She’s of the age when she shouldn’t even be drinking coffee, but what Daphne Tan does is certainly several notches above what regular latte artists do. This 17-year-old, who goes by the name ‘Periperipeng’, creates mind-boggling 3D whipped foam ‘sculptures’ that pop out from coffee mugs!
Based in Singapore, Tan began experimenting with latte art about a year ago. What attracted her to it, she shares on boredpanda.com, “What sparked my interest was a school program, where I had the opportunity to attend a workshop on the appreciation of gourmet coffee…. I was experimenting with a French press and found a method to create stable foam to make 3D art on top of my cups.”
Tan’s creations not only include cute animals, such as octopuses, porcupines, bears, rabbits, lions, fishes and others, but also well-known characters, such as Pikachu, Nemo, and Snoopy. These adorable figures popping out of coffee mugs make it hard for people to drink the latte, lest they spoil the art!
Making such foam figurines is by no means easy, but Tan makes it look so simple. She uses specific ingredients that give firmness to her foam figurines, such as a Nespresso milk frother, and a mix of carob powder, soy milk, and water. The detailing of the figures is done using natural food coloring and melted chocolate. Such is her expertise that she can whip one latte figurine in around 10 to 20 minutes.
Tan’s talent has not gone unrecognized. She has not only become an internet sensation but also continues to grow in popularity. On Instagram alone, she enjoys a viewership of over 59,000 followers. What’s more, she was invited to demonstrate her talent in Singapore Coffee Festival 2017.
Daphne Tan: Instagram