Latte Art Techniques: Etching

Already in one of our previous articles we talked about the technique of free dumping or also called free fall, so this time we will discuss another of the techniques to make art latte this technique is the etching technique and we will explain it below.
Difference between etching and free dumping

The difference between these two styles to make latte art is that in the free fall the design is made while the milk is dropped on the coffee so the designs are not as detailed because it is more complicated to manipulate the liquid while it is falling on a foamy surface; On the other hand the Etching technique involves 'engraving' or drawing on the surface of the finished drink with tools and syrups.

Difference between etching and free dumping

The difference between these two styles to make latte art is that in the free fall the design is done while the milk is dropped on the coffee so the designs are not as detailed because it is more complicated to manipulate the liquid while it is falling on a foamy surface; On the other hand the Etching technique involves 'engraving' or drawing on the surface of the finished drink with tools and syrups.

etching
Etching

The etching technique is considered the simplest of latte art techniques, because it does not require mastering a technique to pour the milk on the espresso, first pour it and then design on it.
This technique is used regularly when the barista wants to create a design from a template or a pattern, and often uses chocolate syrup, cinnamon, or cocoa powder to create more detailed effects on the drawing on coffee.
Chopsticks, knives or small stirrers can be used to drag and accommodate the foam and milk of the design; It is even easier to place a template on the surface of the coffee and sprinkle some cinnamon or cocoa for when you remove the template a precise and beautiful drawing is on the coffee cup in a very short time.

We recommend you read our article: Tools to make latte art

Currently more and more coffee shops are implementing latte art in their businesses as a way to make a difference in the competitive world of coffee.

Tips

As in all latte art techniques that exist, the most important thing is the microfoam of the milk, if the foam is very thick or even worse, it is very thin, or it is safer that you will not be able to make any precise design or with regular shapes , assuming that the base layer of milk is strong enough, because in the worst case the layer can break and the design could not remain on the surface
To create uniform designs you need to keep clean and dry the utensil you use (toothpick, knives, etc.)
Do not change the quality of the coffee for a fabulous design of latte art, remember that flavor and design should be complemented, to put it in some way: latte art is the cherry on the cake, not the cake