By Honorary Reporter Oshini Jayamuni from Sri Lanka

Photos = Lee Ji-yu

Latte artist Lee Ji-yu aka Elly

Lee Ji-yu aka Elly is a barista and cafe owner in Korea who has won or finished second in latte art competitions in Korea and abroad. She also serves as a judge and trainer for such contests.

The following are excerpts from an interview with Lee on Nov. 9. 

Please introduce yourself and your cafe.
I'm Lee Ji-yu and have run Cafe Oneway for 10 years. Our cafe is more than a business; we do our own roasting and host barista training. Because of training, the store is only open for four hours, from noon to 4 p.m.

How did you start in latte art?

I discovered latte art while living in Melbourne, Australia, for two years from 2008. While working at a cafe, I was introduced to latte art by my colleagues.

Lee's latte creations include (counterclockwise from left) "Winner Swan," "Wing Tulip" and "The Swan."

How long did it take you to gain this skill?

It took a year for me to get used to expressing an image I had in mind on a cup of coffee. As I understood the principles of latte art bit by bit, I felt as if I'd become friends with steamed milk. Looking at my early works, they seem a bit messy but back then, I was so proud of them.

How do you prepare for a competition?
Every contest has unique rules. So I check the rules first to understand the parts to focus on and practice. Then I check the coffee machine, grinder, coffee beans and milk used in the competition so that I can better perform there. Afterwards, I practice at least a month before the competition until I consistently get the results I want. The more you practice, the closer you get to winning.

Lee won second place at the Korea Latte Art Championship last year.

How did you feel about finishing second in last year's Korea Latte Art Championship?
Though I placed second, I think of it as a competition where I won first. I was so happy to show the patterns I'd worked on for more than a year. Having participated in such competitions for nine years, I feel that being champion isn't what matters the most to me but rather the happiness I feel when preparing for a competition.

Lee entered the patterns "Relax Penguin," "Flying Pig" and "Pumbaa" at the Korea Latte Art Championship last year.

What tips do you have for beginners in latte art?
Relax your body as much as possible, try to feel closer to milk and espresso and befriend them. Think of the process as setting up the two ingredients on a blind date. Like in painting, the first thing to do in latte art is to observe and look at the whole picture.

Any concluding message to Korea.net readers?

Having worked in latte art for nearly ten years, I've gained a sense of happiness, achievement and fulfillment. So even if your passion isn't latte art, I hope everyone finds something that makes them happy. Just starting to think about this is the start of the path toward happiness. 

kalhong617@korea.kr 

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.