【精英翻譯】的部落格

Coffee as a Work of Art 　與神奇『拉花』來一場美麗的邂逅吧！

精英翻譯社轉自http://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0062/270186/web/

　　Latte art refers to drawing patterns in lattes using milk foam2. When a barista3 pours an espresso4 just right, thin layers5 of brown foam will float on top of the espresso, which produces dark brown layers of foam. The pure white milk foam, made by bubbling milk, will float to the top of this brown foam, allowing a talented barista to draw a pattern with the two colors of foam. Some baristas free pour, which means they pour the milk foam directly to form the shapes they want. Other baristas use tools to shape the foam into patterns and designs.

　　拉花藝術指的是用奶泡在拿鐵咖啡裡畫出各種花樣。當咖啡師恰如其分地倒入一杯濃縮咖啡時，薄薄一層的咖啡色泡沫會浮到濃縮咖啡上面，產生一層深咖啡色的泡沫。由沸騰的牛奶產生的純白色奶泡會浮在這層咖啡色泡沫上，讓才華洋溢的咖啡師用這兩種顏色的泡沫畫花樣。有些咖啡師使用傾倒成形（free pour）的拉花方式，這是指他們直接倒入奶泡去畫他們想要的花樣。其他咖啡師則使用器具使泡沫形成許多花樣和圖案。

　　Regardless of the method used, latte art can be as complex as the barista's skills allow. Simple patterns are things like flowers, leaves, and hearts. Some people are able to draw little pictures in the foam, designs in the shape of faces or animals, for example. Great latte artists can form the foam into little sculptures6, like cartoon characters or anything else they can come up with. There are even latte art competitions7. Latte art has added a new level to the coffee-drinking experience, turning simple drinks into works of art.

　　不論是以何種方式，拉花藝術可以變得多精巧複雜端看咖啡師的能力所及。簡單的拉花圖案如花朵、葉子和心型。例如，有些人能在泡沫上畫出像是人臉或動物這些小巧可愛的圖像。技藝超群的拉花藝術家可以使泡沫變成小而美的雕刻作品，像是卡通人物或任何他們可以想出的事物。拉花藝術甚至還舉辦比賽。拉花藝術已把喝咖啡的體驗提升到一種新的層次，使咖啡這種簡單的一杯杯飲料變成一件件的藝術品。