London Latte Art Smackdown 2014 - #smackdown14 - Round Three
We actually ran out of beer even faster than expected as over 30 people came to see Heat Three at Kaffeine on Tuesday night. Luckily we had loads of coffee and also milk on hand for the twelve baristas who were competing.
The standards were very, very high and the pressure was on the judges, Glenn Watson, Pete Garcia and Marty Latham to decide the winners of each round with some very, very close calls.
In the end, we had these three get through to the finals:
- Adrian from Look Mum No Hands
- Shaun from Noble Espresso
- Gabriel from Noble Espresso
They will now join
- Karolina from Nude
- David from Artisan
- James from Iris and June
- Ross from Browns of Brockley
- Samuel from Artisan
- Tim from Curators
This week in the final heat we expect the pressure and intensity and crowd support to be even greater with competitors including:
- Leo from Terrone
- Krystian from Dose
- Adrian from Curators
- Greg from Alchemy
- Jess from Fields Beneath
- Suri from Dose
- Harry from Soho Grind
- Paul from Alchemy
- Bartosz from Dose
- Alfie from Flat Cap
- Asia from Alchemy
- Vivien from Nude
Judges will need to be on form and we expect them to be as it is Andrew Tolley from Taylor Street Baristas and Jeremy (I came second last year) Challender from Prufrock coffee joining lead judge Glenn Watson. Check these photos out from Glenn on his flickr page – London Art 2014.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/getnoticed/sets/72157649006266665/
On Monday this week at Kaffeine we had a special visitor, Boris Johnson, the London Mayor as he announced the London Living Wage Rate and he had a go at trying his hand at latte art. Just in case you were wondering what it is like to compete with all the cameras going off as you pour, this is it. Luckily there is no spaces left in the competition.
With huge thanks to Square Mile and to Coffee Hit for sponsoring the event and providing prizes, we have news this week that legendary tamper maker Conor Regan will be making the trophies. With the possibility of winning your share in £480 cash as well as just general glory and happiness this is a great competition to be involved in or just to support.
Do not forget to keep an eye on Barista Magazine for Kate Beards weekly updates and photos on the blog.
Peter Dore-Smith
Director
Kaffeine Ltd
66 Great Titchfield st.
15 Eastcastle st.
