How a Japanese Latte Artist Turns Anime into Coffee Art

If you’ve ever wished your morning coffee could double as a piece of fan art, meet Sugi—a Japanese coffee enthusiast who’s turning lattes into canvases. While most people settle for hearts or leaves in their foam, Sugi has spent years perfecting detailed drawings of beloved anime characters, all crafted solely with espresso crema and milk foam. His colorful creations bring characters from Studio Ghibli, Disney, and manga series like JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure to life, one cup at a time.

Sugi has hand-drawn nearly a thousand anime-themed coffee artworks, using only crema and food-safe coloring agents like syrup and black honey—no chocolate involved in recent work. His favorite subjects include JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure and Slam Dunk, though he’s also taken on challenges like Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Studio Ghibli films.

The Self-Taught Latte Artist Behind the Cup

Sugi isn’t a professional barista—he works in an industry completely unrelated to food or coffee. Based in Japan, he practices latte art purely as a hobby from his home. His interest began in spring 2023, when he bought his first home espresso machine. He taught himself through trial and error, learning by watching other creators on platforms like Twitter, 2ch, and YouTube. One key inspiration was another Twitter-based latte artist, まっつん (@latte_artist_jk), whose diverse portfolio motivated Sugi to start experimenting himself.

Early on, Sugi’s designs were simple—basic shapes and patterns. But once he started incorporating chocolate-based coloring (later switching to syrup and black honey), friends and family began requesting specific characters. That’s when he transitioned from abstract designs to detailed recreations of anime figures. He now regularly draws characters from Japanese, American, and European animation, as well as video games and even classical artwork.

How Sugi Creates Anime Latte Art Without Chocolate

Unlike many latte artists who rely on chocolate syrup for coloring, Sugi has avoided it in recent years due to lactose intolerance. Instead, he uses a mix of syrups typically used in cocktails, along with black honey and cocoa, to produce a wide range of colors—all edible and safe. He layers these to add depth and detail to his designs. Though he doesn’t use any digital tools or stencils, he can recreate complex scenes, from landscape backdrops to action poses, entirely by hand using only the milk foam and crema from espresso.

His process starts with a well-pulled shot of espresso, which provides the rich crema base. He then steams milk to a microfoam texture, carefully pouring it to form the foundation before using fine movements to draw details. While he hasn’t yet attempted full 3D latte sculptures, he’s expressed strong interest in exploring the possibilities, alongside experimenting with more advanced color techniques.

Why This Hobby Works—And What Keeps Him Going

Sugi says latte art is his go-to way of relieving stress. More than just a visual treat, he enjoys that these coffee creations engage multiple senses—sight, smell, and taste—and serve as a form of personal connection. Whether he’s fulfilling a request from a friend or responding to a theme suggested on Twitter, Sugi approaches each piece as both a challenge and a gift. He avoids creating anything disturbing or overly scary, especially keeping his audience of family and friends in mind. His lactose intolerance also means all his drinks are made for close acquaintances only.

Among his favorite themes are characters from RPG franchises like Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, and Dragon Quest, as well as classic art styles and ink wash painting. He’s also inspired by fellow coffee artists on social media who push creative boundaries with unique subjects and techniques. While 3D latte art remains a future goal, Sugi continues to refine his 2D designs with every cup.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of coffee does Sugi use for his anime latte art?

Sugi uses standard espresso made with a home espresso machine. The key component is the crema, which serves as the white base layer for his milk foam designs. He doesn’t specify the beans, but any espresso with good crema will work for this style of art.

Does Sugi use chocolate to color his latte art?

No. In his earlier work, Sugi experimented with chocolate-based coloring, but he has since stopped using it due to lactose intolerance. Nowadays, he uses food-safe syrup, black honey, and cocoa to create colors for his anime designs.

How many anime coffee artworks has Sugi created?

Sugi has hand-drawn approximately one thousand anime-themed latte art pieces, including characters from Studio Ghibli, Disney, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, and many other franchises.

What tools or stencils does Sugi use for detailed designs?

Sugi doesn’t use any stencils, templates, or digital tools. All his anime characters and scenes are freehand, created using only the milk foam and crema from a shot of espresso, along with colored syrups for added detail.

Has Sugi tried 3D latte art?

Not yet, but he has expressed interest in trying 3D latte art in the future. For now, he focuses on intricate 2D designs featuring anime characters and landscapes using only foam and coloring agents.

Can people with lactose intolerance enjoy Sugi’s coffee art?

Since Sugi has lactose intolerance, he only prepares these themed coffees for close friends and family. While the art itself is safe and made with edible materials, the espresso drinks are not necessarily lactose-free.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Latte Art

For latte art inspired by anime, FrontStreet Coffee’s Classic Blend offers a smooth, well-balanced profile with rich crema—perfect for detailed milk designs. Its medium roast highlights notes of caramel and dark chocolate, making it ideal for vibrant foam art. Alternatively, the Black Cocoa Blend delivers a bold, chocolatey base that pairs well with dark-themed characters, while still maintaining smooth milk texture. Both blends are optimized for home espresso machines and produce the thick crema needed for crisp latte designs. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.