Atlanta’s First Coffee Cocktail Throwdown Was a Hit!
Last month, Atlanta's coffee and cocktail aficionados gathered for an exciting new event—the city’s very first Coffee Cocktail Throwdown! Hosted by Dancing Goats and Kaldi’s Coffee, this lively competition brought together nine of the city's top bartenders to mix up their best coffee-infused creations. What began as a fun idea to spotlight our cold brew concentrate, ride the wave of the espresso martini trend, and connect with old friends and new, quickly evolved into a night of creativity and camaraderie.
Why Cold Brew Concentrate, You Ask?
Because we believe it’s the true superhero of the coffee world—especially outside the café. For example, anyone can whip up an iced latte at home that would rival any cafe experience with little or no effort. Imagine working at a busy bar and crafting a gourmet espresso martini without the hassle of an espresso machine. See where we’re going with this?
Our mission was to introduce cold brew to Atlanta’s coffee shops, bars, restaurants, clubs, etc. by offering them a high-quality, shelf-stable product that makes creating exceptional drinks a breeze. And if, along the way, we encouraged everyday people to keep a bottle of our cold brew concentrate stocked in their pantry or fridge—because it’s delicious, cost-effective, and ridiculously easy to use—well, that’s a conversation we’re happy to have.
Want your own bottle of Cold Brew Concentrate? Visit our cafes!
Oh and let’s be real: we also wanted to ride the latest wave of the espresso martini craze and throw a party. The drinks kept flowing, the fun didn't stop, and the coffee buzz? Totally real. It was truly a night to remember!
The Competition:
A Battle of Creativity, Flavor, and ‘Did They Just Put That in a Drink?!’
Before the big event, local bartenders submitted their most creative coffee cocktail recipes for the first round of judging. The top contenders were selected to strut their stuff for the chance to win the grand prize. A panel of three judges from our Atlanta and St. Louis teams helped shape the lineup: Frank McGinty (VP of Kaldi’s Coffee), Aaron Shively (VP of Dancing Goats Operations), and Cole Lewis (Training & Education Manager at Kaldi’s and Dancing Goats). Finally Andrew McCaslin (Training & Education Director), served as the Master of Ceremonies, keeping the energy high and the night exciting.
Each bartender was given 10 minutes to present to the crowd and judges. as well as providing samples of their signature drink to the party's attendees.
Drinks were judged on a basis of:
- Appearance: 25 Points
- Flavor: 30 Points
- Creativity: 20 Points
- Execution & Presentation: 15 Points
- Aroma: 10 Points
The Lineup:
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Ruby Smith | Holiday Bar
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Jason Swaringen | Avize
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Ian Wright | Holeman and Finch
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Mely Ramirez | Wylie Hotel
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Daniel Ripley | The Select
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Jardon Derrick | Marietta Proper
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Andy Han | Lazy Betty
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Gary Campos | Bold Monk Brewing
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Jonatan Ruiz | The Third Door
Download the 2025 Cocktail Recipe Guide featuring all of the drinks created for the throwdown!
Download the Cocktail Recipe Guide
The Venue
Avize Modern Alpine Kitchen & Bar– Where Coffee Meets Cocktails Meets Cool
The competition went down at Avize, a trendy spot in West Midtown with an alpine-inspired design that made you feel like you were sipping cocktails in a chic mountain lodge. The vibe? Perfect. The drinks? Unforgettable. And the crowd? A lovely mix of coffee aficionados, cocktail lovers, writers, photographers, bloggers, influencers, chefs, and the occasional person who just wanted to have a drink and chat. Oh, and shoutout to Avize's Chef Karl and Neakyn Borougerdi of Cheese Me Atlanta for supplying the killer bites. Nothing says “fun event” like nibbling on charcuterie and tiny sandwiches while sipping cocktails and making new friends!
Sip, Mingle, and Vote (aka Get Your Drink On)
Attendees didn’t just watch the competition—oh no, they were part of the action! Bartenders created mini versions of their signature drinks, and everyone got to sip, chat, and vote for their favorite. Plus, each contestant went all out with their drink setups—think elaborate decorations, cool vibes, and just a dash of theater. It was so fun!
Curious Who Took Home the Win?
Here's the Reveal!
