Coffee Art

I love coffee. I usually go around town to visit cafes that interest me, and to find out where good coffee is served. But my interest in coffee doesn't end there. Actually, it went up a level higher recently.

I was always fascinated with the latte art whenever I order a cup of cappuccino in a stand alone coffee shop. So, I started to learn how to do it. I tried watching videos and read instructions so I could do it myself. My problem is that the microfoam needed for the proper way of doing latte art is not possible with the machine that I was using. I thought of giving up on it and just enroll myself to a class, but then, after a few adjustments, and several trial and error, I was able to get a milk consistency that is closer to the velvety microfoam that I need.

I probably have too much caffeine in my system now because the minimum two cups of coffee a day became four. It was all because of the practice that I was doing. I still can't make the tulips and rosetta and stuff because my milk consistency doesn't allow me to make it. My coffee art are mostly free pour and just drawing on the foam, and I am satisfied with it. At least for the time being. It's still kinda frustrating that I can't make the latte art that I want though.

Well, after getting a better milk foam consistency, I realized a new problem. I need to improve the way I pour the milk as well. From the videos I watched, there were quite a few ways of doing it, and to be honest, I have not tried it. So right now, whenever I try to make something, it's sometimes good, and most of the times not. Which is fine, because I have not properly studied the professional way of doing latte art. I am thankful that I have an artistic side to me to make up for it.

The best part of it is that the guests always compliments the coffee I serve them, saying how good it was or how nice the art was. I would say that I still have to improve on the ratio of coffee to milk because my cappuccino is becoming a latte since I started doing the art. I find it too milky. Perhaps the single shot espresso is not enough for me.

Besides doing latte art, I started learning various kinds of coffee drinks as well. Some guests would come to me, and order a flat white, or americano, or cafe au lait, and I would be like, 'how is that made?'. The machines that we use are calibrated to make lungo, espresso, cappuccino, and macchiato. And since it is a machine, there were still quirks on it which I am very familiar to by now. I am probably the only one who knows of it though.

Anyway, to be able to make a coffee drink that the guest actually wanted to have, I started doing research on various kinds of coffee drinks. There were a lot for both black coffee drinks, and coffee and milk drinks. The thing is they were all similar, just varying in the coffee to water or milk ratio, and the serving sizes. I like to drink coffee but actually doing the coffee drink is pretty tedious. Man, I wanted to try working in an actual coffee shop just so I could improve my knowledge and skills in this particular field.

By the way, I always take photos, whether failed or successful, whenever I try to do latte art, and post it on Instagram with the hashtag: #lisamakescoffee. Below are photos of my work. I'm sorry for being such an amateur. c '-_-)

Tried doing a 3D version but it failed.

100 Random Things To Do For 2015

To rid myself of boredom, and feeling unaccomplished, I made a list of a hundred random things to do for this year. At least there were things I wanted to do and try. I originally posted this on time before 1st of January in Wordpress, but I have completed my list ever since so here's the updated version.

100 THINGS TO DO FOR 2015

1. Play darts.
2. Play beer pong.
3. Enter a competition of any kind.
4. Watch a theater play.
5. Watch an old film (screened on early '90s).
6. Play a new sport.
7. Win something through an online competition.
8. Plan a birthday party.
9. Travel overseas.
10. Visit a museum.
11. Organize and execute a photoshoot.
12. Go to the beach.
13. Watch an entire TV series.
14. Watch 20 movies released in 2015.
15. Read 30 books.
16. Watch 10 animated films.
17. Buy a CD of a music artist you really like.
18. Make a jack-o-lantern.
19. Attend a Halloween party.
20. Attend a cosplay convention.
21. Attend a music concert.
22. Go to a night festival.
23. Learn 10 new dishes.
24. Have 5 new dresses.
25. Run/jog an accumulated 500km throughout the year.
26. Paint something.
27. Give out handmade gifts.
28. Make a crafting project.
29. Make a nice espresso art.
30. Write a hand-written letter and send it by post.
31. Meet a new person.
32. Do a good deed for a random stranger.
33. Brighten someone's day.
34. Cook a meal for another person.
35. Make a video.
36. Dine in a restaurant you've never been to, and eat a dish you've never had.
37. Go for cycling.
38. Visit an old friend.
39. Get a hair cut.
40. Dye your hair a different color.
41. Get a full body massage.
42. Treat yourself to a foot spa.
43. Try scuba diving.
44. Try an extreme sport.
45. Attend a class for learning something new.
46. Ride a boat.
47. Fly a kite.
48. Build a new friendship.
49. Learn to style your hair.
50. Attend a party.
51. Draw a portrait.
52. Play an instrument.
53. Have a sleepover.
54. Take portrait photos of people.
55. Visit a zoo.
56. Go to the aquarium.
57. Write a poem.
58. Finish writing a story.
59. Donate to a charity.
60. Go on a holiday trip.
61. Go to a bar a lone to chill.
62. Buy a new kitchen utensil.
63. Call a friend.
64. Share a really old photo of yourself.
65. Get a manicure and pedicure.
66. Break something.
67. Create a new cocktail drink recipe.
68. Ask someone for advice on anything.
69. Ask someone to take your photo.
70. Tell someone a quote.
71. Cry.
72. Be a volunteer on a charity work.
73. Buy a plushie.
74. Own a new gadget.
75. Go to the amusement park.
76. Own 2 new heels.
77. Discover a new hang-out place.
78. Create a new tea concoction.
79. Experience a long bus ride in a different country.
80. Move to a new place.
81. Ride a train in a different country.
82. Go for a mountain hiking.
83. Treat a friend to dinner.
84. Invite someone for coffee.
85. Surprise someone.

86. Play a prank on a good friend.

87. Buy yourself something worth more than $500.

88. Travel alone to a place you've never been.

89. Visit a friend in a different country.

90. Buy a big plushie.

91. Accept an invitation to eat out.

92. Visit the club.

93. Go on a date (with a guy).

94. Earn a raise in salary.

95. Be hired by a new employer.

96. Drink out with friends, and drink a lot.

97. Read a whole book in one day.

98. Do not go online for an entire day.

99. Suddenly make a plan with friends and execute it on the same day.

100. Lay down in a field and just stare at the sky.

Note: Print out the list and keep it with you, like in your wallet or something so you can check it every now and then. By the end of year 2015, re-blog your own post and write a comment beside each item of what you did. Sounds good, yeah?