International Coffee Day is all about the appreciation of this popular hot drink in terms of flavour, looks and the culture surrounding it. Coffee is the substance that wakes people up every morning and has also become the comforting, social treat in our leisure time.

It is also a great subject for the next custom large canvas prints you create – think arty black and white images or colourful depictions of the hustle and bustle of a coffee shop at peak times. There’s also some challenges to consider, including capturing heat in the image as well as close-up shots full of minute details.

UK coffee culture

Over the last twenty years the number of coffee shops across UK high streets has dramatically increased.  There are household name chain shops on every high street and increasingly successful local independents spread across the land.  Antipodean immigrants and trends from the USA are leading consumers, especially millennials, to become au fait with artisan coffee and the plethora of drinks within that culture.  Variations of standard espresso, infused cold press, and nitro coffee are just some of the more niche drinks available in the UK now.

Becoming a coffee pro

If you’re fascinated by how to make coffee (really, really well) then there are courses available to give you the coffee ‘know-how’. Some coffee shops offer barista training courses in latte art and drink preparation. Alternatively, there are courses held at coffee roasteries that educate consumers on the various stages from freshly picked bean to cup.

Latte art can now be seen in even the big high street chains and is usually a sign of a competent barista. There are various patterns to learn ranging from the basic heart to swans and rosettas. Pinterest is a great place for latte art inspiration – careful though, it could take up hours of browsing!

Key coffee Instagram accounts to follow include:

• Alternative Coffee Brewing (122k followers)
• London Coffee Shops (76.8k followers)
• Coffee Cups of the World (31k followers)
• Drift Mag (30k followers)
• Man Make Coffee (137k followers)

Coffee art integration

Once you’ve got the images you want of a perfect cold brew, some impressive latte art or simply friends and family enjoying a warming cup of joe, then get it transferred on to canvas ready to display.

Coffee-inspired canvas prints are great for your kitchen, but they can also be really good advertising tools if you own a coffee shop or think this style of art would be a great addition to your business décor. Check out our post on corporate canvas ideas for your business, or head to our Great British Bake Off-inspired tutorial on photographing food to mix up the canvas art. The combination of coffee and cake is a truly satisfying one!