MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 29: An espresso coffee is seen at Eternity Coffee Roasters during National Coffee Day on September 29, 2014 in Miami, Florida. The day is for coffee drinkers to celebrate and enjoy the popular beverage which 50% of the population, equivalent to 150 million Americans, drink espresso, cappuccino, latte, or iced/cold coffees. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2014 Getty Images)
You might have a budding latte artist at your local coffee shop, but is your barista so spectacular that customers can’t bring themselves to ruin his/her foamy artwork by drinking it?
That’s apparently what’s happening in Taiwan, where one barista is not only making latte art, but 3-D latte art based on her clients’ own pets.
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Chang Kuei-fang, who works at the My Cofi shop in the Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung, is becoming widely known for her latte-based artwork, which can take the shape of cats, dogs, and even characters from popular culture.
“I came up with a way to express [the animals’] charm,” Chang told Reuters of her work. “I stack up milk froth to create a feeling of layers.” She also frequently uses chocolate or fruit jams to finish her masterpieces.
According to Reuters, Chang takes less than 10 minutes to complete one of her works of latte art. And her customers are in no rush to drink — i.e., ruin — the coffees when they’re finally ready, instead preferring to snap photos for social media.
“We have been taking pictures for one hour now, but are still reluctant to start drinking,” said one young woman who was visiting the area on a school trip.
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In addition to animals, Chang has also been known to replicate cartoons, insects, and well-known works of art. She’s even taken a stab at what appears to be the scary little girl from “The Ring.”
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Interested in getting your latte portrait “painted”? Make sure to bring some cash. According to Reuters, Chang’s work doesn’t come cheap — and an especially intricate portrait can run as much as $23.