The photomicrograph was taken by artist and environmental scientist Vin Kitayama, who runs the Vinsanchi Art Museum in Japan, and his wife Sanae Kitayama.
"During my research, I discovered the mystery and beauty of natural design that is hidden in one small drop of coffee," Vin wrote in his photo entry. "The natural gold color in this photograph reminds me of the beautiful gold that you sometimes can see in the finest traditional Japanese lacquer work, such as created by the famous artist, Korin, about three hundred years ago."
The couple said the technique they used to take this photo was "developed over a long period" and took "a most difficult process" to get the espresso to crystallize. (Business Insider contacted Vin for more details, but he did not immediately respond.)
You can see filaments of crystallized chemicals — perhaps caffeine, which is white as a pure crystal — propping up cracked, golden blobs of cream, or coffee foam.