• Latte art has become one of the most recognisable symbols of specialty coffee culture, popularised by competitions like the World Latte Art Championship and latte art throwdowns.
• Pouring even the most basic patterns requires practice, and the need for expensive equipment often serves as a barrier to entry for home baristas.
• As the prosumer market grows, equipment manufacturers are developing products, including the new Flair Wizard stovetop milk steamer, that make latte art more accessible at home.

There has been a “home espresso” renaissance over the past few years. What was once the domain of coffee professionals has become more accessible to those who are willing to invest time and money in education and equipment.

Many home baristas have finetuned their espresso, but milk-based beverages – complete with intricate latte art – are still often out of reach. The need for expensive machines, tools, and accessories only presents a greater barrier.

Manual espresso machines have helped bridge the gap, making high-quality espresso available to more people at home, but very few also allow users to steam milk.

To cater to the growing demand for milk-based drinks, manufacturers are also making latte art more accessible. I spoke to Charles Temkey and Jeff Walcott at Flair Espresso to learn more.

You may also like our article on how to pull the perfect shot using manual espresso machines.

More people are making espresso at home

Interest in coffee education spiked during the pandemic. Government restrictions forced many businesses to close, prompting people to learn more about making café-quality drinks at home.

Roasters and cafés published brew guides and blog posts in response. As the number of online resources grew, coffee knowledge that was once confined to barista training programmes became more accessible.

This created a generation of highly skilled home baristas – or prosumers – invested in learning more about extraction variables, best brewing practices, and the science of coffee.

“Specialty coffee, and its growth and availability, has made people aware of what a drink can be,” explains Charles, the Head of Product at coffee equipment manufacturer Flair Espresso, which recently launched the Wizard stovetop milk steamer. “They are not as satisfied as they were with an average cup of coffee, even at home.” 

Espresso consumption is also rising in countries like the US, where filter coffee was traditionally the most popular brewing method. According to the 2025 National Coffee Data Trends Specialty Coffee Breakout report, 43% of US adults enjoyed an espresso-based beverage in the past week.

Milk-based espresso drinks typically account for the bulk of coffee shop beverage sales. Cappuccinos, lattes, and flat whites are considered a more approachable, palate-friendly entry point to espresso. 

“A cappuccino, for example, lasts significantly longer than a single shot of espresso, making the time spent with the drink more enjoyable and intentional,” says Jeffrey, the Head of Marketing and Operations at Flair Espresso. “Add in the possibility of latte art, and the experience is elevated even further.”

Latte art’s visual appeal – with crisp, high-contrast, and symmetrical patterns – enhances the coffee shop experience. A study published in the Journal of Sensory Studies found that people are willing to pay up to 13% more for drinks with latte art.

As consumers continue to demand higher-quality options in cafés, the interest in replicating these drinks at home grows.

Making milk steaming more accessible

Despite growing interest in home espresso, the financial barrier remains substantial. Traditional espresso machines capable of producing both quality espresso and steamed milk require significant upfront investment. Premium models from established brands can easily exceed thousands, meaning they’re out of reach for many people.

Manual lever espresso machines have emerged as a compelling alternative, offering exceptional espresso quality at a fraction of the cost. These devices, including the Flair 58 Plus 2, rely on user-applied pressure rather than electric pumps but offer stable temperatures and the ability to control brewing variables. This allows skilled home baristas to extract espresso similar to a traditional machine.

However, many come with an inherent limitation: they lack a boiler and heating element, so they cannot steam milk.

To fill this gap, Flair Espresso recently launched the Wizard, a professional-grade stovetop milk steamer priced at US$189 to lower the barrier to entry.

“We set out to design and produce a stovetop steamer capable of generating steam that rivals commercial machines in terms of power and workflow,” Jeffrey explains. “We incorporated a cool-touch steam wand that rotates 270° and articulates 15° up and down. This allows both left and right-handed users to find a comfortable steaming position. 

“The Wizard also includes a pressure gauge with a marked steaming range, so customers can easily see when it’s reached the desired temperature,” he adds.

Achieving the proper pressure and temperature levels for milk steaming – typically between 122°C and 125°C (251.6°F and 257°F) and 1.1 to 1.3 bar of pressure, according to Barista Hustle – is crucial for producing silky, stable microfoam.

“The steam pressure in the vessel allows us to achieve temperatures nearly 140°C (302°F),” Charles explains. “The size and shaping of the steam pathway, as well as the geometry and sizing of the holes in the three-hole and one-hole tips, deliver steam with near-zero loss in energy.

“This results in commercial quality steam power, that is, on average about twice as fast, and about 50% less diluted than steaming with a home machine,” he adds. “In practised hands, this leads to a better textured and tastier, richer milk consistency.

“The Wizard has been used in cafés, at latte art competitions by Latte Art World Champions, like two-time champion Emilee Bryant, and now by the 2025 World Barista Championship competitor Oscar Zuleta of El Salvador.”

To improve accessibility, the steamer is compatible with a variety of heat sources, including gas, glass top, coil, and almost all induction stoves and plates.

“The stovetop that people have in their home varies by geographic location, country, and income,” Jeffrey says. “We wanted to make sure that as many people as possible could enjoy latte art at home.”

How to pour latte art at home

Creating exceptional latte art needs more than enthusiasm and a steady hand. Success lies in producing properly textured milk, which requires both skilled technique and premium equipment. 

The quality of microfoam – tiny, uniform bubbles that create a silky texture and allow you to pour intricate designs – depends heavily on the quality of steam produced by your equipment.

“Higher-quality steam allows a quicker aeration,” Charles explains. “It also has the power to move the aerated (thicker) milk around the pitcher in a faster whirlpool to encourage quick and even heating, rather than producing hotspots of scalded milk.

“In other words, more powerful steam allows for more even heating, ensuring smoother and more stable microfoam to pour excellent latte art,” he adds.

For those new to milk steaming, the Wizard includes two different nozzles that cater to varying skill levels.

“The single-hole nozzle is ideal for beginner latte artists to get up to speed, while the three-hole tip maximises power for those with more experience,” Jeffrey explains.

Learning proper steaming technique is essential, regardless of the equipment used. Temperature control is critical; maintaining a temperature between 60°C and 65°C (140°F to 149°F) prevents proteins from denaturing, which would otherwise compromise both texture and flavour.

“Heating and texturing are the most important things to practice. Emilee Bryant’s milk steaming YouTube tutorials are a great resource,” Charles says. “You can then refine pouring techniques over time, but achieving the proper texture must come first.”

The gap between manual espresso excellence and complete café-quality beverage preparation has narrowed considerably. For home baristas who have invested time in mastering espresso extraction, new product innovations like the Wizard stovetop milk steamer are a natural complement to their setup.

Ultimately, having access to professional milk steaming capabilities without the substantial investment required for traditional espresso machines will help democratise latte art at home – improving quality standards more widely.

Enjoyed this? Then read our article on which milk is best for latte art.

Photo credits: Flair Espresso

Perfect Daily Grind

Please note: Flair Espresso is a sponsor of Perfect Daily Grind.

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