Comments on: NoFoamThrowdown 9/2-3/10

By: Frank Freeman

Frank Freeman — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 21:50:57 +0000

free pour is so limited, I’m really glad to see anything fresh and well executed, especially anything that isn’t a boring old Rosetta or tulip (both of which I love and pour a lot of in the interest of fairness). I think the hanging stuff is neat! But I would hardly consider an unfinished rosetta with a little heart “bells and whistles”

I think that rigidity and unwillingness to change and explore and be open to newness is exactly what progressive/3rd wave coffee is NOT about, even if it’s just latte art.

I’ll likely never stand up and shame ‘non-trad’ latte art. it either looks good and is well executed or not, but I’ll never deny the premise from some cozy traditionalist cave.

out with the old, in with the new (otherwise we’d still be drinking french roast off of lever machines)

also, @cmoody91 what what

By: Jesse Raub

Jesse Raub — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:25:32 +0000

That type of logic bothers me, and it’s terrible that it’s coming from judges of latte art. Sure, diversity is great, but three perfect anythings in a row, with the same shape, size, and form, is very difficult to pull off.

It just feels to me that the craft of latte art is unappreciated and that bells and whistles attract too much attention still.

By: Chris Dodson

Chris Dodson — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 03:45:46 +0000

I’m not really defending my pour.. I intentionally submitted a wave heart because I’ve grown sick of tulips and rosettas. I’m sure it comes down to the region, but in DC, where I throw down, the judges always appreciate a symmetrical tulip/rosetta but as of late, have been swayed by different types of pours. I wholeheartedly agree with you on the subject of extra rosettas.. One, well-crafted shape is good enough for me to be impressed. I can’t stand triple rosettas! The first one is generally good, but the second and third are always garbage.

I believe that in a bracket set-up, where you may have to pour more than one latte for the same 3 judges, you need some diversity in your pours. I’ve seen folks submit 3 perfect tulips to the judges, only to be sent home because the judges are sick of seeing the same thing from the same person!

By: Jesse Raub

Jesse Raub — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:19:53 +0000

Hey Chris,

It’s in two NFTD’s ago, up on this site. Didn’t have a bar shift during this round.

http://www.dirtycup.com/dirty-pictures-nofoamthrowdown-82010/#more-354

What I’m trying to say is that sure, your pour is nice, but I’d rather see your rosetta than some swirly loops and a heart. I’m sure you’re capable of a great rosetta. The problem is that we’ve somehow given weight to extraneous designs and value them over really precise execution of the classic shapes.

A perfect rosetta is always going to look nicer than an okay rosetta with extra rosettes.

By: David Walsh

David Walsh — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 21:27:27 +0000

@Jesse – that’s not a stereo

By: Mick Miller

Mick Miller — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:14:57 +0000

Chris Dodson for the win.

By: Chris Dodson

Chris Dodson — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:05:18 +0000

@ Jesse Raub, I in many ways agree with you in the subject of simplicity and basic symmetry. You really need to step back and look at who you’re trying to make yourself look like right now. You hop on a forum and start talking like the Latte Art Nazi and laying down the law on what’s what… I am yet to see anybody successfully prove a point on a forum whilst simultaneously, purposefully trying to make other people feel small.

Where’s your expert pour dude?

By: Jesse Raub

Jesse Raub — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 13:48:44 +0000

Completely uninterested in swirls and swoops and dangling hearts. Give me a solid rosetta any day.

Other than that, a nice, even tulip will do. RyanSoeder FTW this round.

I really, really want to see the death of extraneous pouring. No swirls, no swoops, no swans or dragons, no extra rosettas, none o’ that stuff.

I want to see a nicely poured, balanced, well-contrasted rosetta. THAT takes skill. Anyone can pour a 5/10 rosetta or tulip with flashy extras, but it doesn’t show real skill.

Also, David’s tulip seems dangerously balanced on the stereo.

By: Ryan Soeder

Ryan Soeder — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 09:26:01 +0000

Also, great pours from everyone! Really happy to be thrown in with this group.

By: Ryan Soeder

Ryan Soeder — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 09:24:02 +0000

I don’t know if this is bad form or not but I feel that the size of the cup is important. Mine, for instance, is a 6oz cappuccino and I don’t know if that’s apparent in the photo.