A latte begins disappearing almost as soon as it is made. The milk settles, the surface shifts and the white design floating above the espresso gives way to the first sip. Its short life is part of the beauty. A practiced barista has only seconds to turn temperature, texture and motion into something worth pausing to see.
That quiet craft will become a spectator sport when Vagabond Cafe celebrates its fifth anniversary with The Fifth Pour, a live latte art throwdown from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 7. Owner Nancy Ramos describes it as Fayetteville's first event of its kind: a head-to-head, bracket-style competition designed to spotlight the people whose creativity usually happens behind the counter.
Sixteen baristas and coffee enthusiasts are expected to compete inside the cafe at 108 Hay St. Two contestants will pour at a time, presenting their best designs for the judges. One advances and one leaves the bracket until the final pairing produces the first Fifth Pour champion and a grand-prize winner. Competitors must pay a registration fee and can enter through the event's QR code. Watching is free.
Ramos said the anniversary celebration has three ambitions: honor specialty coffee, bring people together and show the skill required to make an exceptional cup. The format makes an exacting profession visible. Behind every heart, rosetta or tulip is correctly prepared espresso, milk steamed to the proper texture and a pour controlled by height, speed, and the smallest movement of the wrist. A minor mistake can swallow a pattern before it reaches the rim.
The Fifth Pour also marks how far Vagabond has traveled. Ramos began the business as a mobile coffee operation in 2019 after losing her job and deciding to pursue a long-held interest in coffee. She served drinks from a camper at markets and community events before giving that wandering idea a permanent address on Hay Street in 2021. Even the name carried part of her story: Vagabond grew from a childhood nickname given to Ramos by her mother and the free-spirited life it described.
The storefront provided room to build a neighborhood gathering place and a menu with personal roots. Ramos, who is Mexican and grew up in East Los Angeles, has drawn from her heritage in drinks flavored by horchata and Mexican chocolate. The cafe's specialty-coffee focus asks customers to notice more than caffeine. It invites them to consider the growers, roasters, and baristas whose work arrives together in one cup.
Three judges will decide which designs move forward: Stephanie of Girl Coffee NC, Dalton Carter of Hollywood Java and Ryan Will of Vagabond Cafe. Dennis Vee will serve as master of ceremonies, bringing commentary, humor and audience energy as the bracket narrows. Guests can expect raffles and complimentary coffee prepared by competitors, while neighboring business Pan will contribute food to the celebration.
The event is also supported by Hugo Tea, Created Co., Little Waves Coffee Roasters and Barista Magazine. Their involvement turns a business anniversary into something broader: a meeting point for independent shops, makers, coffee professionals, and customers who may be discovering specialty coffee for the first time.
“This event is about more than latte art,” Ramos said. “It's about celebrating five years of Vagabond Cafe, the people who have supported us and the growing specialty coffee community in Fayetteville.”
Her hope is that the night will introduce more residents to the craft and help place Fayetteville on the specialty-coffee map.
Vagabond is wheelchair accessible, but seating inside the small cafe will be limited. The competition will be projected onto screens so guests can follow each round, with additional viewing planned for the outdoor patio if weather permits. Free parking will be available along Hay Street and at the Donaldson parking lot on Franklin Street. A paid garage directly across from the cafe offers another option.
No coffee vocabulary is required to attend. Ramos wants working baristas, casual drinkers and people who are simply curious about what happens behind the counter to feel equally welcome. That openness may be the most fitting measure of Vagabond's first five years. The art in each cup will last only until someone lifts it, but the evening is built around what remains: a downtown room, a growing craft community and the human connections made one pour at a time.

(Photo: Ramos shows off a cup of coffee at sunrise at the Market House. Photos courtesy of Nancy Ramos)