Neuf Portes

Latte art refers to the pretty and sometimes intricate designs you sometimes see on fancy coffees. If you possess a decent espresso machine such as the Gaggia Classic you might want to follow these instructions and try creating a simple flower pattern.

• First fill your milk jug with enough cold milk for one cappuccino or latte.
• Then place your milk steaming wand into the bottom of the jug and turn on the steam.
• Slowly start to raise the wand until it is about an inch from the surface of the milk.
• Lower the jug as the volume of milk increases so that you keep the steam wand just below the top of the milk. You are aiming to get smooth creamy milk and not a thick foam.
• Once the temperature of the milk reaches 80 degrees push the steamer deeper into the milk at the side of the jug and then swirl the milk around in an anti-clockwise movement until the temperature reaches around 150 degrees.
• Remove the steamer and continue to swirl the milk making sure there are no bubbles. If you do see bubbles then bang the jug on the work surface a few times.
• Start to gently pour the milk into the espresso about an inch from the bottom of the cup. Do not move or shake the jug.
• When the cup is half full shake the jug backwards and forwards by moving your wrist.
• As the cup becomes full finish by pouring a small amount of  milk up through the middle of your flower.