Bull Run Coffee Latte Art Contest Judged by US Barista Champ

Bull Run Coffee, which took over the Cars R Coffins space on Lyndale Avenue, hosts its first event Thursday with a party and latte art contest to be judged by 2010 World Barista Champion Michael Phillips.

The night will start with an 8 p.m. social hour, when guests can meet and greet with Phillips and ask him their deepest, darkest coffee questions. He is, after all, the former Director of Coffee Education of Intelligentsia, a title that not many can claim. Along with a few of his former co-workers, his next project is the Handsome Coffee Roasters in Los Angeles.

Then, at 10 p.m., the contest will begin. All are welcome to join, so long as they can pony up the $5 entry fee. It's a round robin-style competition, with the winner taking all proceeds. It remains to be seen which of Bull Run's baristas will compete, but perhaps Phillips-trained manager Gordon Ballaver will take part in the action.

Bull Run opened in April and is serving both single brew and drip coffees, with baked goods from Southwest's own . They're also using local milk from Crystal Ball, Castle Rock and Autumnwood Farm  and have created their own espresso blend, called El Matador.

I'll be there to catch the competition on Thursday night, taking pics and chatting up baristas. Stay tuned for my report on the winners, the losers and all the caffeinated onlookers (We hear there is a limited supply of beer for the slower-paced).

Bull Run Coffee - 3346 Lyndale Ave. S.

Thursday, May 12 - 8 p.m. Social Hour, 10 p.m. Latte Art Contest

Special Guest - Michael Phillips