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The Phoenix
By Ted Bendixson
We are about to introduce you to the most complex and difficult design you have ever done as a latte artist. This truly is where all of your skills come together to make latte art magic. We are going to make a Phoenix in a cup using the pour alone. If you have already gone through the Wreath Rosetta tutorial, you will be a step ahead of the rest as The Phoenix is a more complex version of that pour. Get ready to dive into your greatest project as a latte artist yet. It's time to make the great Phoenix rise from the charred brown crema in your cup!
No Phoenix can be resurrected without perfect milk foam and espresso. Do remember that it's important to get the milk in your cup to swirl around the side towards the end of the steaming process. This gives the right microfoam texture for all latte art, Phoenix or none. Because the Phoenix is a long and complicated pour, you need to have your milk foaming skills absolutely dialed and ready to go.
The wings are the most difficult part of the Phoenix. Mastery of the Wreath Rosetta is absolutely essential for the Phoenix to work. If you haven't gone over that tutorial, we highly recommend that you do so right now. The wings of the Phoenix are made out of two Rosettas with stems on the inner sides, or near the middle of the cup. Think of them as if they were Rosettas "struck through" on the side instead of through the middle. They should look like single branches with leaves that come out of the side that goes to the edge of the cup and no leaves moving towards the center of the cup. You will pour the wings just as you would pour the Wreath Rosetta except for the final strikethrough, which will occur on the sides instead of through the center.
Once you are finished with the wings, you can breath a sigh of relief because the truly hard part is over. Now you just need to pour the body, neck, and head. The body is sort of an ovular glob of foam, and the head is basically a tiny heart. You will need to be able to move fluidly from one part to the next in order to get it right. Stall for just a bit as you pour the body and move quickly while elevating the steam pitcher slightly when you pour the neck. You're going to need to get the milk foam to turn into a thin stream for the neck, which is why you'll want to move faster. Don't forget to give the neck a slight curvature before you make the head. This gives your Phoenix the distinct "bird" look.
By now, you're rounding third base and ready for home. Pour a small heart shape and connect it to the neck you just made. If you did everything right, your wings will span all the way to the edge of the cup and your Phoenix's head will be smack dab in the center. Present your creation to guests and make sure they watch as you pour it. This one will knock people's socks off. Congratulations, you're probably in the top 99th percentile of latte art professionals. Take a picture and upload it onto our site. We want to show you off!
Learn more about making Latte Art in our Latte Art How To!