Week beginning Tuesday September 1st - London Latte Art Smackdown 2015

It is back, for the third year now and it is even more popular than before. The London Latte Art Smackdown, sponsored by Square Mile, Coffee Hit and Kaffeine, runs over five weeks starting with four rounds of heats from Tuesday the 8th of September and finishing on Tuesday the 6th October at our new store on Eastcastle street, with the final in the event space at Square Mile Coffee Roasters.

It is pretty simple. 48 spaces, £10 entry, maximum of four entries per company, 12 entrants per heat, knock out rounds to get the top 3 to go through to the final, making another 12 competitors for the finals.

The rules: They get tighter each year, but again we keep it simple.

A Kaffeine barista will be pouring double shots for you into 2 x 5 oz 'flat white' Acme cups.
You steam your milk and split your jugs.
You pour your preferred pattern, but we only allow rosettas, tulips or hearts.
Cup handle must be presented to the right of the judges, with the base of the pattern at 6 o'clock
You choose your best looking and presented drink and put it forward for consideration
You pour your left over milk into a glass to measure your 'wastage'
You remove your second drink.

The barista you are battling against then goes through the same process and the judges will then confer.

The judges, who include some of the complete legends of the London Coffee Scene are looking for:
Consistency
Colour
Symmetry
Dribbles (or lack of)
Milk wastage
Fullness of the cup
Formation of pattern
and many other things that they make up as they go along.

The judges, of which there are three, will then make a decision and on the count of three, point to the winning cup.

The winner goes through to the next round.

The prizes? Well all entry money goes into the pot, so that's £480. The Allegra World Coffee Portal have kindly put in £200, so that is £680 all up in cash. Coffee Hit have donated 1 x Baratza Grinder and a Rhino Hand grinder for 2nd and 3rd and Square Mile will be organising trophies and even more prizes, not to mention the glory and accolades and hopefully a bonus from your employer that comes with it.

The judges? Jeremy Challender from Prufrock, James Hoffman, Oli Bradshaw and Marty Latham from Square Mile, Phil 'the bass player' Wain, Ben Townsend formerly of Espresso room, Andrew Tolley from Taylor Street Baristas, former winners James Bailey of Workshop and David Urbinati of Artisan, Tim Williams formerly of Workshop and now of Coffee Sourcing and lead judge for the third year, Glenn Watson.

Spaces are filling fast already, with most spaces on the first heat already gone. To get involved, the best way is to come into our Eastcastle street and say 'I'm want to compete' and we will help you out.

At the heats, we will have light snacks for free and cheap beers available to purchase if you so desire and Square Mile are already in talks with one of London's iconic beer suppliers for the finals. Guests are welcome to watch and to support you on your way.

Any queries, please email me direct. It's going to be brilliant, we look forward to seeing you.

Peter Dore-Smith
Director
Kaffeine


Great Titchfield Street Menu

Breakfast

Traditional bircher muesli with Greek yoghurt and rhubarb and raspberry compote (v, nuts, milk) 4.00

Granola muesli with pomegranate molasses, Greek yoghurt and rhubarb and raspberry compote (v, nuts) 4.00

Fruit salad with pineapple, mango, strawberries, grapes, passion fruit (v, gf) 3.90

Ciabatta roll with omelette, pancetta, rocket and tomato salsa 5.00

Ciabatta roll with avocado, omelette, rocket and tomato salsa 5.00

Croissant with Italian roast ham, talleggio cheese, spinach & plum tomatoes 4.90

Cinnamon and Raisin Toast 2.50

Pastries by Seven Seed bakery

French butter croissant 2.00

Pain au chocolat 2.50

Almond croissant 2.80

Baked Treats

Sweet muffin: Raspberry and coconut(v, cereals, milk) 2.50

Savoury Scones: Red pepper pesto and cream cheese  (v, cereals, milk) 2.50

Friand: Damsons (v, gf, milk, nut)  2.50

Super moist chocolate brownies (gf) 2.70

White chocolate blondies 2.50

Portuguese tarts 2.00

ANZAC cookies 2.00

Almond and custard slice 2.80

Banana bread 2.50
Raspberry and coconut slice 2.50 (v, gf)

