Remember fun? Remember latte art throwdowns? They feel like a vestige of a rowdier, pre-pandemic past, where youโd throw caution to the wind and crowd into a small cafe to pour a few drinks, have a few drinks, and just hang with other members of your local coffee community. Though they have waned in mass popularity, due in part to questions about waste and whether or not alcohol need be involved in all extracurriculars, I canโt help but miss the throwdown.
Luckily, for the good folks in Charlotte, Night Swim Coffee is hosting a good old-fashioned latte art competition. The NSC Latte Art Throwdown is coming this Thursday night, with big prizes to boot, and sign-ups are open now!
Ah yes, the Thursday Night Throwdown, the TNT, an icon in monthly barista shindigs. You can come and pit your best rosetta against your fellow baristaโs, or you can just show up and hang (and probably talk about coffee). Taking place at Night Swimโs cafe in the Optimist Park neighborhood, the TNT is following old-school rules. Itโs a 32-spot head-to-head, single-knockout-style tournament with a $10 buy-in. Winner take all. First prize takes the entire purse of over $700, including the dollar-for-dollar match by Night Swim.
But that doesnโt mean second and third and left high and dry. Tons of coffee gear and goodies provided by sponsors Lower Left Brewing, Chobani, Barista Magazine, Free Range Brewing, Odeko, La Marzocco, MADabolic CLT, Methodical Coffee, Slow Pour Supply, Miir, and your good friends at Sprudge.
The BYOB event is completely open to anyone and everyone: baristas, coffee geeks, friends and family of baristas and coffee geeks, you name it. For those looking to artfully pour a little milk into a cup for glory and cash prizes, though, youโll need to sign up, which can be done here. Spots are granted on a first come, first served basis, so you better act fast.
It all gets started at 7:00pm on Thursday, November 16th at Night Swim Coffeeโs Optimist Park cafe located at 1824 N Brevard Street in Charlotte, North Carolina. For more information or to sign up, visit NSC Latte Art Throwdown information page.
Zac Cadwaladerย is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas.ย Read more Zac Cadwaladerย on Sprudge.
