Barista vs. Bartender

Harbor Point’s Ceremony Coffee Roasters was THE place to be on this Thursday night. The city’s best bartenders squared off against the city’s best baristas in a competition to create the best coffee cocktail.

It all helped kick off Coffee Fest, going on at the Baltimore Convention Center and in other events around town.

Recipe for Helluva Good Time: Take caffeine + alcohol cocktails. Add DJ Impulse. Shake.

Pictured (LtoR) Kathleen Bands, My Cleaning Service vice president; and Casey Hristakos, Cava Mezze Group beverage director/event competitor

Pictured (LtoR) Anthony Huling, MedStar physical therapy assistant; Ali Blais, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Maryland Chapter development manager; and Megan Case, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Maryland Chapter operations specialist

Pictured (LtoR) Ezra Allen, Sagamore Pendry/C.A.n.E. Collective bartender; Aaron Joseph, C.A.n.E. Collective/Rum Runners bartender; and Alex Higdon, Rye bartender

Pictured (LtoR) Chyno, Baltimore food personality; Hillary Harris, Charm City Meadworks Maryland sales manager; and Chris Franzoni, EatmoreBaltimore eater-in-chief (Editor’s note: LOVE Chyno & Chris, who try to outdo their previous fake laughs each time I photo them!)

Pictured (LtoR) Sabrina Testerman, 1157 bar + kitchen bar manager; and Jason Ambrose, 1157 bar + kitchen chef/owner (Editor’s Note; …and Jason has the best real laugh ever!)

Pictured (LtoR) Lynette Hodge, Strong City Baltimore executive assistant; and Corey Lacey, Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts social media coordinator

Pictured (LtoR) Johnny Marr, Baltimore-based guitarist; Dana Maria, freelance stylist; Casey Pivec-Gerlach, Advantage Engineers real estate specialist; and Dave Seel, Blue Fork Marketing founder

Pictured (LtoR) Florida visitors: Megan Vidal, The Kookaburra Coffee owner; and Ariel LaMontagne, The Kookaburra Coffee pastry chef