ruining" latte art by drinking it.
Y'all realize we know latte art is temporary, right? ๐ It's honestly one of my favourite aspects of latte art. It doesn't change the taste of the drink, it'll last 5 minutes at best (even if no one drinks it, it doesn't take long for latte art to look kinda gross if left on the counter). Yet baristas all over take the little extra effort to make a drink look pretty, just for a moment.
Seriously, you shouldn't feel bad, if anything baristas will be hyped that you appreciate our artwork!
How do y'all feel about customers taking pictures of your latte art?
I've yet to meet a barista who wasn't delighted to see someone snap a pic of their latte art!
Although, between you and me, I've had more customers excited for the most basic pours than any of the more elaborate stuff. I'll pour a sweet-looking swan and no one bats an eye, yet people'll go gaga over a simple heart pour.