Food & DrinkThe BestieIntermediate
The Art of the Pour course icon

The Art of the Pour

Like Duolingo, but for The Art of the Pour. Tomo turns the whole topic into a game you play five minutes a day, until it actually sticks.

For the part of you with thirty open tabs that never became anything.

170 bite-size levelsAbout 5 minutes each

Free during early access · No credit card · iPhone & Android

Barnaby the Bearista
The Art of the Pour
with Barnaby the Bearista
170
Levels
8
Sections
5
Min/day
What you'll learn

Key ideas in The Art of the Pour

  • Proteins in cold milk are more stable for trapping air bubbles
  • The paper-tearing sound indicates small, controlled air intake
  • Adding air to hot milk creates large, unstable bubbles that pop easily
  • Gurgling or deep splashing sounds mean the air bubbles are too large
  • Why air must be added while the milk is still cold
  • The meaning of the paper-tearing sound
  • The correct sequence of the steaming process
  • The effect of steam tip depth on foam volume
  • Specific sounds correlate to how air is entering the milk
  • A lack of sound usually means the tip is too deep
  • Excessive stretching creates foam that is too thick to pour patterns
  • Over-stretched milk loses the glossy, wet-paint look
  • Consequences of over-stretching the milk
  • Stop stretching when the pitcher reaches roughly body temperature
  • The volume should have increased by about 20-30% for a standard latte
  • A lack of volume increase means the milk will be too thin
Why not just Google it

You've tried the other tabs

Wikipedia

Thirty open tabs. Four facts you actually kept.

YouTube

You watched. You nodded. By Sunday it was gone.

ChatGPT

One answer, then back to scrolling.

Online courses

Eight weeks. You meant to finish. You didn't.

Tomo gives The Art of the Pour the Duolingo treatment: levels, streaks, and quick quizzes that test what you just learned. That game loop is what the tabs above never had, so it's the one you actually finish.

Try a question

Here's what playing it feels like

A real question from this course. Take your best guess.

The First Sip of Steam

What sound should you listen for to know you are creating high-quality microfoam?

Get it right to open this lesson and 169 more in the app.

Course map

Where The Art of the Pour takes you

Move beyond basic brewing and master the fluid dynamics of microfoam. Learn to manipulate texture, temperature, and tension to create stunning visual patterns and perfect matcha bowls.

  1. 1

    Mastering the Microfoam Texture

    • The Science of Stretching: Air Incorporation
    • Vortex Control for Silky Consistency
    • Temperature Thresholds for Sweetness
    • Troubleshooting Bubbles and Separation
  2. 2

    Foundations of Fluid Motion

    • The High Pour: Setting the Canvas
    • The Low Pour: Breaking the Surface
    • Flow Rate and Pitcher Proximity
    • The Physics of the 'Wiggle' Motion
    • The Clean Cut: Finishing the Pattern
  3. 3

    Classic Latte Art Patterns

    • The Heart: Symmetrical Centering
    • The Rosetta: Layering and Dragging
    • The Tulip: Stacking and Pushing
  4. 4

    Advanced Pitcher Manipulation

    • Winged Patterns and Side-to-Side Control
    • Inverted Designs and Reverse Pours
    • Combining Shapes for Complex Imagery
    • Etching Techniques for Fine Detail
  5. 5

    The Ritual of Matcha Whisking

    • Sifting for Lump-Free Suspension
    • The 'W' Motion: Aerating the Tea
    • Managing Water Temperature for Umami
    • Achieving the Perfect Froth Layer
    • Matcha Lattes: Combining Whisking and Steaming
    • Cleaning and Caring for Bamboo Tools
  6. 6

    Alternative Milks and Textures

    • Oat Milk: The Barista's Best Friend
    • Almond and Soy: Handling High Acidity
    • Fat Content and Foam Stability
    • Adjusting Steam Pressure for Plant Bases
  7. 7

    Speed and Consistency in Service

    • The Ghost Steam: Multitasking Workflow
    • Standardizing Quality Across Multiple Drinks
    • Maintaining Equipment Under Pressure
  8. 8

    Sensory Evaluation and Troubleshooting

    • Identifying Over-Aerated vs. Under-Aerated Milk
    • The Impact of Roast Date on Crema Tension
    • Correcting Pouring Posture and Grip
    • The Chemistry of Milk Protein Denaturation
    • Why Certain Beans Reject Latte Art

8 sections · 34 units · 170 levels. Built to play, not to enroll.

How it's taught

You pick the voice

This course
The Bestie

The Art of the Pour is taught in the The Bestie style: your friend who just gets it. Want a different feel? In the app you can spin up the same topic in any of Tomo's teaching styles. Same facts, totally different vibe.

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