photo by Dave Koch

Sorry to all those barista who procrastinated but registration for the Milrock Free Pour Latte Art Championship is closed. Held at the trade show Coffee Fest, the event is considered the Super Bowl for over achieving barista everywhere. This year Coffee Fest will be in Las Vegas and, appropriately enough, in Seattle.

Seattle of course topping the 2008 Caffeinated Cities Survey for coffee consumption in the US, with 59% of respondent consuming it daily.

OK I was only trying to scare you, registration for Las Vegas is still open, but Seattle really is closed. So start taking pictures of your latte art because you need to submit two photo examples with your entry form.

There is a lot at stake here with the $5,000 grand prize, bragging rights, and glory. You may even end up on the Food Network with Guy Fieri or on the cover of Barista Magazine. So get practicing.

From Coffee Fest, the rules of engagement are as follows:

"Contestants will be given five minutes to prepare the work area, adjust grind etc. Following the five minute preperation [sic] time, contestants will be given five minutes to produce as many as three different free-pour lattes.

At the completion of the five minutes or three free pour lattes, the drinks will be judged based upon : esthetic beauty & balance > 1-25pts., color infusion > 1-25pts., definition > 1 25pts., and creativity > 1-15pts.

No additives other than the espresso and milk may be used in this competition. The drink receiving the highest score from the judges will be used as the contestants submission."

Here are some great examples of what these artists can do with steamed milk and espresso...

photo by jonas_l