3-D Cats, The Peanuts Gang & More Cute Japanese Latte Art

Anjali Prasertong
Anjali Prasertong
Anjali Prasertong is a writer and public health dietitian focused on food systems, racial equity, and nutrition. Originally from Los Angeles, she has taught English in rural Japan, worked as a private chef in Malibu, and led an innovative city-funded corner store program in New…read more
published Apr 29, 2013
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(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Need a pick-me-up this Monday morning? Check out this imaginative and adorable latte art being made by baristas in Japan.

NPR talked to two Japanese baristas who share daily photos of their ephemeral works of espresso art on the web. From anime characters to angry cats, the latte art by Kazuki Yamamoto and Kohei Matsuno is much more intricate than the usual milk-foam flower — and a lot more fun.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Why spend time creating such detailed images with such an impermanent medium? NPR asked noted design philosopher Leonard Koren for his thoughts.

He pointed me to two Japanese concepts — wabi-sabi and mono-no-aware — both of which hold, in part, that “many things are beautiful precisely because they are short-lived and fragile.”

• Read more: Masterpiece In A Mug: Japanese Latte Art Will Perk You Up at NPR

Which may be why these baristas are compelled to snap photos of these tiny works of art before they disappear.

Check Out More Latte Art:
→ 
Kazuki Yamamoto
on Twitter

→ 
Kohei Matsuno
on Twitter

(Images: Kazuki Yamamoto)

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Beverages
Coffee
japanese