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Latte art comes out as a shapeless blob

Instead of a pattern, a pale round patch of foam lands on the surface and stays there.

Applies to: Espresso machine, Latte, Flat white, Cappuccino

Likely causes and adjustments

Try one adjustment at a time so you know what actually changed the result. Start with the first cause below — if it doesn't help, reveal the next.

  1. Cause 1 of 3 · Commonly the cause

    Foam too stiff to flow

    Does the milk in the jug hold a peak when you tilt it?

    Aerate less and texture longer, until the milk in the jug looks glossy rather than bubbly.

Step-by-step guides to the skills this problem comes from.