Onlatte Coffee Printer Delivers Custom Latte Art

Ever watched a barista spend minutes crafting intricate latte art—only to wish you could customize your cup without waiting or needing expert skills? Most coffee lovers have admired the delicate roses and hearts atop espresso drinks, knowing they’re the result of hours of practice by trained professionals. What if there were a way to bring your own designs to your latte, without years of training or a steady hand?

The Onlatte Coffee Printer offers a direct solution: it lets anyone print custom text or detailed patterns onto coffee drinks, using actual coffee as ‘ink.’ Just connect it to your computer, and it works much like a standard desktop printer—but instead of spraying ink, it sprays fine coffee to create art directly on the foam.

How the Onlatte Coffee Printer Works

The Onlatte Coffee Printer functions similarly to a regular office printer, using desktop printer technology adapted to work with coffee. Instead of ejecting traditional ink, it precisely sprays micro-fine coffee through a nozzle system to form text or graphics on the surface of steamed milk. The device connects to a computer, allowing users to upload any design, text, or pattern they wish to print onto their latte.

Technology and Patent Details

This innovative concept isn’t just a prototype—it’s patented. Onlatte has officially filed for a US patent for the Coffee Printer technology. The patent documentation includes technical drawings and detailed descriptions, housed in a publicly available application publication (1.13 MB – PDF). While the exact mechanics of the nozzle system and fluid dynamics are proprietary, the core idea is to control coffee output with enough precision to replicate detailed imagery using the same principles as inkjet printing, but with brewed coffee as the medium.

Why This Matters for Coffee Lovers

Until now, beautiful latte art has been the domain of skilled baristas who train for months or even years to perfect their pour. The Onlatte Coffee Printer removes the barrier to entry, letting customers or café owners create personalized coffee art on demand. Whether you want to print a birthday message, a logo, or a favorite symbol, this device brings a new level of customization to the coffee experience—no latte art training required.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Onlatte Coffee Printer?

The Onlatte Coffee Printer is a device that works like a desktop printer but uses coffee instead of ink to print text and images directly onto the foam of coffee drinks. It connects to a computer so users can create custom latte art without needing barista skills.

How does the Coffee Printer create latte art?

It sprays fine coffee through a nozzle in a controlled manner, similar to how an inkjet printer releases ink. This allows it to form detailed patterns or text on the surface of steamed milk.

Is the Coffee Printer available for purchase?

The article does not confirm commercial availability, but the device has been developed and patented, with technical details outlined in a US patent application publication (1.13 MB – PDF).

Do I need special training to use the Coffee Printer?

No. Unlike traditional latte art, which requires skilled pouring technique, the Coffee Printer lets anyone create art by sending a design from a computer to the device.

What kind of designs can you print with the Coffee Printer?

The printer can produce any design, text, or pattern that can be sent from a computer—including custom messages, logos, or artwork—onto the coffee foam.

Is the coffee used in the printer the same as regular espresso?

The article does not specify the roast or origin of the coffee used in the printer, only that it uses actual coffee as the ‘ink’ for printing.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Latte Art

For the best results with latte art, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera — a bright Ethiopian single origin with notes of blueberry and floral tones that hold up well under milk. Another great option is the FrontStreet Yirgacheffe, offering citrus and jasmine brightness ideal for highlighting artistic foam. For a richer canvas, their Brazil Queen Manor brings chocolatey and nutty balance. All three beans are well-suited for espresso-based drinks with milk. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.