Hi, I’m Sydney, and I run marketing at Compass Coffee. Nice to (kinda) meet you! I've been with Compass for about a year now and absolutely love it. But, before I started writing about coffee, it only makes sense that I had to learn how to make it. So, let's back up real quick. (And yes, that's me in the pic! Hi!)
When I first joined Compass Coffee, I didn’t start in the marketing department. Nope—I began behind the bar, just like every other new team member. At Compass, we believe that to truly understand our coffee and our customers, you have to experience it firsthand. So, I spent my first few weeks pulling shots, steaming milk, and making drinks alongside our baristas. And while I learned a lot, there was one thing I was excited to master from the start: the latte heart.
At first, it felt like a personal challenge. How hard could it be to pour a simple heart? Spoiler: My first heart was a blob. It was equally as funny as it was frustrating, but by the end of day 1, I was serving lattes with big, fat, beautiful hearts! It takes practice, but it’s absolutely doable. The more I worked at it, the more I realized that the heart wasn’t just about latte art—it was about the craft, care, and connection that go into every single cup we serve. It was the perfect expression of what makes Compass Coffee special.
The Heart as a Symbol of Speed, Quality, and Friendliness
Throughout my training, we talked a lot about what ‘Real Good Coffee’ means. I have a whole training book on what this means for every department in Compass, but it can be boiled down to three core things when it comes to our cafe experience: speed, quality, and friendliness.
When I first started on the job as a barista, I thought that meant just smiling while you get someone a coffee, and doing it fast. Technically… I wasn’t wrong. In its simplest definition, it DOES mean that. But I started to realize that I was missing a lot of context.
Speed - yes, this one does literally mean fast. We don’t want someone to wait an eternity for their coffee. That’s usually not the best way to start someone’s day, especially if they’re on a time crunch.
Quality - at first I thought this just meant “fresh” or “you made the latte right!” Which, it does, but again… it goes beyond just that. It’s our commitment to ethical sourcing and peak roasting, so every brew is something we’re proud of. It’s the countless hours we put into perfecting our craft, and doing everything we can to make sure the quality of what’s in your cup meets the quality of your experience in our cafes.
Friendliness - we talk a lot about “meeting people where they are.” A smiling face is the first sign of friendliness, yes, but what comes after? Is someone running late and needs a quick, happy interaction? Is someone a regular and wants to have a conversation with their favorite barista? Is it someone’s first time at Compass, and needs some recommendations on what to get?
Everyone needs something different to create an exceptional experience, and being friendly is just step 1.
And believe it or not, a latte heart sits perfectly at the intersection of these values. It’s simple, it’s classic, and it’s an immediate way to create a small but meaningful moment for someone’s day. I don’t know about you, but anytime I get a heart in my latte, I can’t help but smile (and take a quick picture.)
Learning the Difference Between Fancy and Good
Something else that surprised me: I quickly realized that fancy did not equal good.
I used to have the Michelin Star mentality, that the fancier a coffee was, the better it had to be. But at the end of my first week on bar, I realized that my go-tos were all the simple things.
A cold brew with milk.
A shot of espresso.
A large cup of Cardinal Blend.
Fancy is impressive. It turns heads. It’s the towering latte art swans and intricate rosettas that take years to perfect. And don’t get me wrong—those are incredible. But good? Good is something you can rely on every day. It’s approachable, real, and intentional. They’re less Instagram-worthy, sure, but having a cup of my favorite cold brew was what made me excited to go to work every day.
And that’s exactly why we teach every barista how to pour a latte heart on Day 1. Not because it’s the easiest thing in the world (it still takes precision and technique), but because it’s the simplest and most beautiful way to start connecting with customers from the very first shift. (Oh, and hey, it IS Instagram-worthy!)
A heart in your latte isn’t about being fancy. It’s about something more fundamental: the skill and dedication that go into making great coffee. And, yes—it’s also the fastest latte art you can pour, which means our baristas can focus on making sure your drink tastes just as good as it looks. It’s one of those small but intentional details that elevate a coffee experience from good to great.
A Tool for Connection
During my time working behind bar, and still to this day when I visit cafes, I can’t help but notice what coffee really brings: connection. It’s more than just a drink—it’s the familiar barista who greets you by name, the friendly face at the register who actually listens when they ask how your day is going. It’s the book club huddled at their usual table, the old friends catching up by the window, the quiet nod between regulars who recognize each other by their orders. Coffee turns everyday moments into something more.
That’s what makes it so special. Pouring a latte heart is simple—steam the milk, pour it smoothly, and add a quick flick of the wrist. With just a little practice, it becomes second nature. And while baristas refine their technique over time, the heart itself isn’t about perfection. It’s about adding a small, intentional touch that turns an everyday cup of coffee into something a little more thoughtful.
Because that’s what coffee is. It’s a craft, yes, but it’s also meant to be shared. You don’t need to be an expert to appreciate it. You don’t need years of training to do it. Whether it’s a perfectly poured heart or a simple cup of something warm and familiar, the best coffee is the one that brings people together, and that’s why it matters to us so much.
A latte heart might seem like a small thing, but it represents something bigger. It’s a reflection of our approach—simple, thoughtful, and built on connection. Working every day with our team to take that approach and create something for our customers is a lesson I still use every day in my current role at Compass. It taught me firsthand that we’re more than “just coffee.” At the end of the day, our job is to make people’s day better. And the heart in your latte is just one of the ways we do that.
