Ringtons First Ever Latte Art Throwdown

Ringtons Throws First Latte Art Throwdown – Raising £2500 for the IBTC in Rwanda.

Most folks know Ringtons mainly for our Tea. We’re passionate about quality tea and have been since 1907.

What many may not know about Ringtons is that we’re just as passionate about our coffee! We source, roast and package speciality grade coffee and supply businesses all over the UK who share our vision in serving a little moment of joy.

In true Ringtons style, our Barista Trainers and Account Managers do everything they can to support the growth of our customers. We help customers serve outstanding beverages to customers out of a home environment.

In 2023, we’ve transformed our coffee training room at Head office into best-in-class training facility. We’re soon to have 2 AST qualified trainers – the only coffee company in the North East who do! – and now we can offer Speciality Coffee Association courses to coffee lovers everywhere.

This is a true step change for Ringtons, and a realisation of a 5-year business plan.

To celebrate how far we’ve come, we hosted our first ever latte art throwdown on the 2nd November.

The event was our launch party for our new SCA Course offerings. We are beginning to support our customers’ staff members in November 2023, as well as other local cafes and baristas in December 2023.

In Partnership with Integrated Barista Training Centre (IBTC)

The Integrated Barista Training Centre provides SCA Certificate courses to students in the local coffee growing community in Rwanda.

Driven by the love of coffee and the goal to promote job creation, and enhance youth productivity and livelihoods, Perpetue Mukamusinga founded IBTC Ltd in April 2021 with a core mission of providing the best education, training, resources, and business services. She wants each of her students to thrive in the specialty coffee industry and encourage them to work with the local coffee farms.

In the spirit of Doing What’s Right, the buy-in fee for this event was donated to the Integrated Barista Training Centre in Rwanda. Ringtons actively Supported Growth in the education of coffee professionals at origin, which in turn, supports the sustainability of the global coffee market.

The Rules

The competition required competitors to randomly go head-to-head free-pouring different types of latte art as determined by a random card draw. Contestants drew two cards one to select cup size and the other to create the latte art pattern. They then had to re-create the pattern as close as possible

There were 3 rounds, with each one getting harder and harder.

• Competitors used the La Cimbali Elective Grinder & La Cimbali M200 Espresso Machine as provided by Ringtons.
• Competitors used the Seasonal Single Origin beans provided by Ringtons.
• Competitors used milk provided by Bays Leap Dairy or Oatly oat milk provided by Ringtons when determined by round, and used cups provided by Ringtons.
• Competitors were allowed to use hand tamps and steaming jugs supplied by Ringtons or are welcomed to supply their own tamps and steaming/pouring jugs.
• Competitors were NOT allowed to use additional latte art tools including but not limited to spoons, spatulas, stir sticks, squeeze bottles, powders, or syrups. ALL designs must be free-poured from a steam jug, directly into the cup.
• Competitors were responsible for moving their drinks from the espresso station to the service station for judging.
• Competitors who made it to the final round were asked to pour any design into any cup size using the milk of their choice. The final entries were judged on clarity, creativity, and level of difficulty.

A huge congratulations to our winner:

Lee from The Rustic Cup!