Local Latte Art Competitions Fostering Coffee Communities – CoffeeTalk

The Austin Coffee Collective, an organization of coffee professionals, hosts a monthly latte art competition called the Thursday Night Throwdown. The competition involves baristas from all over Austin competing in a bracket-style competition, assessing latte art designs based on precision and symmetry. The event is held at a different coffee shop in Austin, where local vendors showcase their products. The upcoming throwdown, set for Feb. 13 at Epoch Coffee on West Anderson Lane, will showcase a night of friendly rivalry, artistry, and plenty of caffeine.

The Austin Coffee Collective board member Michelle Diaz believes that coffee is just something that we need for fuel, but we are not appreciating the fact that there is an art behind it. Intelligentsia Coffee, located at 607 W. 3rd St., hosted the latest throwdown in January. Tora Gonzalez, the store manager, said her staff felt adamant about hosting a throwdown to show their involvement in the Austin coffee community.

The best artist of the night takes home a cash prize, which has gone up to $1,500 in the past. Along with the cash prize, the barista can hold the Thursday Night Throwdown trophy in their shop until the next contest. Ashlynn Arzola, a barista at Intelligentsia Coffee, said that when new people come in, they know that your shop has somebody who’s really good at (latte art).

Diaz said the Austin Coffee Collective strives to build community by bringing together local coffee shops, vendors, and baristas. A throwdown showcases the talents of locals while bringing shops and baristas into the coffee community in Austin. Diaz said most importantly, the event allows people to have fun and connect with those who share similar interests.

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