The idea came about through serendipity, when Mokas lead barista Alex Negranza was doing a coffee tasting -- known as a cupping -- years ago, and the electricity went out.

He found that by candlelight, the cupping was both surreal and more focused, and he's doing it again tonight at Mokas Cafe & Coffee Bar at 329 Fairview Avenue North in South Lake Union.

The event, which is free and open to the public, begins at 8:30 p.m. with a showing of art work; the cupping of more than a dozen coffees will happen around 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., when it's dark enough outside.

It's co-sponsored by Visions Espresso Service, whose owners, Dawn and Pat Loraas, also own Mokas and a slice of equipment maker La Marzocco. Visions -- an espresso equipment seller and servicer -- is creating a coffee school called the Coffee Enhancement Lounge for baristas, roasters and all other coffee folks. Sarah Dooley of Visions will teach some of the classes, and she's recruiting others to teach classes there as well.