Queensland’s Coffee Mentality is collaborating with Thai roaster Roots and the Australian Embassy Thailand to host a coffee tasting workshop on 10 May in Ratchathewi.
2026 Australian Cup Tasters champion Karl Lee and 2025 World Cup Tasters champion Chatchalerm (Boss) Lertanekwattna will guide attendees through the tasting journey following their participation at World of Coffee Bangkok.
The tasting session is set to feature beans grown in Australia and Thailand.
Thailand is, historically, a top 25 producer, however climate change and inclement weather has seen production drop in recent years. Much of the country’s Arabica is grown in the northern regions, while its southern regions are a Robusta stronghold.
Australia, meanwhile, produces approximately 800 tonnes of coffee per year, with key growing regions around Byron Bay in New South Wales, and in Far North Queensland.
“Thailand and Australia have excellent coffee cultures, so this workshop is a great way for participants to share and compare flavours, while learning from cup taster champions from both countries,” says Australian Ambassador to Thailand, Dr Angela Macdonald PSM.
Coffee Mentality Founder, Ian Abadiano, was recently recognised at the 2026 Coffee Industry Heroes Awards, presented at the 2026 Melbourne International Coffee Expo, where he was named Coffee Educator of the Year.
The roaster recently hosted a fundraiser to help Queensland’s Australian coffee champions – Cup Tasters champion Karl Lee, Latte Art champion Amy Zhang, and Roasting champion Danny Andrade – in their world championship journeys.
At the time of writing, only Zhang has hit the world stage in 2026 so far, registering a ninth-place finish at the World Latte Art Championships in April.
