Brew barista-perfect coffee in London and Cornwall

Fancy yourself a budding barista? Learn the secrets of tamping, frothing and making beautiful coffee designs with a 90-minute latte art enthusiast course at Origin Coffee Roasters in London (the class is also available in Cornwall). Held in Origin’s education lab at its café in Southwark, the class is led by one of the company’s expert baristas, whose knowledge of coffee is astounding. The class begins with a brief introduction to the basics of milk steaming, and the chance to ask anything you want about coffee-making, from tips on the best kit and beans to which milk to use. The theory part can be as long or short as you want (depending on how best you learn), then you’ll get hands-on time at the machines. Using state-of-the-art La Marzocco espresso machines and Origin coffee, you’ll weigh out your grounds, learn to ‘tamp’ it (or press it down), draw the coffee, steam the milk, and have a go at the art, starting with a simple heart shape. The class size is normally two to four people, so you get plenty of one-on-one attention and advice. If you do master the heart – it’s harder than it looks! – you can move on to the more complicated leaf or tulip. Unfortunately, the best part of the course is also the worst: you get as many attempts as time allows to master the art, so you end up wasting coffee and milk (there are only so many cups you can drink, after all). Happily, Origin is trying to find a solution. It already uses surplus milk in its porridge, and produces a zero-waste croissant loaf.

Anna Lawson

How to do it

The latte art enthusiast course costs £30 per person and includes 15% off food and drink on the day (origincoffee.co.uk). Courses are held at Origin Coffee Roasters in Southwark, London, or The Roastery in Helston, Cornwall.