Features / coffee
Creating art from coffee
If you have walked by Society Cafe after closing time recently, you might have seen the lights still on and head barista Radu Maricec still pulling shots behind the bar until well into the early hours of the morning.
Radu is one of Europe’s best exponents of latte art – the intricate designs made by pouring velvety textured milk into the rich brown crema of the coffee – and his commitment to his craft has recently paid off, placing second in the SCA UK (Specialty Coffee Association UK Chapter) Latte Art Championship.
It takes a lot of practise to be a latte art champion and Radu regularly puts in a full shift at the Narrow Quay cafe before honing his skills when the cafe has closed, creating the likes of a fox, squirrel and bee with deft flicks of his wrist.
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“I do it because I love it,” Radu explained between pours on a recent evening.
Radu likens latte art to beautifully plated food in a restaurant, which somehow manages to make what you eat taste even better.
For Radu, perfecting his latte art is just one element of what keeps him motivated in his chosen profession: “Most people see being a barista as a job, but I see it as a career. When I come to work, I have to learn something new every day to make it worthwhile, and I still have so much to learn.”
Twenty-six-year-old Radu was born in Romania and moved to the UK four years ago only knowing a few words of English.
Now living in Fishponds, he credits his colleagues at Society for allowing him to perfect his latte art, with his trophies of all shapes and sizes from various competitions on display inside the cafe overlooking Pero’s Bridge.
Two of Radu’s trophies from latte art competitions
A latte art dice
Collecting some handmade wooden dice from a shelf behind the bar, he pointed out some of the intricate designs on them which he can transform into latte art, throwing the dice and then making the two swans, tulips or rosettes on their face.
His bee is his own creation, and one which he thinks is completely unique in the world. Its basic design was suggested by a regular customer who had seen it on a bottle of honey on the counter while Radu was looking for inspiration.
The bee now features on a painting by Radu’s fellow Society barista Ellie Rose, also containing the squirrel sitting in the tree that formed part of Radu’s performance at the Latte Art Championship – a 15-minute routine that he said he enjoyed so much he immediately wanted to do again.
In the empty cafe, Radu suddenly remembered the energy of the competition, recreating part of his routine for the benefit of Bristol24/7. “Here you go judges,” he exclaimed after pouring a new coffee with his signature bee on top. “Please enjoy!”
Society Cafe head barista Radu Maricec moved to the UK from Romania four years go
Radu’s signature bee design was inspired by a jar of honey
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