1. General rules
1.1 The Latte Art Throwdown competition is open to registered competitors in accordance with the organizer's terms and conditions.
1.2 A total of 12 competitors take part in the competition.
1.3 The competition consists of three stages.
1.4 The match-ups for the First Round are determined by a random draw conducted by the organizer.
- First Round — 12 competitors / 6 matches
- Semi-Final — 6 competitors / 3 matches
- Final — 3 competitors
2. First Round — 12 competitors
2.1 Competitors compete head-to-head in a direct elimination format.
2.2 The First Round consists of six matches, with two competitors in each match.
2.3 Before each match begins, the judge rolls the original Latte Art Dice, which determines the pattern that both competitors must prepare.
2.4 Both competitors must prepare the pattern shown on the dice in identical cups provided by the organizer.
2.5 Competitors have 3 minutes to prepare their latte art.
2.6 During the competition time, competitors may prepare multiple attempts, but only one final cup may be presented to the judges for evaluation.
2.7 Once the time has expired, no further adjustments may be made to the final cup.
2.8 Three judges evaluate both cups simultaneously. Each judge votes for one of the two competitors.
2.9 The competitor who receives the majority of the judges' votes wins the match and advances to the Semi-Final.
After the First Round, 6 competitors remain.
3. Semi-Final — 6 competitors
3.1 The six remaining competitors are divided into three Semi-Final pairs.
3.2 The Semi-Final is also conducted as a head-to-head direct elimination round.
3.3 The same rules apply as in the First Round: the judge rolls the Latte Art Dice, and both competitors have 3 minutes to prepare the designated pattern.
3.4 Each competitor presents one final cup to the judges.
3.5 Three judges vote for the better cup. The competitor who receives the majority of the votes advances to the Final.
After the Semi-Final, 3 finalists remain.
4. Final — 3 competitors
4.1 In the Final, competitors no longer compete directly head-to-head.
4.2 Each of the three finalists individually prepares their best free-pour freestyle latte art pattern.
4.3 In the Final, the pattern is not determined by the Latte Art Dice. Each competitor chooses the pattern they wish to present.
4.4 Before beginning their final performance, each competitor must show the judges a reference photograph or image of the pattern they intend to prepare.
4.5 Each finalist prepares one final competition cup.
4.6 Each judge evaluates all three finalists individually using the official judging score sheet.
5. Scoring system in the final
- 5.1 Symmetry (0–4 points) — the pattern's symmetry is assessed.
- 5.2 Contrast (0–4 points) — the contrast between coffee and milk is evaluated.
- 5.3 Definition (0–4 points) — the purity of the pattern lines is assessed.
- 5.4 Difficulty (0–10 points) — the pattern's difficulty level is assessed.
- 5.5 Precision (0–10 points) — the accuracy of the drawn pattern is evaluated against the reference image.
- 5.6 Cleanliness (0–10 points) — the cleanliness of preparation and serving of the cup to the judges is assessed.
6. Winners' announcement
6.1 The winner of the grand final is the barista who has received the most points according to the point system described above. Remaining competitors are ranked by points received.
6.2 In the event of a tie for place 1, 2 or 3, the judges determine an additional draw.
7. Additional regulations and provisions
7.1 Competitors are required to use the designated cappuccino cups provided by the organizer.
7.2 Competitors are required to adhere to the time limits and instructions provided by the judges.
7.3 Unsportsmanlike conduct could result in disqualification.
These regulations ensure equitable and professional competition, fostering creativity and technical excellence in latte art.
Judge score sheet — reference
Visual appeal (total 10)
- Symmetry (0–4): 0–1 little to no symmetry · 2–3 some symmetry · 4 perfect symmetry.
- Contrast (0–3): 0–1 poor · 2 moderate · 3 high.
- Definition (0–3): 0–1 blurry, poorly defined edges · 2 definition with some blurring · 3 sharp definition.
Difficulty (total 10)
- Complexity of the pattern (0–10): 0–3 very simple · 4–6 intermediate · 7–8 complex · 9–10 highly complex.
Execution (total 10)
- Precision (0–10): 0–3 poor · 3–7 moderate · 7–10 high.
- Cleanliness of the pour (0–10): 0–3 messy · 3–7 clean pour with little staining · 7–10 impeccable cleanliness.
