Latte art starts with the milk, not the pour. You want microfoam: tiny bubbles that make the milk glossy, like wet paint.

Start with cold milk in a cold jug. Stretch it for just two or three seconds, then sink the steam wand to spin the milk until the jug is too hot to hold. Tap and swirl, then pour straight away.

Whole milk is easiest to learn with. Oat milk barista editions work well too.