「SG Young Talent」This Self-Taught Barista Created 'Twerking Corgi Latte' And 'Squishy Cheeks' Latte
This 18-year-old has a story to tell. An unexpected discovery of a hidden talent that changed the course of her aspiration. Daphne Tan discovered her flair in latte art by chance through a gourmet coffee appreciation workshop at the end of 2016. She didn't know how far it would take her but now, 2 years later, she creates super cute coffee well-loved by a growing 50 000 followers on Instagram. Happiness in a cup indeed!
Daphne was an aspiring food photographer. She didn't expect her pursuit of latte art plus her mini kitchen adventure to grow so popular and who knows, it might one day turn into a potential career. We do not know and if she does, all the coffee-lovers rejoice!
Daphne is a self-taught barista who experimented with latte art from her kitchen. Intrigued by a demonstration on how to do free pour latte, she went back and started her own experiment.
After researching online, she started foaming milk with a French press. Then, her experiment moved on and she learnt to create a more stable foam via the microwave. Eventually, she found a more efficient and reliable method through the use of an automated milk frother.
"I came across a time lapse of a barista doing 3D latte art and just tried to emulate it," Daphne explained. "But I've developed my own method of shaping the foam and creating art in cups."
Top 3 Creations by Daphne Tan,
IG: @periperipeng
A Twerky Corgi Booty
Come on girls, there's no better teacher than a corgi when it comes to twerking our asses.
Squishy Cheeks
Seriously, take my money. Just let me squish it, please!
Intricate Tiger
All we see is a well-crafted tiger. But behind this cup is the time taken for research, attention to details and great effort. The art alone took 20 minutes and a scaffolding prior. Good job, Daphne!
We asked, "Who's your inspiration?" She replied, "A Korean Barista, Lee Kang Bin. He started pursuing an interest in coffee when he was 17 years old and does the most intricate artwork using cream, poured on top of cold coffee. "
She continued, "His work is truly incredible and he has gained a lot of well-deserved attention! He's an inspiration as he started his journey around the same time as I did, it is motivating to see his success."
When asked if she intends to open her own cafe or takes this hobby to a new level, Daphne was certain she has no plans on commercialising her craft now. "For now, I'd like for it to stay as a hobby. Commercialising art may prove to be tough in finding the balance between pandering to the masses and my own freedom of expression."
"If you scroll down my feed, you'd see that I used to create some cute food art so I guess kawaii creations have always been my calling (haha). I found great joy in creating art in cups so I decided to continue, and here I am today! "
It wasn't all about the cute foam and flowers. Daphne is currently a student at a local junior college. She will be taking her GCE 'A' levels at the end of this year. You go girl! In fact, in these 2 years of her latte art journey, she manages both her regular schoolwork and her hobby well, above other commitments. She's indeed an inspiration for many students to have a good work-life balance. Setting time aside for fun is an essential part of character development for all youths.
Daphne also faced work challenges when it comes to managing a popular Instagram account.
"Every cup poses a challenge for me, a test to keep pushing the boundaries, trying to create something more impressive than the previous. I guess that takes some belief in yourself. With no art background, I was a little intimidated by trying my hand at more realistic designs but I took the leap of faith and it turned out pretty well! (which is why my first realistic design is one of my top 3 creations)"
"Another challenge I faced is being a teen with no experience in the business world, I had to learn to interact with working professionals. Thankfully, my parents gave me much guidance and helped me through."
"I'm really no coffee expert. There's a misconception that I'm a coffee connoisseur but my focus is mainly on the art. Coffee just happens to be the medium I use. I actually do foam art on matcha lattes as well."
View this post on InstagramDeviance from my regular work - channeling my inner Roy Lichtenstein in an edible medium
A post shared by Daphne Tan (@periperipeng) on
View this post on InstagramWhat my snapstreaks receive every weekend☝?
A post shared by Daphne Tan (@periperipeng) on
Daphne has some real good advice when it comes to pursuing our dreams and the idea of monetising a passion.
"I set out on the journey with no idea how far it would take me. I focused on the process of refining my skills - trying to make my next cup better than the previous - rather than the outcome."
But I guess it is a different scenario from having to choose between passion vs. money, as I didn't set out with the intention of pursuing this passion professionally. Though, I still stand by the belief that focusing on the process will eventually lead to your desired outcome.
If you love the cute coffee above, follow Daphne's Instagram @periperipeng. Share this article and cheer someone up with cute coffee. We #supportlocaltalents.
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Text By: Girlstyle Singapore
