Handcrafted 3D Latte Art at My Cofi in Kaohsiung

When you want a coffee that’s more than just a drink — when you want your pet’s face floating on foam or your favorite character sculpted in steamed milk — you need more than a barista. You need an artist with a spoon. In a small coffee shop in Kaohsiung’s Xiamen Street, that’s exactly who you’ll find.

At My Cofi, owner Zhang Guifang hand-sculpts intricate 3D latte art using nothing but a spoon, a stirrer, and steamed milk. She creates detailed pet portraits, cartoon figures, and even famous paintings — all customized per customer photo. Each piece takes skill, patience, and a steady hand to achieve lifelike detail.

What Is 3D Latte Art?

3D latte art goes beyond flat designs poured onto the espresso’s crema. It involves layering and sculpting steamed milk foam to create raised, textured images that rise above the cup’s surface. Think of it as edible sculpture — a combination of pour technique, foam density, and manual detailing.

How Zhang Guifang Crafts Custom Coffee Art

Formerly a makeup artist, Zhang brings a similar precision to her coffee creations. She uses a small soup spoon to carefully place and shape steamed milk foam on top of the espresso. To add color and depth, she mixes crema (the espresso’s natural oils) and even chocolate into the foam, using a stirrer as a brush. Every piece is built up layer by layer, forming a raised, tactile design that looks like it might leap from the cup. “The bear looks like it’s about to jump out,” she says.

She emphasizes that every piece is unique. “Art can’t be copied,” she explains, noting that slight differences make each sculpture one of a kind. Customers often bring photos of their pets, and Zhang recreates them in astonishing detail — capturing expressions, poses, and even personality. “You have to inject soul,” she adds.

The Coffee Behind the Canvas

Zhang doesn’t just craft art — she also roasts her own coffee beans. Every cup at My Cofi starts with beans she has personally roasted, allowing her to highlight each origin’s unique characteristics. She focuses on single-origin pour-over coffees, showcasing their distinct flavor profiles. To refine her palate, Zhang completed a sensory evaluation course at National Taiwan University, strengthening her ability to match beans with her artistic creations.

“Different beans have their own soul and flavor,” she says. That focus on quality extends to every cup that holds her miniature masterpieces.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 3D latte art and how is it different from regular latte art?

3D latte art involves sculpting steamed milk foam into raised, textured images that stand above the surface of the coffee, unlike traditional flat latte art which is poured directly onto the crema. It requires manual layering, shaping, and detailing using tools like spoons and stirrers.

What kinds of images can be made with 3D coffee art at My Cofi?

My Cofi specializes in custom 3D coffee art including pet portraits, cartoon characters, people, and even fine art recreations such as "The Gleaners." Most designs are based on customer-provided photos, particularly of pets.

Does the coffee taste as good as it looks?

Yes — the coffee is made with single-origin beans roasted by owner Zhang Guifang, who has trained in sensory evaluation. The focus is on highlighting each bean’s unique flavors through careful roasting and pour-over brewing.

How long does it take to make one of these 3D coffee sculptures?

The article does not specify exact timing, but given the level of detail and customization involved, each piece likely takes several minutes to sculpt by hand after the coffee is prepared.

Can I request a specific design for my coffee?

Yes — customers regularly bring in photos, especially of their pets, and Zhang creates custom 3D latte art based on those images. The designs are tailored to each request.

What tools does Zhang use to make 3D latte art?

Zhang primarily uses a small soup spoon to shape the foam and a stirrer to apply crema and chocolate for coloring. These tools allow her to build up detailed, sculptural effects on top of the coffee.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Custom Coffee Art

For coffee worthy of 3D latte art, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera — bright with jasmine and lemon, perfect for showcasing delicate designs. Their PWN Golden Mandheling offers heavy body and herbal sweetness, ideal for bold sculpted art. Or choose the Yirgacheffe for floral notes and vibrant acidity. All three highlight the care and craft behind both the drink and its decoration. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.