Back during our Skill Building Workshop, a couple of our students were from a cafe in Boston called Flat Black Coffee Company. They told us they were going to be hosting a Barista Throwdown in October, and invited us to come up.
Flat Black Coffee Company – a great turnout!
So last week I ventured to their Dorchester store to see what was happening. It turns out they weren’t doing a normal jam, or throwdown, but this was a different format than I have seen before. The name of the event was “White Chrome” (the color of properly textured milk), and the concept is as follows: The competitor gets 6 minutes to make each of the three judges an espresso and a cappuccino. They are judged on the drinks and on coffee knowledge. The best of the first round go on to the finals and have 10 minutes to make the judges cappuccinos and a signature beverage. The winner received a trophy courtesy of Reg Barber and a Rancilio home espresso machine and grinder.
the prizes
I think it was a pretty good concept, and it seems like an easier competition to put on than a full-blown competition. Unfortunately, I had to leave early and didn’t get to see the finals, but I had a great time hanging out with the crowd, and got to reconnect with some of my Boston friends, including the soon to be crowned champion, Alison Novak of Simon’s. I also got to try some of Flat Black’s coffee, including an Australian coffee they offer that was really quite good. I’m not sure I had tried an Australian coffee before, so that was a treat.
the judges – Annie Copps, Gerra Harrigan, and Alison Arnett, and the winning competitor, Alison Novak of Simon’s, with a proud Simon looking on
Overall, I’m glad I went, and I’ll be back next year!