5 Best Latte Art Pens 2020
We’ve all at one time or another oohed and aahed at the lovely little lotus or tulip the baristas sculpt atop your coffee, and for many home brewers the idea of conjuring up their own latte art is a distant pipe dream.
But with some high quality latte art pens stashed away in your kitchen draw, sketching up aesthetically astonishing cups of joe can become second nature and even if you’re not the most artistic, a humble, heart adorned coffee can always put a smile on a loved one’s face.
From art-making kits to standalone, top of the range tools, these are our top picks for the best latte art pens, whether you’re a beginner or a qualified barista!
Our Top Picks
| Image | Product | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complete Set  | Complete Set |
| Check Price |
| Art Options  | Art Options |
| Check Price |
| Full Barista Experience  | Full Barista Experience |
| Check Price |
The Best Latte Art Pens
1. CaLeQi 3Pcs Barista Coffee Latte Decorating Art Pen
Specifications
- Dimensions: 13.4 x 2 x 1.6 cm
- Weight: 18.1 g
- Material: Stainless Steel
If latte art is something you want to get the whole family involved in, this handy 3 piece set from CaLeQi allows a whole trio of talented sketchers to manipulate their microfoam all at once!
Using the highest quality stainless steel, these pens are some of the lightest on the market at just 6 g a pen, making their handling and movements easy and feather-like.
An ergonomic pattern at their mid-riff also provides a fine, delicate grip, keeping your technique pencil-like and minimising the ungraceful action some thicker or added grip needles can create.
Ideal for an interesting afternoon activity session these pens are perfect for beginners looking to conquer a new craft!
Reasons to Buy
- Lightweight, ergonomic design
- Corrosion and wear-resistant
Reasons to Avoid
- All 3 pens the same style
2. EDESIA ESPRESS Precision Latte Art Decorating Pen Set
Specifications
- Dimensions: 29 x 9 x 1 cm
- Weight: 99.8 g
- Material: Stainless Steel, Silicone
For burgeoning baristas or experienced latte artists, there is no better craftsmanship kit than this three piece latte pen set, complete with six different tool heads!
Whereas standard latte pens tend to only provide spatula and needle ends, EDESIA’s pens allow you to elevate your drawing and designs to all new levels thanks to spoon, knob, hook and lance tools, giving you more options than ever before!
EDESIA haven’t skimped on quality either, and as well as offering the best customisation available, this kit also provides the most premium pens on the market.
Made of trustworthy stainless steel, they also feature a comforting silicone grip, giving you a firmer hold and more importantly a steadier holding action!
They are unfortunately not dishwasher safe and will need to be cleaned with a damp cloth, however, we think that’s a small price to pay for pens that undeniably offer the most creativity.
It’s the perfect present for any Old Master looking to impress their dinner guests!
Reasons to Buy
- 3 pen styles
- Six drawing functions
- Silicone grip
Reasons to Avoid
- Not dishwasher safe
3. Gossip Boy Coffee Art Maker Set
Specifications
- Plastic stencils – less durability
Fantastic for those who want a fancy latte but don’t fancy themselves as coffee’s answer to Caravaggio, this art maker set from Gossip Boy makes wowing the java enthusiasts in your life a breeze.
While the star of the show is a professional latte art pen which allows you to shape beautiful patterns at will, this set also includes 16 uniquely designed stencils, to help make your first attempt at a Monet mocha that little bit easier.
These range from seasonal occasions to comforting creatures, which you can then edit and customise with your steel pen thanks to its needle and spatula ends.
An included coffee sifter also allows you to dust off your masterpiece with a coat of cinnamon, cocoa powder or whatever kind of treat you desire, adding to your already elegant design.
The set has even got you covered on presentation too, as two gloriously glam spiral spoons offer guests the chance to mix up your masterpiece – although why they would want to is beyond us!
Ideal for beginners, it’s a great starting pen with even greater added bonuses!
Reasons to Buy
- 16 art stencils included
- Coffee sifter
- Decorated mixing spoons
4. SRXWO Stainless Steel Milk Jug & Latte Art Pen Set
Specifications
- Dimensions: 11.5 x 6.5 x 9 cm
- Weight: 150 g
- Material: Stainless Steel Jug
- Volume: 350 ml
While it’s all well and good having some nice latte pens, how many of you have the equipment required to help whip up your milky microfoam ink?!
