Latte Art

Entry in progress—B.P.
 
Wikipedia: Latte art
Latte art is a method of preparing coffee created by pouring steamed milk into a shot of espresso and resulting in a pattern or design on the surface of the resulting latte. It can also be created or embellished by simply “drawing” in the top layer of foam. Latte art is particularly difficult to create consistently, due to the demanding conditions required of both the espresso shot and milk. This, in turn, is limited by the experience of the barista and quality of the espresso machine. The pour itself, then, becomes the last challenge for the latte artist
 
History
Latte art developed independently in different countries, following the introduction of espresso and the development of microfoam, the combination of crema and microfoam allowing the pattern; it presumably was initially developed in Italy.
 
In the United States, latte art was developed in Seattle in the 1980s and 1990s, and particularly popularized by David Schomer. Schomer credits the development of microfoam (“velvet foam” or “milk texturing”) to Jack Kelly of Uptown espresso in 1986, and by 1989 the heart pattern was established and a signature at Schomer’s Espresso Vivace. The rosette pattern was then developed by Schomer in 1992, recreating the technique based on a photograph he saw from Cafe Mateki in Italy. Schomer subsequently popularized latte art in his course “Caffe Latte Art”.
 
OCLC WorldCat record
Caffe latte art : a milk texturing and presentation course for the espresso professional : introducing the rosetta latte.
Author: David C Schomer; Brian Johnson; John Schoonover
Publisher: [Seattle, Wash.] : D. Schomer, [1996?]
Edition/Format: VHS video : VHS tape Visual material : English
   
OCLC WorldCat record
The ultimate barista
Author: David Gee; Matthew Gee
Publisher: Artarmon, N.S.W. : Barista Basics Coffee Academy, 2004.
Edition/Format: Kit Visual material : English
Contents:
Video 1. Master barista (44 min.) ; Video 2. The coffee menu (17 min.)—
Latté art and presentation techniques (23 min.) ; Book. Bean there, drunk that… the definitive guide to coffee and the world of the barista / David Gee and Matthew Gee.