Regional Latte Art Smackdown Comes to Walcha
Quick Info
📅 Date: Tuesday 24 September 2025
🕔 Time: From 2:30pm (Main Smackdown 7:00pm)
📍 Location: Walcha Coffee Roastery, 4N Derby Street, Walcha NSW
🎟️ Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/regional-latte-art-smackdown-walcha-nsw-tickets-1599209371279
💰 Prizes: $1,000 first prize, plus prizes for 2nd, 3rd, Best Local, and Junior (15 & under)
🍖 Food: Smoked meat dinner available (pre-booking required)
🏨 Accommodation: Discounts at Walcha Motel, Walcha Caravan Park, Apsley Hotel, and Walcha Road Hotel
Brewing Up Something Big: Walcha Hosts the First-Ever Regional Latte Art Smackdown
There’s something special about bringing the coffee world to the country. On Tuesday 24 September 2025, Walcha Coffee will throw open the doors to its roastery on Derby Street and welcome baristas, coffee lovers, and curious locals for the first-ever Regional Latte Art Smackdown.
This is no small feat. Smackdowns are usually reserved for the inner-city cafés of Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. For Walcha — a small rural town in the New England High Country — to host an event like this is a bold step. And that’s exactly the point.
How It All Started
The idea was born over coffee (naturally). At last year’s Golden Bean Competition, Walcha Coffee founder Cameron Hayton was judging alongside Caleb Holstein, Territory Development Manager for Alternative Dairy Co. As they sipped and scored, conversation turned to the tough run the New England region had faced — floods, road closures, and wild weather that isolated towns and tested communities.
“What would it take to host something in our region?” Hayton asked. Holstein didn’t hesitate: Alternative Dairy Co. might have a budget for rural events. One meeting led to another, and soon enough, the vision was taking shape.
A Community Effort
Support has since poured in from across the coffee industry. Alternative Dairy Co., Pentair (Everpure Water Filtration), ECM Coffee Machines, List + Beisler, and design partner Known Designs have all joined as sponsors. Local collaboration has been equally important: The Alternative Root in Uralla jumped on board to co-host, ensuring this isn’t just a one-off but the start of something bigger.
And it is bigger. Alongside the smackdown, the event will include:
* A cupping session with Daniel Vergnano of List + Beisler, featuring new coffees fresh into Australia.
* Sensory training workshops with industry leaders.
* A smoked meat dinner cooked on-site (pre-registration required).
* Discounted accommodation at local hotels to encourage visitors to stay, eat, and explore Walcha.
Spotlight on the Next Generation
One of the most exciting parts of this event is the Junior Latte Art Competition. With a low entry fee and a solid $200 prize, it’s open to kids 15 and under.
“We need to sow into our young people if we want to raise up the next generation of workers,” Hayton says. “Coffee isn’t just pocket money while you’re at school — it can be an exciting, fulfilling career. This competition gives kids the chance to get on stage, pull a shot, pour a pattern, and dream a little bigger.”
Why It Matters
Smackdowns might look like a bit of fun — and they are — but they’re also powerful tools for skill development and networking. Baristas refine their technique under pressure, swap ideas with peers, and get inspired by new trends and technologies. Spectators get to taste great coffee, cheer on competitors, and be part of a buzzing, creative atmosphere.
For Walcha and the wider New England region, hosting an event like this puts the town on the specialty coffee map. It draws visitors, fills motel rooms, and brings energy to the main street. It also shows that rural communities aren’t just watching from the sidelines — they’re creating the future of Australian coffee culture.
Join Us
The Regional Latte Art Smackdown kicks off on 24 September 2025 at Walcha Coffee Roastery, 4N Derby Street, Walcha.
Spectator tickets and competitor entries (including the Junior category) are available now via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/regional-latte-art-smackdown-walcha-nsw-tickets-1599209371279. Spaces are limited, so get in early.
Whether you’re a seasoned barista, a proud parent of a junior competitor, or just someone who loves good coffee and good company, this event is for you. Come and see latte art fly in the heart of the country — and be part of something new.