Most Popular Drink
Ian Wright of Holeman & Finch
"A Morning Walk"
The night came to a thrilling close as the judges tallied the scores, and there were definitely some surprising outcomes! First up, the award for Most Popular Drink went to Ian Wright from Holeman & Finch, who took home the highest vote count of the evening. His cocktail, "A Morning Walk," was a huge hit with the crowd. Featuring a delightful blend of vanilla syrup, creme de cocoa, molé bitters and coffee infused tequila (using Dancing Goats coffee beans), it was topped with a smooth milk foam and rimmed with a unique mixture of sugar, salt, cocoa, and cinnamon.
Third Place - TIE
Andy Han of Lazy Betty
"Aztec Coffee"
Daniel Ripley of The Select
"Lunar Eclipse"
The third prize (and big surprise) of the evening came when Andy Han of Lazy Betty and Daniel Ripley of The Select tied for third place with the exact same score! Han’s "Lunar Eclipse" was a visually stunning drink, featuring black coffee liqueur, tequila, Kaldi’s Cold Brew Concentrate, condensed lavender oat milk, pineapple juice, nocino, and a garnish of nutmeg powder in the shape of a crescent moon. It was as beautiful as it was delicious. Ripley’s "Aztec Coffee" combined tequila, Kaldi’s Cold Brew Concentrate, ancho chile, pineapple amaro, agave syrup, and chocolate bitters, creating a bold, complex flavor profile. Both competitors were awarded the $100 cash prize, as we couldn’t resist celebrating the incredible quality of their drinks and the level of competition on display.
Second Place
Ruby Smith of Holiday Bar
"Banana Espress"
Second place went to Ruby Smith from Holiday Bar for her irresistible "Banana Espress." This drink was a masterclass in creativity and flavor, blending vodka, Dancing Goats espresso, banana oleo saccharum, liqueur de banane, macadamia nut liqueur, and salted aquafaba. The garnish? A perfectly crisp, sweet banana chip and freshly grated roasted macadamia nut. It was a truly stellar combination—innovative and utterly delicious!
First Place
Jason Swaringen of Avize
"Espresso Piemonte"
And last but certainly not least, the winner of the entire contest was Jason Swaringen from Avize with his one-of-a-kind "Espresso Piemonte." Let’s talk about the drama first: Jason brought out the dry ice to chill his glasses, and as smoke billowed from the glasses onto the bar, you could practically hear the audience collectively gasping with delight. It was a smart move, showing Jason knew how to add some serious showmanship to his craft. But let’s not forget—the drink itself was on a whole other level.
This cocktail was a bold mix of vodka, tequila, coffee liqueur, Kaldi’s Cold Brew Concentrate, simple syrup, saline solution, Comté cheese foam, and dehydrated mint powder.
Now, we know what you’re thinking: What the WHAT?? But somehow, it worked. The balance of sweet, coffee, and the bright sting of the liquors, topped with a smooth, almost savory foam, was an experience like no other. It was the most dynamic and exciting sip of the night—like your taste buds were getting a masterclass in flavor. You just kept going back for more, thinking, What just happened? I’ve never tasted anything like this before. Pure artistry. What a way to wrap up an unforgettable night!
Check out the announcement reel we made with bartender portraits and their signature drinks (we had a couple people that couldn't make it).
Looking Ahead
More Coffee, More Cocktails, More Fun!
The Atlanta coffee and cocktail scene is alive and well, and we’re so excited for what’s next. More events, more espresso martinis, and more moments to sip, mingle, and share a good time.
Special Thanks
Sponsors:
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Friends of United, Hanson Distillery & Herradura Tequila
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@avize.atl - To all the staff for the lovely hosting, location and food
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Neakyn Boroujerdi @cheesemeatl - for the amazing charcuterie
Huge thanks to everyone who made this event such a blast. Whether you were there to compete, drink, or cheer on your favorite bartender, you made the night unforgettable. Our marketing team had the idea to invite local coffee enthusiasts to attend for free, take some pics, and blog about the event. Let’s just say—new friends were made, coffee was sipped, and social media was flooded with gorgeous pics of cocktails and fun moments. Special shoutout to Eugene from @atlantacoffeeshops for the warm introductions, the fantastic advice, and—let’s be real—the incredible pictures. See their website's amazing post.
Other shoutouts need to go to:
- @thecorkbros - for their amazing photos
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@kat.eats who did a lovely reel
- @iamelixand also did a fun reel
And all of our other new friends that attended and posted throughout the night. Be sure to give them a follow:
WATCH THE REEL FROM @eatclickrepeat_
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