Coffee art is a café experience evolving into its own art form. Globally it has also grown competitively into The World Latte Art Championships. Linking the growing coffee culture in Galway city and the new art form, Ulster Bank, the proud Leadership Partner to the Galway International Arts Festival (GIAF15) unveil the first festival latte art throwdown at Badger and Dodo Café, Galway City, 18th July from 4-7pm.
A ‘Latte Art Throwdown’ is a friendly competition between local baristas to see who can free-pour the best latte art.
At its heart, the event is a way for the coffee community to gather and share an appreciation for coffee. It also feeds into the friendly rivalry nature between local businesses. Baristas will go head-to-head, while judges at the event will vote on each face-off, moving the victor to the next round. The last barista standing takes home the 2015 Ulster Bank Latte Art Throwdown trophy and prize, along with some serious bragging rights. Throwdown competition places are limited to 16 baristas with only one barista per café represented.
“Whilst latte art isn’t a guarantee that the coffee is going to be fantastic, it’s a good indication that you have a skilled and experienced barista on hand who knows what they are doing. This is a fun event but underlying the joviality are some serious baristas who are pushing coffee to new boundaries in Galway” said Badger and Dodo owner and Ulster Bank Latte Art Throwdown host and judge, Brock Lewin.
During the event, throwdown attendees will get to experience the best coffee baristas from Galway city. The entertaining competition format with provide plenty of atmosphere, music and the chance to ‘pour your own’ latte and they’ll be a chance to win a coffee hamper full of home coffee brewing essentials.
To know more about the Ulster Bank Latte Art Throwdown including the competing baristas/ café and chances to win GIAF tickets visit Ulster Bank Arts Facebook and Tumblr.
Ulster Bank Latte Art Throwdown Event Information:
Location; Badger and Dodo Café, Fairgreen Road, Galway City.
Time; 4-7pm (first head to head at 4.15pm)
Other activities; ‘Pour your own’ latte, competitions, DJ entertainment, Photography and More.
Ulster Bank Latte Art Throwdown Rules:
- This is a free-pour Latte Art Contest, not a barista contest. Only the visual appearance of your latte will be judged (not your overall barista skills). There will be no etching or after-pour manipulations (no drawing with straws, toothpicks, thermometers, etc.)
- This is an informal contest. The Ulster Bank Latte Art Throwdown goal is to have fun, network, and see what the local barista community can do.
- Latte art will be judged on four criteria – clarity, balance, creativity and overall appeal. Overall appeal will be weighted twice as much as the other three categories. Ulster Bank Latte Art Throwdown has selected judges – all efforts will be made to encourage fairness.
- Participants will use espresso and milk provided by Badger and Dodo.
- Pitchers and cups will be provided. Porcelain cups to be use in the competition are 8oz.
- Contestants may bring their own steaming/frothing pitcher; management reserves the right to deny equipment brought from any contestant.
- Participants will need to present their latte to the judges. This will require being lifted or slid about 12 inches to the edge of the serving counter. Overflows or messes will influence judge’s decision.
- This contest is intended for baristas from Galway city. Anyone winning prize money will need to show and confirm they are associated with a Galway café or eatery. Failure to do so will give them “bragging rights”, but no prize.
- Participants will need to sign a release allowing us to use photos of them and/or their art in any manner we see fit without compensation.
- Any action deemed an intentional sabotage of another barista’s work or ability to do work may result in disqualification.
- Rules are subject to change and/or modification ahead of the contest on 18th July 2015.
