Steam Microfoam in the Wet-Paint Window
Explain how stretching, texturing, and temperature control create pourable microfoam for latte art.
The target is glossy, not foamy. For latte art, milk should pour like wet paint: shiny surface, tiny bubbles, and enough body to sit on the espresso when the pitcher comes low. That result comes from two different jobs inside one steaming session. First is stretching. The wand tip sits near the surface while the milk is still cool, adding a small amount of air. This is where volume is created. Second is texturing. The tip moves slightly deeper, and the pitcher position creates a whirlpool that folds that air through the milk. This is where large bubbles become microfoam.…
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