Three-time Australian Latte Art Champion Victor Vu shares his step-by-step guide to recreating the desert camel design.
This desert camel design is all over the internet and has been recreated by baristas across the world. It’s disputed who first came up with it, but it’s often a go-to of competition baristas who want to show off their skills on social media.
Victor says the challenging design requires a high level of baristas experience to execute it well.
“To make it look lively, all the elements need to be perfect,” he says. “You’ll need a steady hand as the humps and face are completed in one continuous dragging movement. One slip and you might need to start again.”
He advises sketching the design out multiple times on paper first to memorise the order in which the pours will need to be made. Once it’s in your head, then give it a go in the cup.
Victor Vu’s Desert Camel
Step 1
Using a 10-ounce cup, start by mixing the milk with the coffee until the cup is about a third full.
Step 2
With the handle in the three o’clock position, from the centre of the cup pour an eight-leaf rosetta towards the handle to form the body.
Step 3
At the same angle, at the bottom of the cup pour a ten-leaf rosetta to form the grass.
Step 4
Turn the handle to six o’clock. From the centre, pour a slightly curved seven-leaf rosetta towards the right hand side of the cup to form the neck.
Step 5
At the same angle, above the neck pour two slightly curved rosettas to form the cactus – one four leaf and the other five leaf.
Step 6
Turn the handle back to three o’clock. Using the wet foam, drag two front legs from the bottom of the neck at a slight curve. Repeat at the rear of the body to form the back legs.
Step 7
Using the semi-dry foam, from the rear of the body drag up in a large M shape to form the humps over the top of the body. On the same continuous pour, pull up to create a small loop for ear and continuing to create a small bump for the head and then another small loop to create the nose and then the bottom lip. Then circle back to create a small loop to signify the eye.
Step 8
Using the dry foam, create two triangles to fill the space within the humps.