Made of food-grade, easy-clean stainless steel, this professional latte art needle features a prettily patterned non-slip handle and extra-fine nib to make precision and accuracy your closest art allies.
But unlike any of the other pens on this list, SRXWO’s set also comes with a high-quality milk frothing pitcher, so that you can rustle up the perfect chroma and set yourself up with the optimum blank canvas.
A dripless spout ensures you can apply milk slowly and with great exactness, while the jug itself also boasts a durable, heat resistant stainless steel material.
Because before you can get drawing, you need to get good at pouring!
Reasons to Buy
- Milk frothing jug included
- Dishwasher safe
Reasons to Avoid
- Jug has small capacity
5. Motta Latte Art Barista Pen
Specifications
- Dimensions: 14 x 1.3 x 1.3 cm
- Weight: 9.07 g
- Material: Stainless Steel, Silicone
If when it comes to coffee you’re all about authenticity, it doesn’t get any more authentic than a barista pen crafted in Italy, the spiritual home of coffee and latte art.
Hailing from the Piedmont region, kitchen company Motta have been creating stainless steel culinary goods since 1967, and this latte art pen is one of their many products to boast a classic and corrosion-free, metal material.
A silicone handle provides a better grip and sturdier movements and the pen itself features the classic double-headed design of fine-pointed nib and crafting spatula.
Suitable for all baristas, it’s a tool you definitely don’t want to be missing from your arsenal and with its alpine roots, it’s sure to inspire some fluffy milk mountains atop your next few cappuccinos!
Reasons to Buy
- Rust-proof
- Silicone grip
Reasons to Avoid
- Just one tool – not a set
Latte Art Kit Buying Guide
Material
Like with any quality piece of cutlery or tool, you want your latte art pen to be durable and last you a long time. Therefore the natural choice is to go with a stainless steel option which means your pen will be wear-resistant and rust-free.
Ease of Clean
Nobody likes doing the washing up, especially when it comes to a mountainous pile of cutlery, hence why dishwashers now reign supreme in the majority of households.
However, not every pen is classed as dishwasher safe, so if this is an issue for you, try and find one which is compatible with your machine to avoid them getting lost in a pile in your sink!
Size & Weight
Although usually not an issue, it can be an idea to check the dimensions and weight of a pen if you’re worried about it possibly being too heavy or too large for you to be able to control. After all, you will be using it as a sculpting tool, so you want it to feel light in the hand and easy to manoeuvre.
Handle
Obviously when you’re holding your pen, you want it to feel comfortable so you can retain a relaxed grip, which is why details about a product’s handle are always important.
Silicone grips provide the softest and firmest handles and will offer much more support than a standard non-slip pattern that’s been etched into the middle sections of the needle.
Tool Heads
The standard latte pen will usually feature a thin, needle point for manipulating and stretching your milk foam, with a spatula/spoon head on the other side for smoothing out and fine tuning your creations.
However, more tool heads mean more creativity, and so finding a set or different tools which allow for different effects is a must for any latte artists who is looking to take their work up a level.
FAQs
How do I use a latte art pen?
In truth, a lot of latte art designs can be achieved without a pen, and simply require well frothed milk and a steady hand.
However, pens come in handy if you aren’t the most gifted of pourers and want to smarten up your efforts, or if you’re quite the dab hand and want to spruce it up further.
How you are meant to use the pen is commonly called ‘etching’. After pouring in milk to form a visible froth atop the coffee, you can begin lightly scraping the milk into shapes and patterns.
Admittedly it’s unlikely you’ll be able to work it out on your own, as creating pictures often requires clever manipulation and working with what you have as opposed to being able to just draw whatever you want.
What are some easy latte art examples?
The most easy thing to do is just create swirls and made up patterns onto your drink, keeping them as basic as possible to avoid them looking chaotic and keeping them looking pretty.
However we realise some of you will want to create some more recognisable shapes, so here are some easy options:
- Hearts – Simply etch a straight line from top to bottom through a white spherical blob of milk. This will push down the circle at the top to create the two curves and create a sharp point at the bottom as you exit the circle.
- Four Leaf Clover – Using a white spherical blob of milk, etch two lines at the bottom to create a ‘stalk’, then etch three more indents at the left, right and top of the circle to create four leaves.
- Butterfly – using the same technique as the clover, now imagine the ‘stalk’ is the head of the butterfly. Stretch out the ‘leaves’ by etching them away towards the edge of the cup, making them look more like wings.