FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

On Sunday, April 27th, at 2% Jazz Espresso Bar, Midori Higa won 1st place for the second year running at the JagaSilk 3rd Annual Maccha Latte Art Competition.

Judged by a blind panel of judges that included Brette Richard of 2% Jazz, Dave Evans of the Stick In The Mud Coffee House, and Rob Kettner of Fernwood Coffee, Midori placed a full 4 points above the second place winner.

1st place: Midori Higa of Khona
2nd place: Erik of Fernwood Coffee/The Parsonage Cafe.
3rd place: Sarina Akutsu

The drinks were judged on creativity, balance, colour/contrast and clarity. All contestants were given 5 minutes to make as many maccha lattes as possible, and then select their favourite for judgement. The audience was given countless maccha lattes during the practice period and after the judges were finished.

Prizes included the $55 pool of cash from the participant's entrance fees and audience donations, a Crane Flies Above the Clouds maccha, and maccha bath salts.

The event was a great success and will take place at Fernwood Coffee in 2011.

Jared and Miuki Nyberg, owners of JagaSilk, plan on making the event even bigger and more sophisticated, focusing on the integrity of competition, while making sure no latte goes down the sink.