Latte Art Smackdown ft. Vincent Munyosi

Casey Holmes slinging down some amazing latte art

On Tuesday 22nd March Commonfolk hosted our annual Latte Art Smackdown.

It was the fourth time Commonfolk put on the event, but this year was extra special because we welcomed a special guest, Vinnie Munyosi, the director of Zukuka Bora Coffee and The Cup That Counts. 

Zukuka Bora is the co-op established to export all the Ugandan coffee produced through The Cup That Counts program. To date over 1000 local farmers have undertaken specialty farming training at the demonstration farms established using money raised through The Cup That Counts initiative. Vinnie grew up in and among the old school coffee farmers of Uganda, before the industry was decimated through corruption and greed, and he has great insight into the massive potential of the Ugandan coffee industry. 

Vincent Munyosi is interviewed by Commonfolk's Sam Keck

The evening began with coffee professionals and customers alike bombarded Vinnie with questions about sustainable farming, Ugandan coffee, and where the industry can improve on a grassroots level. It was a privilege to have such an insightful guest, and it was the first time Commonfolk got to sample coffee grown on our own demonstration farms. We're all looking forward to regularly offering Zukuka Bora coffee on the Commonfolk bar as soon as the end of this year.

With the Q&A winding down it was crunch time for all the local baristas competing in the smackdown. With chefs Roong and Brad dishing out delish burgers, and drinks donated by Firebrand Wine and the Mornington Brewery, the festivities were kicking off! Over twenty competitors were willing to try their luck in this years smackdown. The first thing that stuck out was how high the quality of the competition was this year. The first round saw baristas knocked out with patterns that might have even won in previous events. 

Intense focus is required to master the art of the latte

As the competition progressed and the tension built the patterns were becoming more and more advanced. Finally only two competitors were left; Store Fifteen's Bec Collins, and Via Battisti and Commonfolk's very own Casey Holmes. It was fantastic to see two female baristas fighting it out for top dog in what is a traditionally male dominated profession. Both competitors poured amazingly complex patterns with Bec Collins taking the chocolates by a whisker. Congratulations to the 2016 champion and a big thank you to all the competitors who entered. 

All proceeds from food and drink sales on the evening went directly to The Cup That Counts and after counting the coffers at the end of the night over $2,000 was raised! In conjunction with the 20c from every coffee sold at Commonfolk and Merchant & Maker the money will go a long way to reaching the $25,000 annual target we're aiming for. If you'd like to know more about the work The Cup That Counts is doing in Uganda check out the video below or shoot us an email sam.keck@commonfolkcoffee.com.au 

Thanks to everyone who came along and helped make the night what it was!