Author: Alex Chua
If you want to learn the dark art of crafting a perfect cuppa, The Coffee Academics might just be the right place. The award-winning coffee concept store hailing from Hong Kong, this specialty café sources only the best coffee beans from all over the world. It͛s roasted coffee offerings had been awarded 92 to 94 points by the World Coffee Review, achieving the distinct honour of being ranked highest in Asia and top three in the world. Not only does it serve quality coffee, The Coffee Academics teaches how to make one too. Being the first and only coffee house in Singapore to offer the Colour Your World Latte Art workshop, my friend and I, both impulsive coffee lovers but coffee-making novices, can͛t wait to try our hands on this beautiful craft.
Teaching this creative workshop is the bubbly Head Barista Vanessa Caceres (centre). Having won the Coffee Champion title at the 2015 All Star Female Barista Latte Art Champion in Bogota, Colombia, Vanessa leads an expert team of baristas in its Signature Coffee Classes. Be sure to sign up early as the coffee classes are kept small and intimate to ensure maximum hands-on learning experience.
At the beginning of the workshop, Vanessa covers the basics first, including how to brew a cup of expresso and milk frothing. Next, she introduced to us the intricate world of espresso latte art, and subsequently wow us away with a series of beautifully-drawn, colourful latte art designs. With consistent pulls and strokes, the Head Barista brought vibrancy of red, green and blue to the otherwise conventional white and brown. The colours used are naturally-extracted food dyes to prevent the taste from being compromised.
Besides including colour dynamics to the cup, Vanessa drew intricate 3D art designs like the cute cat above. Her pleasant, affable personality was infectious and we the participants were constantly engaged and intrigued to what designs she would come up next. To ensure the workshop runs smoothly, the cafe uses only professional, state-of-the-art equipment and award-winning beans for the workshops. This class could also serve as great team-building activities or with like-minded friends (up to seven participants) who appreciate good design and coffee.
͚Hey, let me draw your portrait,͛ she said enthusiastically, and in less than a minute and perhaps a few seconds of touch-ups later my friend͛s face floats on top of the latte. A visceral representation which he appreciates so much that he asked me to take a few pictures of him together with the cup for his Instagram profile pic.
Overall, I enjoyed my evening learning from Vanessa, and hopefully my friend did too. We went home happy of the deliciously brewed latte we sampled and a certificate of participation to boot. Moreover, we went home with a heightened appreciation of the many creative ways a simple cuppa could be crafted.
The Coffee Academics Singapore Flagship Store
#02-01/02, 6 Scotts Road, Scotts Square Singapore 228209
Colour Latte Art Class by The Coffee Academics Singapore
