Coffee Break: Milk Alternatives
With the goal of casting a wide net, early this year I set out to survey and taste through the plant milk options at several of our most popular cafés in Milwaukee, to see how they paired with each ro...
Coffee Break: The Smörgåsbord
"It's a sign of precision, paying attention and taking care of that cup each time."
Arguably overlooked by groggy caffeine addicts is the skill of latte art. With the rise of social media, the coffee community has blossomed, and artful pours are now a staple in coffee shops nationwide. Baristas from all over the state gathered at the 3rd Annual Wisconsin Foodie Smorgasbord on Sunday, April 28th to go head-to-head displaying their most impressive pours, and Stephan Witchell, a veteran in the coffee community, took home the title. Witchell has participated in a few latte art competitions, and even traveled to New Orleans to reach the finals of the 2018 US Barista Championship.
Witchell has been a member of the coffee community for 16 years, and knew from the get-go that it was the industry for him. “I showed an interest in coffee and excelled in it right away,” he said, “I fell in love with the process of making coffee and how coffee shops add to the community.” From managing a Starbucks store to different local coffee companies throughout the midwest, Witchell knew he was destined to establish his own company. “In 2015 I moved back to Appleton, my home town, from Indianapolis and worked for a local coffee shop. My goal was to help them become a better coffee shop, more third wave, and more focused on quality.” Witchell pursued that course for a year, and then founded Tempest Coffee Collective from the ground up and opened in the fall of 2016. Witchell’s dreams expanded with his latest ownership venture, Lawless Coffee, which is now open in Sturgeon Bay, WI. Witchell plans to roast his own coffee by end of summertime.
While reflecting on his throwdown victory, Witchell explained that latte art competitions can be nerve wracking for a barista, “You can be really confident and really good, but just mess it up when the pressure is on. Like most things, latte art is really just a signature of how much you know and how good you are at making coffee.” There are many factors that go into stunning latte art, from the quality of espresso, to the kind of milk, milk temperature and how it is steamed. This leaves plenty of margin for error, but Witchell said any talented barista is “Thinking and analyzing with each pour. It’s a sign of precision, paying attention and taking care of that cup each time.”
What is even better than making a beautiful latte? Pleasing a customer. “The icing on the cake is the reaction from the customers, challenging yourself each time to do something different,” Witchell explained, “it’s a lot of fun to see people’s reactions to your art.”
Lawless Coffee Collective
108 S. Madison Ave,
Sturgeon Bay, WI
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