This pumpkin latte art is the real winner of the pumpkin spice season
Drink pumpkins and ghosts all month long at Boston’s Ogawa Coffee.
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October is the indisputable month of the pumpkin.
Get ready to spot pumpkins on everything from clothing to dog treats to home decor. And while you may be used to tasting pumpkin flavoring in your coffee, pumpkin designs will be floating atop it at Boston’s Ogawa Coffee.
The coffee shop, which opened on Milk Street in May, will feature pumpkin and ghost latte art all month long. The art is available by request until Oct. 29, after which all cappuccinos will automatically include it through Halloween.
The artist behind the designs is barista Haruna Murayama, 30, the 2010 champion at the World Latte Art Championship. Murayama moved to Boston from Japan to work at the coffee chain’s first international branch. She was trained by Yoshinori Uda, president and CEO of Ogawa Coffee USA and author of “The Handbook of Latte Art.’’
How have customers reacted to Murayama’s talent?
“Jaws drop,’’ said Takako Oji, executive director of Ogawa Coffee, with a laugh. “The way she does it is quite amazing.’’
Story continues after video:
Coffee art in Boston
Haruna Murayama won the 2010 World Latte Art Championship in London. Today she is making latte’s at Ogawa Coffee in Boston
Murayama uses organic foamed whole milk for her art. She uses a stainless steel pick for the most elaborate designs and sometimes adds food coloring for pizazz. Her designs are usually in the shape of a heart, leaf, or tulip.
“It does not symbolize anything,’’ said Oji. “That’s something everybody is surprised about.’’
It takes Murayama about 1.5 minutes to make and decorate a latte, said Oji. She makes about 20-30 a day and there is no additional cost for the design.
While the art is spectacular, the real star is the coffee drink itself, said Oji. To make it “magical,’’ as she puts it, you need to use the right beans, machine, and milk — and, of course, the skill to perfect the foam.
Said Oji: “The decorating part of it is the icing on the cake.’’
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