Professional and amateur baristas will gather for the first annual Chattanooga Coffee Throwdown, hosted by Thrive Studio, on March 17.
Sponsored by the Chattanooga Coffee Club, the competition is designed to recognize and celebrate the art of coffee and encourage the fine craft of espresso beverage preparation and manual coffee brewing. “The goal of the Chattanooga Coffee Throwdown is to connect baristas and coffee aficiandos in the area,: said David Snyder, Thrive Cafe barista and one of the organizers of the event. "We hope to foster an environment where coffee professionals can learn from each other and grow the coffee culture of Chattanooga.”
Judges will be scoring and evaluating three categories; espresso, specialty and brewed coffee drinks. The competition is similar to the United States Barista Championship, and while it is not a sanctioned event, the winners will receive a cash prize and bragging rights as the top barista in their category. A panel of three judges will be evaluating each drink using sensory and technical scoring giving the competitors a point system on which to be judged.
Registration is $10. Each competitor will be required to attend an orientation meeting on March 3 as well as the preliminary round on March 10 prior to the championships on March 17. All events will be held at Thrive Studio, 191 River St. To register contact David Snyder at david@thrivestudion.net or call 605-3125.
Spectators are also encouraged to attend on March 10 from 2-6 p.m. and again on March 17 from 2-6 p.m. Admission is free and there will be door prizes and other activities during the final round.
According to Kim Gavin, Thrive Studio co-owner, “This is a perfect complement to the fun and creative atmosphere here at Thrive Studio. We are excited to host the Coffee Throwdown and help promote the art of coffee throughout the Chattanooga area. Our goal is to build healthy bodies and happy minds and I can’t think of anything that makes me happier than a delicious coffee drink made by a skilled barista.”