Bespoke Words
By Jenny Drinkwater
SOLO Magazine #9
In Latte Art We Trust? —
January 2023
Being able to draw a wild animal using a liquid medium in under ten seconds is evidently a skill that the specialty coffee world holds in very high regard. The annual World Latte Art Championship (yes, it exists) is a testament to that and, quite frankly, it’s not surprising why. Over the course of our evolution, we have learned that something that looks good will also taste good, just as we think the opposite when presented with something that at first glance looks unappealing.
It is also true that the aesthetic experience and ritual of ordering a coffee with latte art cannot be disregarded. We buy specific cakes iced with interesting designs because they look good. Restaurants win awards for innovative presentations. Cocktails are adorned with floating flowers. There’s no question that in the world of gastronomy, looks matter.
January 2023
Being able to draw a wild animal using a liquid medium in under ten seconds is evidently a skill that the specialty coffee world holds in very high regard. The annual World Latte Art Championship (yes, it exists) is a testament to that and, quite frankly, it’s not surprising why. Over the course of our evolution, we have learned that something that looks good will also taste good, just as we think the opposite when presented with something that at first glance looks unappealing.
It is also true that the aesthetic experience and ritual of ordering a coffee with latte art cannot be disregarded. We buy specific cakes iced with interesting designs because they look good. Restaurants win awards for innovative presentations. Cocktails are adorned with floating flowers. There’s no question that in the world of gastronomy, looks matter.