Latte Art Throwdown with Austin Coffee Collective

Austin Coffee Collective is hosting a latte art throwdown at Switchback Coffee and Beer on Thursday, September 17. It's a friendly competition that pits local baristas against each other to see who can pour the best art, with a $500 cash purse on the line for the winner. If you've ever wondered who's actually the best with a milk pitcher in the city, this is where you'll find out.

The night is built around the competition, but there's plenty more going on around it. Local vendors will be set up, and there are free specialty-beverage samples and free tattoos to keep you occupied between rounds. A DJ will be spinning throughout the evening, and a raffle will be running with the proceeds benefiting Casa Marianella, a shelter and resource center for immigrants and refugees in Austin. So, if you're not competing, you can still walk away with something more than just a good story.

It's a free event to attend, so you can just show up and watch the pours. If you're a barista and want in on the action, the buy-in is $5. Sign-ups start at 6 PM, and the first pour happens at 7 PM, so get there early if you're planning to compete. The whole thing runs from 6 PM to 10 PM at Switchback Coffee and Beer, 220 Ralph Ablanedo Dr. #110, in Austin South.