The Fun Basics Of Latte Art

There’s a whole art to making fun steamed-milk designs on top of the espresso, but there are basic ways and techniques that one can master without having a professional barista put on a show.

Image source: Pixabay.com  

Make the perfect foam

The first step is to pour cold milk into the steam pitcher, which is ideally placed in the freezer or refrigerator for around 30 minutes before use. Next, put the steam wand at the bottom of the pitcher, turn on the steam, and raise the wand gradually until it’s close to the tip of the milk. The third step is to spin the milk and then aim for the microfoam without compromising the body. Shut the steam and remove the thermometer as well as wand from the milk.

Time to pull the espresso

Run the shots as soon as the milk is foamed. The ideal espresso shot should contain a little cream in it and the typical coffee flavor. Pull the shot within 21 to 24 seconds; espresso leans toward sweeter when pulled close to 24 seconds. Pour the espresso shorts into a mug or another big-mouthed container, not letting the shot sit for over 10 seconds before adding milk.

Pour the milk and espresso art

There’s a wide range of fun patterns to make, from leaf and rosetta to hearts and flowers. You may leave the latte art as it is, or try embellishing the design with stencils, milk foam, and power, depending on the stroke of creative genius that’s there at the moment!

Image source: Pixabay.com  

Mind the details

Be cautious of the height, flow, position, and control when pouring milk into the espresso. Remember that where you drop the milk into the coffee has a huge impact on both the style and symmetry of the design.

Danny Crenshaw is a 25-year-old student at the University of Washington School of Law. He works part-time as a barista in a coffee shop in Seattle. More articles like this here.

Our Favorite Teen Movies From The ‘90s

When it came to teen movies, filmmakers in the ‘90s had their work cut out for them, especially since the ‘80s had some of the most iconic films of the genre. Producers and directors in the ‘90s had to follow the footsteps of filmmakers such as John Hughes (“The Breakfast Club”, “Sixteen Candles”, “Pretty in Pink”), Joel Schumacher (“The Lost Boys”), and Cameron Crowe (“Say Anything”). But against all odds, the ‘90s delivered, and they did so in amazingly smart and stylish fashion.

Image  Source: teenvogue.com

Here are a couple of our favorite ‘90s teen flicks everyone should enjoy.

Clueless

Alicia Silverstone, Paul Rudd, and company were all hilarious in one of the most memorable teen-centric vehicles of the early ‘90s. More of a satire on life in Beverly Hills for rich teenagers, “Clueless” dispatches all the angst of the era, replacing it with snark and ditzy one-liners.

10 Things I Hate About You

The late great Heath Ledger teams up with Joseph Gordon-Levitt to woo the Stratford sisters in this wonderful modern-day adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.” Much like “Clueless”, “10 Things I Hate About You” is responsible for influencing an entire generation of kids.

                   Image Source : abcnews.com

Can’t Hardly Wait

“Can’t Hardly Wait” is quite a microcosm of a film, meaning the entire film happens in a single night, in a single place. Although not as influential as the first two movies on this list, “Can’t Hardly Wait” is still very much worth a watch. And it’s way fun.

My name’s Danny Crenshaw. I’m a student at the University of Washington School of Law. I love films from the ‘90s. Check out this Twitter account for more on the ‘90s cinema.

Top Directors Series: Jonathan Demme's ‘90s Hits

The ‘90s was a decade filled with great movies from almost every genre. It was also a decade when directors made their mark in the industry. One of these directors is Jonathan Demme.

Image source: time.com

In the early ‘90s, Jonathan Demme released two very different films that won Oscars in different categories. These movies were “The Silence of the Lambs” and “Philadelphia.”

“The Silence of the Lamb” was a suspense thriller of the highest order and has constantly been on top of greatest movies lists ever since its release. The film won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress – one of only two movies to do so.

The film follows Jodi Foster’s Clarice Starling as she tries to uncover the identity of the serial killer, Buffalo Bill. Aiding her in her quest is the immortal Anthony Hopkins, who plays Hannibal Lecter, in one of the most memorable acting performances in film history.

Image source: post-punk.com

“Philadelphia” is Jonathan Demme’s second Oscar-winning movie. It is a courtroom drama that featured two of the most talented actors of this generation – Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington, both of whom gave tour-de-force performances. Both were nominated Hanks for Best Actor, and Washington for Best Supporting Actor. Hanks won, but Washington’s performance left many to praise him as one of the best Hollywood has to offer.

I’m Danny Crenshaw, and I’m a law student at the University of Washington. I love the films that came out in the ‘90s. Learn more about films by following me on Twitter.

