Just what makes crema so desirable then? Well, there are a few reasons, some of which favor form over function. One of the more recent trends have baristas drawing artful designs into the crema using milk, known as “
latte art”. Of course, this hasn’t always been the case, with old schoolers preferring their crema untampered. In fact, the state of the crema can be a good indicator as to not only the freshness of the coffee, but also its strength. The amount of crema produced during the brew directly correlates to how fresh the beans are; less crema tends to mean older coffee beans, and nobody wants that. The color of the crema can also reveal how strong your espresso is. The darker it is, the stronger your brew!