Class Recording: Understanding Drink Texture

Dave Arnold and Mike Capoferri break down texture in drinks, from the basics to advanced concepts.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/watch?v=jlJhwXhKD38

ABOUT THIS CLASS:

Most bartenders are familiar with tweaking flavor and aroma, but how well do you understand weight, viscosity, fluffiness, density, and heaviness?

In this highly popular digital session, we were joined by drinks-science experts Dave Arnold (Cooking Issues Podcast, Bar Contra) and Mike Capoferri (Thunderbolt, Semiprecious, Night on Earth), as well as Campari Academy Director Jessamine McLellan.

Watch the whole conversation to explore texture in cocktails and spirits: What it is, how it works, and how to get creative with chemistry and physics to unlock better drink making.

Fair warning: This talk goes deep, covering advanced concepts such as working with hydrocolloids, fixing broken specs, and what the heck glop is.

Does this sound interesting to you? Well, congrats, you found the right place.

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WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

• Fundamentals: Traditional tactics and the science behind texture.
• Definitions: Understand viscosity, density, and the role of sugar.
• Hacking! Modern techniques and ingredients for perfectly textured drinks.

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Thirsty for more great talks on advanced cocktail techniques? Start here!

• Hacking Dilution with Dave Arnold & Mike Capoferri
• Creating Bar Prep Programs 101 with Rhachel Shaw
• Carbonating Cocktails with ‘Bubbles’ Authors Valentino Girotto & Bart Miedeksza

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About Your Teachers:

Dave Arnold

Dave Arnold is a bartender, inventor, author, and tinkerer of the highest order. If you don’t know him from his massively influential bars such as Contra, Existing Conditions, and Booker & Dax, you’re probably familiar with tools like the Spinzall, his podcast Cooking Issues, or his book Liquid Intelligence.

Follow Dave at @cookingissues.

Mike Capoferri

Mike Capoferri is a 23-year hospitality-industry veteran with extensive work experience all over the country. After years of bartending in world-class cocktail bars, he pivoted his focus to consulting and curating unique bar experiences and bespoke cocktail programs.

Mike is now the owner/operator of several bars in LA and Denver, racking up nods in World’s 50 Best Bars among many other industry awards.

Follow Mike at @mfcapoferri.

Jessamine McLellan

Jessamine McLellan is the Director of Campari Academy and Trade Advocacy at Campari Group, where she leads education strategy and trade advocacy programming that builds capability across the beverage industry and brings portfolio priorities to life in culturally relevant, commercially grounded ways.

With more than a decade of experience spanning bartending, beverage management, and brand ambassadorship, she blends her deep passion for learning with expertise in curriculum design, cocktail development. Today, she drives this work at scale, overseeing all education and trade advocacy strategy for the wider organization.

Follow Jessamine at @countessofcampari.