Dudeism And The Lasting Appeal Of 'The Big Lebowski'

Image source: travelandleisure.com

One of the most-loved films to come out of the 1990s is the crime comedy “The Big Lebowski.” Directed by the Coen brothers, the film stars Jeff Bridges as Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski, a slacker from L.A. who gets into a wild and surreal adventure after being mistaken for a millionaire of the same name.

Interestingly, the movie did horribly at the box office, receiving mixed reviews from critics and fans who didn’t know what to make of it. Over time, people started liking it more, especially for its uniquely depicted characters and witty, no-holds-barred dialogues. In fact, it was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2014.

An interesting offshoot of the cult classic film is the rise of Dudeism, described quite conveniently as either a religion, philosophy, or lifestyle inspired by “the dude.” Followers describe Dudeism as a modern form of Chinese Taoism, but many consider it a mock religion for its use of tons of comedic references from the film. There’s even a day to commemorate “The Day of the Dude,” which is the 6th of March.

Whether one takes Dudeism seriously or not, it is nonetheless a powerful manifestation of how a popular movie can change a culture or lead to the forming of a quasi-culture. It speaks volumes of the enduring appeal of “The Big Lebowski.”

Image source: mentalfloss.com

Those who laugh at the idea might want to remember that other Hollywood sagas like “Star Wars” or “Star Trek” have their own legions of devout fans who live fun and charmed lives based on over-the-top characters.

Hi there, Danny Crenshaw here, a 25-year-old student at University of Washington School of Law. I am a huge fan of movies from the ‘90s. For more reviews of classic flicks from the decade, visit this blog.

The top dark science fiction movies of the ‘90s

The ‘90s was a great year for films of almost all genres (maybe except for fantasy). For this blog, let’s take a look at some of the best the sci-fi genre had to offer. Since there were a lot, I thought it best to focus on the “dark” sci-fi, meaning sci-fi movies with bleaker tones, set in the night, with natural light coming in only at very minimal points in the story. This means I won’t be looking at classics like “Jurassic Park” or “The Fifth Element.” 

Image source: Wikipedia.com

Dark City 

It was either this or the other Alex Proyas great “The Crow.” But since “Dark City” is more sci-fi in nature, I’m going with this dark tale set in a city where the sun never shines. The entire movie shows architecture and automobiles from different eras in a noir-esque story that pits the hero against the sinister creators of the world. 

The Matrix 

The Wachowskis reinvented filmmaking with this revolutionary sci-fi gem. The story itself had many elements of the best science fiction has to offer. But what really set this movie apart was how stylistic it was. The camera work and digital effects in “The Matrix” had never been seen before. It was one of the best of the decade, point in fact. 

Image source: flickeringmyth.com

Hi, Danny Crenshaw here. I’m a student at the University of Washington, pursuing a law degree. I love the ‘90s and the films that came out that decade. Check out more stuff from me here.

Pulp Fiction: Revisiting the Tarantino masterpiece

The second Quentin Tarantino film to emerge from the ‘90s, “Pulp Fiction” was a catalyst, changing the way directors and producers approached filmmaking, as well as transforming the way pop culture seeped into the medium. 

Image source: litreactor.com

The movie continued where its earlier-released brother, “Reservoir Dogs,” left off, bringing in a superb and eclectic cast that included Bruce Willis, Samuel Jackson, Uma Thurman, Harvey Keitel, and John Travolta (whose career the movie resurrected with a literal bang). 

But it’s not so much the powerhouse cast that made the film a cult classic as the style; Tarantino redefined independent filmmaking of the time, playing around with kilometric, quirky dialogues and how time can be manipulated in a film. The scenes were always on the brink of violence but strangely muted by the over-the-top conversations that moved from blue-jeans to expletive-ridden. The movie made the audience jump in their seats and laugh nervously at the same time. 

The film brought a new sense of cartoon-like appeal to characterization. Actors looked both cool (again) and animated even in their most outrageous moments, as surf music screamed deliriously in the background. “Pulp Fiction” even relived how soundbites are used as lead-ins to soundtrack songs, a phenomenon that would be exploited by other films for the rest of the decade. 

And have we mentioned that it resurrected John Travolta’s career? Nothing was more satisfying than seeing him so-trivially ridicule people who use mayonnaise for fries. 

Image source: wired.com

My name’s Danny Crenshaw, and I’m currently pursuing a law degree at the University of Washington School of Law. When not in school, I work part-time as a barista in a coffee shop in Seattle and watch iconic films from the ‘90s. For more film-related updates, follow me on Facebook.