Thursday, August 23, 2007. While lightning crashed around the city of Chicago and vicious rain poured, bringing down trees and power lines, a small gathering of coffee artisans gathered to practice their craft in the safety of the Intelligentsia Roasting Works’s big brick building.

Using the finest equipment available (the La Marzocco GB/5, of course) barista skill was at its height as coworkers grabbed a beer and poured out some killer lattes.

The competition was divided into three categories: Best Traditional Rosetta, Best Skim Milk Rosetta, and Most Creative Latte Art. Andy Wickstrom (pictured below), formerly a Broadway location barista and current graphic design team member took first place in the traditional category.

Deanna Myers (below), a barista at the Millennium Park location and actor/independent filmmaker, came in first in the skim milk category.

Cara Wilson, formerly of Coffee Hound and participant in the 2006 and 2007 Great Lakes Regional Barista Competition took first place in the creative category with a gorgeous multi-petal tulip.