Latte Art Throwdown
Introduction to the Competition
Two lattes sit in front of three judges. They stare intently at the beverages, critiquing every aspect of the art on top. Each raises a single finger one by one. Then, at the end of a countdown, they point to their pick.
Baristas, roasters and coffee enthusiasts from around North Texas waited in anticipation to find out who won, the crowd gathered together by an intense bracket-style competition to create the best latte art at George: Coffee + Provisions’ first Thursday Night Throwdown. Some onlookers and competitors crowded behind the judges, others looked up at a projector broadcasting live video of the judging.
The night began with 37 contenders stepping up behind the coffee bar, vying for a $1,500 prize. Only one walked away with it.
Wendy Cho, general manager of Buzz and Bustle Coffee & Bodega at The Village in Dallas, beat out the rest. Maria Lockard, events and project manager at Edison Coffee Co. Roastery in Lewisville, came in second, winning $1,000, while John Holmquist, manager of commercial and residential sales at Seattle Coffee Gear, rounded out the top three and took home $500.
Eat Drink D-FW
Wendy Cho of Dallas (left) and Maria Lockard of Lewisville high five after Cho is announced the winner in the final round of the throwdown.
Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer
Judging the Competition
“I’m shaking the whole time, but you just got to really control your heartbeat,” said Cho, who has already competed in about five latte art competitions this year.
Serving as the blind judges of the competition were Jonathan Hardwick, general manager of George in Coppell; Zoe Gigas, the head roaster at Bellwether Coffee; and the competition’s celebrity judge, Kasey Headley, who won the 2025 London Coffee Masters and owns two coffee shops in Denison and Sherman.
Deciding which latte art is best depends on the exact pour, but Headley says he looks for a few things: the contrast between the colors of the coffee and milk, symmetry of the design, color infusion, degree of difficulty and aesthetic beauty.
“If they all kind of match up in the exact same way, you’re just like, ‘If I’m in a cafe and get this drink, which one’s prettier? Which one do I want to take a photo of and put it on Instagram?’” Headley said.
The Competition Rounds
The first knock-out round started with a whole milk heart, which Cho thinks is the hardest. The second round was a whole milk tulip and the third, an oat milk tulip.
Alternative, plant-based milks, like oat or almond, are difficult to use when making latte art. They’re thinner and more watery compared to real milk.
“You really want to aerate that milk in the beginning and then you spend the rest of your time steaming, incorporating all that air that you worked into your milk,” Cho said.
Wendy Cho of Dallas pours a swan during a Latte Art Throwdown + Coffee Community Party at George: Coffee + Provisions in Coppell on Thursday, July 31, 2025.
Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer
The Final Rounds
The second-to-last round challenged the competitors with whole milk swans. That was followed by a whole milk free pour, where the competitors could choose any design they wanted to showcase.
As contestants stepped up, onlookers cheered for their friends and for their competitors. During the battles, contenders handed off pre-made espresso shots to each other and shared the milk they were using. Each battle ended with a smile, a handshake or a hug. The camaraderie of the coffee community was on full display.
Coffee Community and Charity
“Throwdowns” are popular in the coffee world. Some people traveled more than two hours to attend this particular battle. Headley says it’s a way for him to see friends he’s made throughout his time in the business.
“If a latte art throwdown happens we know they’re going to be there,” Headley said. “We have that little bit of community even though we don’t see each other but maybe once every two months.”
