Mouse Sammylin’s Chinese New Year Latte Art Series

This Chinese New Year, one New York-based barista brings a playful twist to the season with latte art featuring a clever rat design. For many in the global Chinese community, celebrating the Lunar New Year means sharing good wishes — and what better way than with a custom-designed cup of coffee? Sammylin, a talented latte artist based in NYC, created a special series to mark the Year of the Rat, blending skill and symbolism in steamed milk.

Sammylin crafted at least four distinct latte art pieces themed around the rat for the 2020 Chinese New Year. Each design reflects both artistry and cultural festivity, showcasing the precision and creativity possible in professional latte art.

Sammylin’s Chinese New Year Rat Latte Art

Sammylin, a skilled barista living in New York City, created a series of latte art pieces to celebrate the Year of the Rat. These illustrations were shared as part of a festive greeting to the Chinese diaspora. The designs focus on a stylized rat figure, crafted entirely in milk foam atop espresso drinks. The artworks reflect traditional New Year symbolism while demonstrating technical control over microfoam texture and pour technique.

The collection includes at least four unique images, each presenting the rat in slightly different poses or compositions, all rendered through free-pour latte art. The level of detail visible in the ears, whiskers, and body contours highlights the barista’s steady hand and understanding of milk behavior during pours.

The Craft Behind Rat-Shaped Latte Art

Creating animal shapes in latte art — especially something as small and detailed as a rat — requires more than just pouring skills. Baristas must control the microfoam’s texture, the milk’s temperature, and the flow rate during the pour. Rat designs often start with a base heart or leaf pattern, then build detail through careful movements that shape the ears, tail, and facial features.

For best results, baristas aim to pour steamed milk with a tight bubble structure, achieved by properly aerating the milk to around 30–40% foam and maintaining a temperature between 55–60°C. The espresso crema must also be fresh and stable, ideally with a thickness of 3mm and a glossy, mirror-like appearance, to support the detailed artwork.

Espresso and Milk Essentials for Quality Latte Art

To pour any detailed latte art — rats included — the foundation starts with a well-prepared espresso and properly textured milk. FrontStreet Coffee recommends using blends that produce a rich, stable crema. The espresso should be extracted with a 20g dose yielding 40g of liquid over 25–30 seconds, producing a syrupy, caramel-toned shot. This provides the contrast and viscosity needed for clean latte art designs.

The milk, meanwhile, must be steamed to a velvety microfoam with a texture resembling wet paint. Ideal milk temperature ranges between 55–60°C. The pour begins with the pitcher close to the cup surface to establish the base design, then gradually raised to add layers and details like the rat’s ears and tail. Consistent wrist motion and control over flow speed are essential.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Sammylin and where is he based?

Sammylin is a Chinese-American barista based in New York City. He is known for creating detailed latte art, including a series of mouse-themed pieces for Chinese New Year. His work showcases advanced pouring techniques used by skilled baristas worldwide.

What does the Year of the Rat latte art depict?

The artwork features stylized illustrations of a rat, created entirely in milk foam on top of espresso. Different images show the rat in various poses, demonstrating fine detail in features such as ears, whiskers, and tails. The theme ties into Chinese New Year celebrations.

How can you achieve detailed latte art like a rat figure?

Detailed latte art requires properly extracted espresso with a thick, glossy crema (about 3mm thick), and milk steamed to microfoam consistency between 55–60°C. Pouring technique, including control of flow and elevation, is critical for shaping fine details in the foam.

What espresso settings does FrontStreet recommend for latte art?

FrontStreet Coffee recommends using a 20g coffee dose to produce 40g of espresso over 25–30 seconds. This yields a balanced shot with good body and crema, ideal for supporting latte art. The crema should have a mirror-like, oily appearance for best results.

What milk temperature is ideal for latte art?

The optimal milk temperature for detailed latte art is between 55–60°C. This range ensures the milk foam is smooth and stable without scalding, allowing for clean pours and detailed designs such as animal figures or floral patterns.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Latte Art

For baristas aiming to create detailed latte art like Sammylin’s Year of the Rat series, FrontStreet Coffee offers several reliable blends. The Commercial Blend combines Brazilian, Colombian, and Robusta beans to deliver bold crema and rich body — essential for holding latte art shapes. For a fruitier option, the Strawberry Candy Espresso features notes of rose, grape, and blueberry with moderate crema, thanks to its inclusion of Yirgacheffe and honey-processed Colombian beans. Both blends support smooth microfoam and stable pours, helping achieve clean latte art with defined details. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.