Lunch

French retro baguettes 5.30

Ham, pommery mustard, red onion, gruyere cheese, gherkin, rocket ( cereals, mustard, milk)

Buffalo mozzarella, tomato pesto, roasted red pepper, red onion, spinach (cereals, nuts, milk)

Foccacias 5.50

Crispy pancetta, plum tomato, aioli, cheddar cheese, gem lettuce (cereals, milk)

Slow roasted tomato, grilled courgette, herb pea ricotta sauce, spinach (cereals, v, nuts, milk)

Salads: 5.50/6.90

Chorizo salad with black rice, roasted red pepper, peas, pumpkin seeds and basil dressing (gf, nut, milk)

smoked cheddar, grilled peaches, red plum,  roasted walnut, balsamic dressing, watercress ( v, milk, mustard)

Cannelli beans with courgette and black olive tapenade sauce (gf, ve)

Tart: 4.40 or 8.00 with salads
Tenderstem broccoli, spinach, spring onion, feta cheese ( cereals, v, milk)

Eastcastle Street Menu

Breakfast

Traditional bircher muesli with Greek yoghurt and rhubarb and raspberry compote (v, nuts, milk) 4.00

Paleo granola with with Greek yoghurt and rhubarb and raspberry compote (gf, ve, nuts) 4.00

Fruit salad with pineapple, mango, strawberries, grapes and passion fruit (gf, v) 3.90

Smoked paprika brioche, calvados potato mash, medium baked egg, grilled courgette and onions with crème fraiche and chives (cereal, milk, egg) 5.00

Smoked paprika brioche, with bacon, roasted tomatoes, avocado, rocket and aioli (cereal, milk, egg) 5.00

Croissant with Italian roast ham, talleggio cheese, spinach and plum tomatoes 4.90

Croissant with smoked salmon, chopped egg, tomato and sprouts (cereal, milk, egg, mustard) 5.00

Pastries by Seven Seed bakery

French butter croissant (milk) 2.00

Pain au chocolat (milk) 2.50

Almond croissant (milk, almonds) 2.80

Baked Treats

Muffins - Blackberry and pineapple (v, cereal, milk, egg) 2.50

Savoury - Spinach, pine nuts and feta   (v, cereal, milk) 2.50

Chocolate brownies (gf, milk) 2.70

ANZAC cookies (nuts) 2.00
Ladybird tarts (v, milk, eggs) 2.90

Banana bread (milk) 2.50
Banana, Hazelnuts and almond cakes with vanilla icing  2.50
Portuguese Tarts 2.00
Raspberry and coconut slice 2.50 (v, gf)

Lunch
Brioche 5.00
Smoked paprika Brioche, Roasted sweet pepper, aubergines, courgettes, rocket and basil pesto sauce. (Cereal, egg, nuts)

Baguettes 5.30

Sourdough baguette with ham, gruyere, slow roasted tomatoes, rocket and Dijon mustard  (cereal, mustard,milk)
Sourdough baguette with smoked salmon, ginger lemon cream cheese , cucumber, avocado and watercress (cereal, egg, fish)

Salads 5.50/7.00

Fragrant lemon chicken, rainbow chard, frisée, Belgium endive, cucumber rings, avocado and fresh herbs. (Gf, df, )

Rocket, slow roasted vine tomatoes, yellow sweet pepper, hazelnuts, Gorgonzola and onion marmalade 

Blanched baby leeks, baked eggs, sweet shallots, capers and vinaigrette dressing.

(Gf, df, v, chilli, mustard)

Savoury Tart 4.40 or 8.00 with salads

Fresh garden peas and mint cakes, smoked salmon and strawberry mayo.