For example, if you have a 12-ounce (355 ml) pitcher, pour in about 10 ounces (295 ml) of milk. Because of its high fat content, whole milk is easier to steam than skim or low-fat milk. If you don’t have an espresso machine at home, you can use a French press to froth your milk.

The steam wand should be pointing diagonally towards the back of the pitcher near the handle.

The microfoam is steamed milk that is made up of many tiny bubbles. This makes a softly textured milk that’s easy to pour into art. Keep in mind that the milk will continue to heat for a little bit after you’ve turned off the steam wand. Avoid overheating the milk or you’ll increase the risk of burning yourself. Once you get used to steaming milk, you probably won’t need the thermometer. With a little experience you can usually tell how hot the milk is by just feeling the temperature of the pitcher.

Swirling the milk will get rid of any big bubbles in the foam that could make it hard to pour.

Remember to wipe off the thermometer, if you used one.

You can practice pushing down on a bathroom scale to figure out how hard to press down on the portafilter.

With a little practice, you should be able to start the espresso and steam the milk at the same time. This will ensure that neither the espresso nor steamed milk sit for long.

A wide-mouthed cup will give you more space for your latte art.

The goal is to keep the rich crema floating on top. If you pour too quickly, it can wash out the espresso which will make it difficult to create latte art.

Remember that you’re moving the milk and the pitcher, not the cup with the espresso. If the milk is too dry or stiff, you’ll may end up with more of a white blob. Try it again and steam the milk so it’s looser.

You’re basically making a little heart from the final dot. The end of the heart becomes the stem for the flower.

Avoid using your whole arm to rock the milk into the cup. This will give you less control over the design.

Consider drizzling a syrup over the top of the foam before you drag the toothpick through it. This can create a web-like effect or allow you to write words easier.

You can make your own latte stencil using thin plastic or wax paper. Use a blade to carefully cut away the design you want into the plastic. You can set this over the latte like a stencil.

Experiment by drawing webs, snowflakes, or flowers using chocolate syrup.