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Brooklyn Barista Dominates Latte Art Throwdown!
By
John Del Signore
Published Jun 6, 2008
Modified Jun 6, 2008
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By
John Del Signore
Published Jun 6, 2008
Modified Jun 6, 2008
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A big crowd packed Joe on East 13th Street last night for New York’s first inter-cafe barista showdown, as representatives from some of the city’s top coffee houses competed in a Latte Art Throwdown to benefit American Red Cross relief efforts in Burma and China. In fact, so many spectators turned out to watch the competition – which was simulcast on the back wall – that they had to send out for more beer three times, “devolving from Sierra to cans of Bud Light,” according to event organizer Erin Meister.
To keep the playing field level, designs were strictly limited to rosettas – no latte lions allowed – and judges rated baristas not on taste, but symmetry, contrast, detail, and style. In the end, only one could claim the crown for most artsy barista, and that was “Danger” Dan Griffin of Williamsburg’s El Beit. Besides the fame, glory and groupies, Griffin walked with a $300 gift certificate to the fancy restaurant Eleven Madison Park, donated by Danny Meyer, and attendees raised about $650 for the Red Cross.
Tagged
art
coffee
El Beit
espresso
joe
latte
red cross
throwdown
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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