Before answering this question, we would first like to define what art is, so that we can speak in the same terms and avoid misunderstandings.
The Oxford Dictionary defines art as the expression or application of human imagination and creative skill, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.
So, basically, art is the human activity focused on producing emotions through the expression of tangible or intangible works through creativity.
Think about your favorite song or painting. How do they make you feel? In this sense, art is a vehicle for recreating emotions or feelings that humans have used to express themselves for thousands of years.
EVOLUTION OF COFFEE
As we've told you in other articles about the origins of coffee , you'll know that it has existed for over a thousand years of human history. During this 1,000-year period, coffee culture has evolved in many ways: farming techniques have changed drastically to ensure quality, roasting processes have evolved to improve coffee's properties, coffee blends have been developed to create harmony between different flavor profiles, and many brewing methods have been invented in the last century.
In short, coffee has evolved from a simple "caffeine fix" to a more sophisticated and diverse beverage . This evolution has been happening thanks to people around the world on all sides of the coffee journey, as we like to say, "from seed to cup." From committed farmers to a more informed consumer base.
COFFEE AS A FORM OF EXPRESSION
As you know, many of us who consider ourselves creatives use coffee as a "drink of inspiration." Aside from the obvious connection between creative work and coffee, we support the idea that the process of making coffee is a form of expression in itself. And this long process often begins far from where the finished product (the beverage) is consumed. This artistic process begins on the very farms where the coffee is grown. Many steps are required just to harvest a high-quality coffee plant.
The art and culture of coffee have evolved over time in many ways: growing techniques have changed dramatically to ensure quality, coffee blends have been developed to create harmony between different flavor profiles, roasting processes have evolved to enhance coffee's properties, and many brewing methods have been invented in the last century.
On the other side of the coffee process, we find baristas, who in recent decades have become increasingly appreciated for their ability to create extraordinary drinks . Some baristas find their "canvas" for expression through coffee, creating new ways of preparing coffee, cocktail recipes, and excellent blends. Like a great painter who carefully chooses which colors to use, a great barista has the ability to choose between different types of coffees and the different flavors they contain to create an exceptional drink.
You might be interested in: Poetry in coffee, coffee in poetry.
CAN A BARISTA BE CONSIDERED AN ARTIST?
In a nutshell, yes and no. But we'd like to go into more detail on this answer, so bear with me. As with all art, there are many skill levels at which artists can be separated from artisans. Just because you can hold a paintbrush doesn't mean you're like Picasso, right? So the same principle applies to coffee: just because you can make coffee doesn't mean you're an artist. Otherwise, everyone working in a coffee shop would be considered an artist. And so the meaning of artist should be someone who has attained such great skills that they can express themselves in a way that can delight many people.
A great barista , in our opinion, is someone who can take the best coffee or coffees and transform them into an extraordinary beverage. Just as a writer chooses the right words or a musician the perfect notes, a barista takes something with potential and transforms it into art.
With all this, we would say that coffee can be considered an art.
The beauty of coffee is that it's an ephemeral art form. This means that once consumed, the work of art is gone, at least the physical part of it. But the feelings and memories evoked by drinking it remain with the person who had it.
In this sense, coffee is a consumable art, and each experience will be completely different, even if it's the same drink and the same barista. Another great thing about coffee art is that it captures more than one sense (taste, smell, and sight), so it could be considered a multisensory art.