Why Latte Art Sometimes Turns Out Abstract

Latte art on a hot latte is the first thing many customers notice, and at Manner it can resemble opening a blind box: a heart, tulip, leaf, swan, or unicorn may appear. Not every cup lands well, and a recent customer received a pattern so abstract she could not identify it, which prompted baristas to share their own failed creations.

The origin of latte art lies in steaming milk into a fine microfoam and pouring it so the foam sits on the crema, which demands steady hands and fresh practice. Commenters pointed out that new baristas often struggle with this, and the store's staff responded by posting their own rough designs. Most agreed the taste of the coffee remains unchanged, and the shared humor turned an awkward moment into a lighthearted one.

Among the many coffee brands, what makes Manner's baristas most memorable is probably the latte art on their hot lattes. When customers receive their coffee, they often feel like they're opening a blind box, eager to see today's design—a heart, a swan, or a unicorn are all possibilities. But not every cup turns out as hoped. Recently, a netizen got an "abstract" latte art, prompting baristas to collectively share their own embarrassing moments for consolation. This discussion about "ugly latte art" actually makes people feel that even if the design flops, it doesn't ruin the joy of drinking coffee. This article takes you through those laugh-out-loud latte art creations and how baristas use humor to defuse awkwardness.

▲

Click to follow | Daily specialty coffee culture magazine Coffee Workshop

Among the many coffee brands, what leaves the deepest impression on consumers about Manner's baristas is probably the latte art in their hands. Even if customers don't specifically ask, most hot lattes they receive from Manner baristas come with a design on the surface.

On social platforms, Manner users frequently share the creations they receive—hearts, tulips, leaves, swans, unicorns, and so on. These are the common designs that netizens post, made by Manner baristas.

As for what latte art will appear on the day, it all depends on the barista's mood at the moment. Some Manner users say that every time they take a coffee from the barista, they can't help but wonder what today's design will be, "just like opening a blind box."

However, not every latte comes with beautiful latte art. Recently, a netizen got a less-than-satisfactory "latte art blind box." She had already raised her phone to take a pretty photo for social media, but the latte art she received was rather "abstract"—she couldn't even tell what the design was.

Indescribable latte art can somewhat affect the mood for drinking coffee. Onlookers left comments to comfort the customer: "Manner has been hiring new people recently; it might be a novice barista who isn't skilled yet and messed up the latte art," "No worries, it doesn't affect the taste of the coffee."

The baristas' way of comforting is quite "hardcore." One by one, they dug out treasured embarrassing latte art from their phone albums to prove that although what this customer received was indescribable, it was actually still relatively good-looking. Back when everyone was just learning latte art, the designs were "never the ugliest, only uglier."

Wheat ear: I didn't offend anyone! Don't turn me into a funeral wreath as a fix!

This is probably the banana leaf of the leaf family

Netizen: I got it! This is "Line Cockroach"!

Barista: Thank you for giving this scribble a new name 🙏

A netizen who studied agriculture says that although it's a bit ugly, you can tell at a glance it's a loquat!

Consumer: Look! This is the latte art the Manner barista made for me!

Netizen: That swan in the upper right corner might be a bit malnourished

Barista: Although it's not a perfect thousand-layer heart, it can "draw a heart"哦

Netizen: This... I suggest changing the shooting angle!

"Pa" a big white dot, quickly grab a etching needle to res(cue)cue it with a few strokes

Beautiful latte art may not turn an ordinary hot latte into an exquisite delicacy, but for the drinker, beautiful things always lift the mood, and the coffee goes down more fragrantly because of it.

But occasionally receiving an ugly latte art that's "uniquely" so isn't all bad. After all, this kind of "ugly latte art" might be a one-time encounter; next time, even if you show the old photo to the creator, they might not be able to perfectly replicate it. So, if a barista makes a mistake and you get "ugly latte art," just consider it as drawing a hidden edition from a blind box～

Image source: Xiaohongshu

Disclaimer: Some images in this article are from the internet. We respect the original copyright and will credit the source for website content such as images. However, due to the large volume, some images and texts may not be credited in time; please understand. If the original author has any disputes, they can contact the website for handling. Once verified, we will correct it immediately. Compiled and edited by "Coffee Workshop." Please indicate the source when reposting. If there is infringement, please inform us for deletion. Thank you~!

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.