Photo by scootervagabond

A few weeks ago I stopped into my neighborhood coffee shop when the girl behind the counter handed me my latte with a big sunny smile and said “I hope you like my little rooster”. Being that I was not quite awake, I didn’t immediately comprehend what she meant. I gave her a blank stare as I took the cup and walked over to the lid counter. When I set my cup down, there it was, a little rooster drawn into the foam of my latte. It was so cute and well done that I actually perked up, turned around and said “What a great rooster. You’re quite talented. Thank you for taking the time to do this.” At which point she responded, “Oh this has been done before. I’m just an aspiring foam artist. I’m not even that good”. Foam artist? Hmm. I thought nothing more of it and went about my day.

Two days later, I went back for more coffee and this time a new guy made a peace sign on my foam. Twice in one week! I was starting to feel like some new art movement happened and somehow I blinked and missed it. Or perhaps this was a new trend in cafes that was just starting to happen and it would only be a matter of time before people caught on. Turns out, I was quite wrong on both counts.

Latte art, as the term is commonly known, has been around for quite some time. So much so that there are numerous films, photos and even a competition in the Netherlands devoted to the art. As I watched films of these foam artists prepare and execute their designs, I was mesmerized by the speed and precision they possessed in churning out one inventive image after another–bunnies, butterflies, snowflakes, leaves, trees and even a face. If you can pour, score and draw, latte art is only an espresso away.

Cup of Mickey as served up at La Dijonaise in Culver City

Later in the week I had friends in town from Paris and one of the conversations we had was about how one of them likes to doodle Mickey Mouse. Interesting little tidbit but not necessarily worth writing about. The reason I mention it is because the following day I was having lunch with another friend when lo and behold I got yet another piece of art on my latte at a completely different restaurant. And yes, Mickey himself was right on my foam.

Needless to say, my visiting friends were highly amused by both the art and the timely coincidence, though the more important point is, how much a few little strokes on frothed milk can transform that very banal experience of drinking a cup.