Charcoal Lane serves lunch fit for a Duke and Duchess

On their first day in Melbourne, Prince Harry and Meaghan Markle stopped by social enterprise Mission Australia’s Charcoal Lane to taste Australia’s native cuisine. Executive Chef and Horticulturalist Greg Hampton designed the contemporary menu, specifically for The Duke and Duchess. It consisted of an entrée of mushroom and quinoa nest and chargrilled kangaroo, and main course of wild boar, saffron risotto and barramundi. “It is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the students to meet Their Royal Highnesses,” Mission Australia CEO James Toomey says.
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Kieran Westlake elected new ASCA President

Australian Specialty Coffee Association (ASCA) members have appointed Kieran Westlake its new President. The new board was elected at the association’s Annual General Meeting on 12 October at Criteria Coffee in Melbourne. “It’s with absolute humility and honour I accepted the position of ASCA President,” Kieran says. “ASCA is arguably in the strongest position since its inception in 2001 – financially, structurally and operationally.” 
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Australian Brewers Cup Champion Heath Dalziel prepares for World Championship

Australian Specialty Coffee Association (ASCA) Australian Brewers Cup Champion Heath Dalziel is preparing for the 2018 World Brewers Cup, to be held in Brazil from 7 to 9 November. Heath, of Third Time Lucky, won the National Brewers Cup title in March at the Melbourne International Coffee Expo. He is currently in Canberra, training with 2017 World Brewers Cup runner-up Sam Corra. He has also worked with 2014 Australian Brewers Cup Champion Devin Loong, and 2015 World Barista Champion and Ona Coffee Founder Sasa Sestic.
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Habina Resource Centre wins 2018 Papua New Guinea Coffee Cupping Competition

Habina Resource Centre from the Eastern Highlands has won the 2018 Papua New Guinea Coffee Cupping Competition with a cupping score of 85.45. Judges described the coffee as tasting of “tropical fruit, brown sugar, tea, and bright lemon-lime acidity”. Six other producers also scored above 85, with Kamora from Obura-Wanenara at 85.41, Untoa Kosa from Obura-Wanenara at 85.32, Pandai from the Enga Province at 85.27, Tibunofi from the Eastern Highlands at 85.23, Obura-Wanenara Coffee Cooperative Society at 85.16 points, and Besser from Obura-Wanenara at 85.01 points.
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BioPak announces partnership with Swedish business Duni

BioPak has announced a partnership with Swedish-based accessory supplier Duni, a deal that will launch Biopak’s range of sustainable packaging solutions across Europe and the Asia Pacific region. “This partnership is a great opportunity to reduce plastic pollution and fight the war on waste on a global scale,” BioPak CEO Gary Smith says. “BioPak started back in 2006 with a simple vision – a world without waste. We were first to market offering sustainable, environmentally adapted packaging in Australia, expanding soon after to New Zealand. “Since then, BioPak has experienced unprecedented growth and we are delighted to partner with Duni in taking our ethos to the global stage, working with a company that shares our values in sustainability and customer prioritisation.”
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The Good Cartel

The Good Cartel serves more coffee each week than town’s population

Broome café The Good Cartel has revealed it makes approximately 15,000 cups of coffee a week, more than the town’s population of almost 14,000. From its beginnings as a small food truck, The Good Cartel says it has grown to become Broome’s go-to destination, an alfresco dining and drive-through restaurant.
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Project Origin opens applications for Nicaragua Farm Experience

Project Origin is accepting applications for its Nicaragua Farm Experience, to be held at Finca El Árbol in Nicaragua. El Árbol Co-Producer Claudia Lovo will host the course, which aims to educate coffee professionals and enthusiasts on the process of coffee planting, growing, processing and grading from farm to cup. Project Origin General Manager Habib Marbaani says that the course focuses not only on practical farming and processing, but on the community aspect of coffee farming.
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Single O and World Coffee Research bring climate-resilient coffee to Australia

Single O has joined with World Coffee Research (WCR) to launch the No Death to Coffee project, will see the roaster introduce three new climate-resilient WCR-bred coffees to Australia. “We’re passionate about supporting all innovations that will lead to more stability for coffee producers and future-friendly varieties like Starmaya are set to enhance farmer livelihoods. We can’t wait to share it with the Australian coffee community,” Single O Director of Coffee Wendy De Jong says.
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Dubai International Coffee Championship announces US$40,000 prize

A top prize of US$40,000 (about $56,000) has been announced for the Dubai International Coffee Championship. The runner-up will receive a prize of US$5000. The competition will take place at the Dubai International Coffee and Tea Festival from 5 to 7 December. The Dubai International Coffee Championship is one consolidated event to test its competitors across aspects of coffee making incorporating barista, latte art and brewing skills. 
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New Zealand Barista Championship

NZSCA to hold array of events and educational courses

The New Zealand Specialty Coffee Association (NZSCA) has announced a range of educational courses and events to be carried out from October 2018 to February 2019. On 18 October, the New Zealand Specialty Coffee Guild (NZSCG) and 2017 Brewers Cup Finalist Sarah Stephen will Coffee Extraction Wellington, an interactive evening where the basic principles of coffee extraction will be explained. On 25 October, the NZSCG and Toasted Espresso hill host Water and Coffee Auckland, an education-focused event that explores how the makeup of our brewing water effects coffee extraction and flavour.
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