Danny Wilson has won the 2019 Australian Coffee in Good Spirits (CIGS) Championship, his second Australian CIGS title in a row, at Manly Spirits Co. Distillery in New South Wales on 2 May.
Tristan Clark of Soul Origin placed second and William O’Neill of Molly Bar placed third in the Australian Speciality Coffee Association (ASCA) and Monin hosted event. Read more
A group of Melbourne-based sustainability companies are planning to transform a 2000-square-metre rooftop car park on the edge of the city into a thriving farm with sustainable and contemporary dining, environmental education, and conference spaces.
Located in Melbourne’s emerging Seafarer’s precinct, Melbourne Skyfarm directly overlooks the Yarra River, across from the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). Read more
AeroPress has announced the release of the AeroPress Go, a new model of its signature filter coffee brewing device optimised for portability.
The new model is compact, lightweight, and durable, which AeroPress says makes it ideal for coffee lovers who wish to enjoy their favourite brewed coffee while away from their kitchen. Read more
The United States-based, Japanese-influenced Blue Bottle Coffee will open its first café in Korea on 3 May, marking a new phase of growth for the company in Asia.
Blue Bottle’s roughly 4300-square-metre headquarters in Seoul will also include a roastery and training lab, which will be open for public tours, classes, and tastings.
Korea is the second international market for the company, which opened its first Tokyo cafe in 2015, inspired by the hospitality of traditional Japanese kissaten– Japanese coffee houses serving drip coffee – culture. Read more
Melbourne hospitality company the Mulberry Group has opened a new multi-purpose café called Liminal in the Temperance and General building (T&G) on 161 Collins Street in Melbourne. Read more
J. Raul Rivera of Santa Rosa farm has won the 2019 El Salvador Cup of Excellence (COE), with a score of 90.57 for his honey processed Pacamara varietal.
“At Finca Santa Rosa, we proudly represent [the] Alotepec mountain range and the variety which was developed locally, and the result of years of hard work are rewarded to farmers throughout the country,” J. Raul says.
“COE has created a window of opportunity for producers of coffee. Through this event, the world of coffee is evolving for better. We need to promote COE if we want to change the industry.” Read more
Australia’s premiere coffee cocktail competition, the Coffee in Good Spirits Championship, will take place at Manly Spirits Co in Brookvale, New South Wales on 2 May.
The Monin-sponsored Australian Specialty Coffee Association event promotes innovative beverage recipes that showcase coffee and spirits in a competition format. Competitors must make a signature beverage and Irish coffee using Manly Spirits Co’s Terra Firma vodka. Read more
Almond Breeze Barista Blend has announced the return of its annual Breezey Masters latte art competition, kicking off in Brisbane on 7 May.
Now in its fourth year, Breezey Masters lets baristas showcase their latte art skills using Almond Breeze almond milk. Competitors are required to make four different patterns – a heart, tulip, rosetta, and swan – and a free pour design. The baristas are judged on the quality of their designs, with the added pressure of completing their drinks within a set time period. Read more
The New Zealand Specialty Coffee Association (NZSCA) has had to cancel its inaugural Coffee in Good Spirits Championship after not reaching the minimum number or applicants needed to run the competition.
The NZSCA says World Coffee Events requires there be a minimum number of participants to run a nationally sanctioned event.
The 2019 New Zealand Cup Tasters and Latte Art Championships will still be held as scheduled. Read more
Ona Coffee has announced its New South Wales flagship, Ona Coffee Marrickville, will host the first Australian Comandante Championship in late May.
The Comandante Championship is a filter brewing competition spearheaded by the coffee grinder producing company Comandante. In the competition, brewers must use Comandante hand grinders to advance through a series of rounds using various brewing devices. Read more