When There's an Art in Making Coffee
Pov, who likes art but did not study it at school, gets his ideas from fellow practitioners around the world who post their work on the internet and sometimes take part in competitions. Photo: Alan Kirk
- By Alan Kirk
- December 29, 2022 9:33 AM
PHNOM PENH – Barista Sreu Pov has turned his job into an art form. The 28-year-old worker at Brown's Coffee in Boeung Trabek in Phnom Penh delights customers with the images of animals, flowers, leaves and hearts he creates on their lattes.
"I am really happy when some customers come in looking sad and then they smile when they see their coffee," he says.
It was not his first career choice. He graduated with a degree in agriculture when the country was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and there were few jobs in his field.
Pov, from Takeo, got the Brown's job, where he trained in coffee making and the basics of coffee art.
He practiced the artwork every day on takeaway coffees on which the disposable cap obscured his early efforts. It took six months before he was confident of his skill.
"Coffee art is not easy," he says. "Maybe it's a kind of talent. Some senior staff at the cafe can not manage it."
Pov, who likes art but did not study it at school, gets his ideas from fellow practitioners around the world who post their work on the internet and sometimes take part in competitions.
Phnom Penh used to have coffee art competitions but these were disrupted by the pandemic. Pow wants to enter if they start up again. He might also open his own coffee shop.
In the meantime he is happy getting feedback from customers and when they post his work on social media, attracting many likes.
