Love Those Viral Jiggly Insta Lattes? Here’s How the Artist Creates Them
If you follow all of Instagram's cutest food trends, chances are you've seen Daphne Tan's gorgeous jiggling lattes in action.
Though you might assume Daphne is a professional who showcases her drinks in a café, she's actually a teenager from Singapore who makes her cute, delectable drinks for fun. We got the chance to chat with Daphne about them and find out exactly what gives these lattes their signature bounce.
Sweety High: Were you a big fan of lattes before you started creating your designs on Instagram?
Daphne Tan: I've always enjoyed coffee, but it was something I drank once in a while. What sparked my real interest was a school program where I had the opportunity to attend a workshop on the appreciation of gourmet coffee. I was curious about how foam was created for lattes and cappuccinos and searched online for ways to do it at home.
SH: When did you start making your own latte art?
DT: I started experimenting with 2D latte art on Christmas Day, when I etched a snowman.
Through further research, I discovered 3D latte art. I was experimenting with a French press and found a method to create stable foam to make 3D art on top of my cups. But now, I use a milk frother from Nespresso to create the foam.
From there, I saw a few videos online of the creation of 3D latte art and of people wobbling the cups. I was then inspired to create my own.
SH: Where do you usually get the ideas for your lattes?
DT: There are a few cafés around the world that create 3D latte art and I normally look at their social media pages for inspiration. Other times, I just search for photos of cute animals online and try to recreate the images.
SH: What is the process for making each individual latte?
DT: I use a Nespresso machine to extract the espresso, then foam the milk using a milk frother—the Aeroccino 4—and pour it into the cup. I foam milk again and let it stiffen for around two or three minutes before using it to shape the foam on top of the cups. It normally takes around 10 to 20 minutes, depending on its complexity. I use food coloring as well as a mix of carob powder and water to draw and color the foam. For the shaping, I use two spoons and a bamboo skewer.
SH: How do your lattes taste when they're done? Do you drink them?
DT: I just make regular café lattes or matcha lattes—and I do drink them after!
SH: Do you have a favorite design so far?
DT: My favorite is this one:
It was the wobbliest cup I've made to date.
SH: Are there any ideas you'd love to execute but haven't yet?
DT: I'd love to create a cube, as I think it has not been attempted before and it's quite difficult to do given the texture of the foam.
SH: What are your interests outside of making adorable latte designs?
DT: I'm actually a competitive swimmer and I also really love keeping fit, besides swimming, by going to HIIT [High Intensity Interval Training] classes or the gym.
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