Merijn will be joining us again for the seventh edition of The Amsterdam Coffee Festival at our interactive Latte Art Live area, where the story of Alpro's plant-based products will be combined with fun and interactive workshops.
We spoke to Merijn on his history with coffee, his work for Alpro and his three best tips for making plant-based latte art.
Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you got into coffee?
I studied hotel management, and for my final internship I chose to gain experience abroad in the sales sector. It was during this time working for a major Italian coffee company, I came into close contact with coffee. And when I first watched the World Barista Championships with Fabio Verona, I realized that this would be my path.
You have been an Alpro Ambassador for some time. What do you like most about your role?
Meeting new people who are passionate about coffee! I also like being able to dispel pre-conceptions about plant-based drinks, explaining to people the benefits and sustainability that they can implement by drinking these products.
What are your favorites for pouring latte art?
Coconut milk is extremely stable, and although you end up with slightly thicker foam than with oat milk, it is still possible to pour very detailed latte art in even the smallest sample cups. With its fluid texture, oat milk almost automatically flows into the desired design.
Can you give us 3 tips for creating beautiful latte art with Alpro?
1. Preferably use the special Alpro For Professionals line, as they have been created to combine well with coffee.
2. Pass steam from the wand to 40°C, then immerse it. But don’t let it go too far if you're going to create elaborate latte art. Never exceed 60/65°C for almond milk.
3. Experiment with the products. You can make latte art with all of them, but they each require a different approach. With soya for example, I wait 30 seconds before starting the pour, whereas with almond I prefer to start as soon as I finish frothing.
What are your expectations for The Amsterdam Coffee Festival?
I love the vibe at The Amsterdam Coffee Festival! So I'm looking forward to one of the best weekends of the year, and in particular the finals of the Dutch national championships. The level of the competitors is incredibly high this year.
SEE MERIJN'S PLANT-BASED LATTE ART SKILLS IN ACTION AT LATTE ART LIVE AT THE AMSTERDAM COFFEE FESTIVAL FROM 31 MARCH -2 APRIL 2022.