My heart is speeding up in rhythm. My brow has condensation. I'm looking at years of hard work, dedication, and practice all leading up to this one cup.
That's how I felt the first time I competed in a globally competitive latte art tournament.
It might seem like a niche arena, which in many ways it is, but latte art competitions are tense media rich occasions with competitors from all around the world competing for the chance to go to the World Latte Art Championship in Tokyo, Japan. Of my two times competing in Coffee Fest I have made so many amazing friends from all around the world.
The next competition is set for Baltimore on March 16th through the 18th. Every day I work I make multiple cappuccinos and flat whites to the definition that will take home the gold. The grand prize is $2,500 so the stakes are very high.
My style fluctuates from refined, detailed, and deeply layered like the image below. However, performing this style of latte art repeatedly especially under the pressure of competition. Latte art is a delicate process with the slightest of movements affecting the final pour immensely. A little twitch can be seen in the flow of the wiggles.
A simpler design makes for a less distracting latte art. People not familiar with the particulars of the craft can easily identify symmetry, definition, and contrast very easily. This is the ideal latte art. One that anyone no matter what your familiarity with coffee can appreciate.
I do not yet know the design I will do for Coffee Fest Baltimore in March. My tactic is to raise my overall ability in all forms of latte art in order to have enough ammunition for the heat of the moment. In that moment I might decide what to pour. Until then.
Practice, Practice, Practice.
