Latte art course Adelaide review | SA’s Great Travel Planner

Building confidence in creating latte art is the point of Patio Coffee Roasters’ one-on-one Latte Art workshops, ideal for enthusiasts or those looking to tap into the industry.

‘Wiggle it from the middle,” instructs latte artist Felix, who has the treacherous task of teaching me how to make coffee look pretty on this Saturday morning.

And while the lyrics “wiggle it, just a little bit” are now playing on loop in my head, I attempt to copy what I just saw him do, tilting my cup of espresso as I wiggle a pitcher of frothed milk back and forth to create a rosetta (or fern) design.

It’s not easy.

But building confidence in creating latte art such as the rosetta is the point of Patio Coffee Roasters’ two-and-a-half hour, one-on-one Latte Art workshop, ideal for enthusiasts wanting to impress their mates and those looking to tap into the industry.

Felix is proudly self-taught, and grounded. Competitions aren’t his thing, but he clearly has the talent, whipping up delicate designs in seconds.

Of course, that level of skill takes a lot of practice. My skill level to now was this: on my humble Breville Barista domestic machine, I’d figured out how to correctly foam (or “texture”) my milk for my morning coffee, but any attempts to pour pretty were futile – despite the many YouTube videos I’d watched.

I needed some one-on-one guidance and Felix was my man.

Patio Coffee Roasters is both a roastery cafe and shop, selling a range of single origin beans and blends as well as equipment. There’s a dedicated area where they conduct workshops and this is where Felix and I are stationed, in front of a brand new Fiamma machine, with dozens of orange coffee cups at the ready.

We start with the texturing of milk. The amount of milk poured in the pitcher is important (to just below the spout), as is the position of the steam wand. You want to incorporate air slowly before dunking the tip of the wand, creating a whirlpool of glossy milk.

“Wet paint, that’s what you’re aiming for,” Felix explains.

When done right, the foam is dense – think of slightly thickened cream – meaning the air bubbles trapped inside are teeny weeny, as opposed to big pockets of froth. Milk that’s too thin, or too thick, is difficult to work with.

So, I’ve got my paint, and Felix has created a line of espressos for me to play with. He demonstrates how to set my canvas, pouring a thin stream of milk into the middle of the crema (the espresso’s own froth) and circling it around until the coffee fills about two thirds of the cup. Then, with the pitcher in close to the surface, the thicker foam starts to pour and – like magic – the design magically appears.

Well, it looks like magic when he does it.

Jess Galletly’s attempts at latte art.

“That’s a tulip!” he says to me following one of my attempts, and it’s hard not to smile at his encouragement as I peer down at what looks to me like a pair of deflated balloons.

Luckily my confidence didn’t deflate, thanks to my ever-patient coach explaining what I did right and wrong along the way. And, to my surprise, I did improve. My blobs became hearts and I managed to get some leaves in my rosetta. With practice, I’m sure I’ll get that tulip in bloom.

The only downside is the inevitable wastage. We go through close to 12 litres of milk and plenty of beans, most of which ends up down the drain. It’s partly why the workshop costs $250 – not something everyone can do on a whim. However, Patio is this month introducing group Latte Art masterclasses for a more affordable $150. Either class would make the perfect gift for any coffee lover, and a worthy investment for budding baristas. As for me, I think I’ll stick to my day job. But I’m rather chuffed to take home a nifty certificate, complimentary bag of beans, a little know-how and a lot of energy.

Reviews are unannounced and paid for by SAWeekend.

This review was first published in May 2019 and details updated in March 2021

• Patio Coffee Roasters
• 678 South Road, Glandore
• [phone]
• patiocoffee.com.au
• LOCATION 10 minutes southwest of Adelaide.
• WHEN By appointment. Also small private groups, up to 4 people.
• INCLUDES One-on-one masterclass with experienced barista, all the coffee you can drink and a 250g bag of beans to take home.
• PRICE $250 a person.