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PUL L JOURNAL OF JAMS, COMPETITIONS, AND BARISTA EVENTS BARISTAS REPPING LOUISVILLE, KY. AND NASHVILLE, TENN. GET DOWN AND DIRTY THE WORLD IS FULL OF CONFLICT and rivalry: Tupac versus Biggie. Coke versus Pepsi. Twilight fans versus literacy advocates. And Louisville versus Nashville? OK, so maybe the latter doesn't register as a rivalry on the same level as rap battles and cola wars, but these great cities have become the two towers of coffee culture of the upper Southeast region. Both have seen similar growth recently, having been dominated by a handful of local roasters and cafés in the 1990s and early 2000s. And Louisville and Nashville have both experienced unprecedented growth in their respective coffee communities from the mid-2000s to now. Because they're a mere three-hour drive apart, it's no surprise that the two trade coffee players, occasionally sending a barista to work in the other city. Given the geographic proximity and transplantation of coffee professionals, it's natural that a friendly rivalry has arisen between these communities. Enter Justin Shepherd and Spencer's Coffeehouse in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The small college town an hour north of Nashville and two hours south of Louisville was determined to be the best neutral territory for coffee gangs from Nashville and Louisville, and therefore the host city for an old-school latte-art throwdown. Justin leads the team at Spencer's and is a passionate proselytizer of coffee-done-right. He's also a dedicated supporter of the Regional Child Development Clinics of Bowling Green (www.rcdc-bg.com), which provide "therapy, consultation and other services for families with children who have autism or other developmental disabilities." Justin and Spencer's were able to merge these two passions in a month of coffee awareness, during which they hosted a number of events. Featuring tastings and workshops, among other things, the Baristas from Louisville, Ky., and Nashville, Tenn., have put the upper Southeast remonth culminated in the first annual Kentucky-Tennessee Latte Art gion of the United States on the map with top-notch cafés serving exemplary coffee prepared by some of the best baristas around. Within the region, however, baristas Throwdown and Caffeination Celebration to benefit the regional from these two cities enjoy a friendly rivalry, which was put to the test at the recent Child Development Clinics of Bowling Green. Justin used his contacts Kentucky-Tennessee La e Art Throwdown and Caffeination Celebration. in Louisville and Nashville (with the knowledge that they would be itching to throw down), and was able to draw some of the best baristas semblance of professional neutrality, we both cheered for and booed Lee Sill, in a 200-mile radius for a throwdown that featured 24 baristas from Louisville, who left Prima and Quills in Louisville to join the opening staff at Nashville's Nashville, and Bowling Green. new Barista Parlor. The bracket-style brawl focused heavily on the regional rivalry, pitting From the first round through the last, both cities held their own. It Louisville and Nashville baristas against each other right off the bat. In seemed an even match, with winners from Nashville and Louisville alike all one corner stood Kentucky-based coffee lovers from shops like Quills and the way to the semifinals and the final face-off. Quills' Houston Miller took Sunergos Coffee, as well as local roaster Argo Sons. A few Bowling Green third place, leaving Kenny from Sunergos and John from Crema to duke it locals also enlisted, but the majority of competitors hailed from the Music out for the grand prize. John poured a tulip that spanned from rim to rim. City, representing Barista Parlor, Crema, Dose, and Bongo Java. The trio of Contrast? Nailed. Symmetry? Spot on. Kenny began his own take on a tulip, judges—Matthew Huested of Sunergos Coffee, Derek Wolfe of Bongo Java, but it was slightly smaller with an enlarged starboard side—enough to incline and Jennifer Hail of Spencer's—prepared to inspect every pour for symmetry, the judges toward John's pour. beauty, and contrast, among other characteristics. The tension was palpable While John—and therefore Nashville—emerged victorious in this as baristas warmed up, for the stakes were high. battle, the Louisville versus Nashville rivalry proved to be very competitive. Besides bragging rights, competitors had the chance to win a new The final four featured two from Nashville (John and Jamie) and two from Baratza Prescio grinder, Tacky pourover stand, or Walküre porcelain brewer. Louisville (Kenny and Houston). The gracious hosts in Bowling Green also Sponsors included Baratza, Tacky, and Prima Coffee Equipment, as well as a did their city proud via Justin Shepherd giving the eventual champ a good handful of local businesses that donated prizes for a raffle. run for his money in the eight-person round. Kenny Smith of Sunergos is already a decorated competitor, having Everyone walked away from this event with greater knowledge of and taken second place at Coffee Fest Chicago's latte-art competition in June of respect for the other cities. We were also thrilled to see over $500 raised for 2011. And his coworker Jesse Harriott is also esteemed for his placement in RCDC. The coffee communities of Louisville and Nashville are making great previous competitions and his involvement with America's Best Coffeehouse strides, which can only mean amazing things for the Southeast region. The Competition. John Newman and Jamie Cunningham of Crema and Bongo rest of the specialty coffee world deserves to know: We're a force with which Java, respectively, are also recognized as talented latte artists, and it was to be reckoned. expected that they, too, would bring their A-games. While maintaining some —Chris Elliott www.baristamagazine.com 21