Word
latte art
Phoneticslat·te art
US/ˈlɑːteɪ ɑːrt/
UK/ˈlɑːteɪ ɑːt/
Definition
compound. a creative way of pouring steamed milk into espresso to make patterns or pictures on top of a coffee drink for decoration
compound. the technique of pouring microfoam into a shot of espresso to create aesthetic patterns or designs on the surface of a milk-based beverage.
Examples
“The barista made a beautiful heart with latte art on my coffee.”
“Many independent cafes host weekly competitions where baristas show off their most intricate latte art designs.”
“While latte art enhances the visual appeal of a flat white, the texture of the microfoam is ultimately more crucial for the beverage's mouthfeel.”
Examples
simple
“The barista made a beautiful heart with latte art on my coffee.”
contextual
“Many independent cafes host weekly competitions where baristas show off their most intricate latte art designs.”
complex
“While latte art enhances the visual appeal of a flat white, the texture of the microfoam is ultimately more crucial for the beverage's mouthfeel.”
Real-World Examples
“Latte art is the design you see on top of (typically) drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, and similar milk-and-espresso beverages.” “Latte art is far more than decorative foam—it’s a precise intersection of espresso physics, milk chemistry, barista technique, and sensory communication.” Etymology
A compound term combining the Italian 'latte' (milk) with the English 'art'. The practice gained global popularity in Seattle during the 1980s and 1990s.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/latte-art