coffee throwdown winner
Professional and amateur baristas, along with a crowd of coffee enthusiasts, gathered on March 17 at Thrive Studio in Coolidge Park for the first Chattanooga Coffee Throwdown.
The Chattanooga Coffee Club event was designed to recognize and celebrate the art of coffee and encourage the craft of espresso preparation and manual coffee brewing.
“The event was a huge success,” said David Snyder, a Thrive Cafe barista and one of the organizers of the event. “With this type of enthusiasm and participation there is no doubt that we advanced coffee culture in Chattanooga. Andrew Bettis of Velo Coffee played a huge part in helping put on a professionally run and fun competition.”
Approximately 60 people looked on as competitors brewed, steamed and served their coffee specialties. Judges selected winners in three categories: espresso, specialty and brewed coffee drinks. Winners received cash prizes and bragging rights as the top barista in their category. Judges Emerson Burch, Andrew Bettis, Andrew Gage, Bryan Dyer and Matt Busby evaluated each drink using sensory and technical scoring, giving the competitors a point system on which to be judged.
Jeremy Moore with Bonlife Coffee of Cleveland took home the prize for best brewed coffee.
Whitney Turner with Pasha Coffee & Tea received first place in the espresso category.
Jamion William, home barista and private beverage consultant, made the winning specialty coffee drink.