Latte Flow

How to make latte art: heart, tulip and rosetta

Latte art takes shape when you pour milk with microfoam into espresso. Start with texture, practise a simple heart, then move on to stacked layers and leaves. Change one variable per attempt: height, flow or rhythm.

Microfoam and pouring

  1. Prepare espresso, a wide cup and a clean pitcher. Start with cold milk and leave room for expansion. Follow the instructions for your machine.
  2. Introduce air near the surface at the start, then keep the tip slightly deeper to integrate the bubbles. Look for glossy, flowing milk without a separate layer of stiff foam.
  3. Swirl the pitcher gently before pouring. The simulator uses 55–65 °C as its training range. For real preparation, use a thermometer and follow equipment and milk guidance rather than judging temperature by touch alone.
  4. Start with a thin stream from higher up to mix the milk into the espresso. Bring the spout close to the surface and increase the flow with control to make the white pattern appear.

Heart: position and finish

  1. Tilt the cup and mix milk into the espresso with a thin stream, leaving room for the pattern.
  2. Bring the spout near the centre of the surface. Hold the position to build a round white patch, straightening the cup as it fills.
  3. Reduce the flow, lift the pitcher slightly and draw a thin stream through the patch. This finishing cut creates the point of the heart.

Tulip: distinct layers

  1. After mixing the base, make a small white patch with a low spout and stop the flow.
  2. Place the next patch behind the first and move slightly forward to push it. Start with two or three layers to manage the space.
  3. Pause between each layer. Finish by lifting the pitcher and cutting a thin line through the stack.

Rosetta: rhythm and retreat

  1. Prepare the base and lower the spout near the surface, a little beyond the centre of the cup.
  2. Use small side-to-side movements with a continuous flow. As leaves appear, move the pitcher backwards gradually.
  3. Narrow the movements near the edge, lift the spout and finish with a thin line through the centre of the leaves.

From reading to practice

In Latte Flow, Wave explores rhythm and continuity using touch or tilt on compatible devices. Steam simulates the relationship between air, rotation and temperature. Write creates a digital composition. These exercises do not measure the quality of a real coffee or replace practice with a machine, milk and instruction.

Explore Latte Flow

Before you start

Which milk should I use for latte art?

Whole dairy milk is one option for getting started. Plant drinks vary; barista versions can help with texture but still require adjustments. Compare using the same quantity and preparation.

Do I need an espresso machine to use the game?

No. Digital exercises run in the browser. Sensor controls depend on your device and permission; touch is an alternative. Real latte art requires coffee and properly textured milk.

Does a game score prove my barista technique?

No. The score describes the measured gesture in that digital exercise. Flavour, real microfoam and pouring into a cup need to be assessed during physical preparation.