ASCA judging

ASCA says ‘You be the judge’

With Australia’s coffee credentials established on the global stage, ASCA is committed to growing the community’s knowledge behind the scenes. Australia has a great reputation on the world stage when it comes to coffee excellence. Our National Champions frequent the top 10 in the world, our entrepreneurs are introducing Australian coffee to international markets (think Bluestone Lane), and Melbourne is often hailed as one of the ‘coffee capitals’ of the globe.
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Meadow Fresh New Zealand Barista Championship

NZ Coffee Championships get bigger and better

One big weekend in May saw the NZSCA crown new Cup Tasters and Latte Art Champions in maxed-out competitions. It felt like only five minutes ago the New Zealand Specialty Coffee Association hosted the Meadow Fresh NZ Barista Championship, and it was already time to start the next leg of the competition season. First up was the NZ Cup Tasters Championship on 3 May. Ozone Coffee Roasters in Auckland hosted a full field of 32 coffee cuppers, all aiming to accurately and quickly slurp their way through the tasty coffee. 
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Alternative Dairy Co

Alternative Dairy Co partners with St Ali Coffee Roasters

Following a successful launch in 2018, Alternative Dairy Co has received the backing of a Melbourne coffee institution and a former Australian Latte Art Champion. St Ali is a prominent name in the Australian coffee community.  Inside the roaster’s South Melbourne store, every detail is considered: the music, lighting, flower arrangements, even the staff attire with baristas sporting ‘feels good’ branded socks. Image is everything to St Ali, but so is taste and quality, including with its alternative milks.
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jade jennings

Jade Jenning’s journey

Jade Jennings of Veneziano Coffee Roasters reflects on her experiences with coffee and competitions, and how it’s prepared her to train the next generation of champions. When Jade Jennings travelled to Rwanda in 2016, the Veneziano Coffee Roasters National Training and Development Manager experienced what she calls her fondest memory working in the coffee industry.
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Japanese coffee culture

The flavour master on Japanese coffee culture

Café consultant Hitomi Sato talks to BeanScene about Japanese coffee culture and how it differs to Australia. When Monin Beverage Innovation Manager for Japan and Korea Hitomi Sato touched down in Melbourne, she made a point of experiencing the city’s renowned coffee scene for herself. “Coffee people [from around the world] want to go to Seattle in the United States, Melbourne in Australia, and Milan in Italy to learn about coffee,” Hitomi says. “I went to Patricia Coffee Brewers and it felt really energetic. Customers were taking their time, enjoying it, and talking, and the operation speed was really high.”
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Detpak RecycleMe

Detpak RecycleMe system completes the paper chain

The Detpak RecycleMe System provides recyclable cups alongside collection and guaranteed recycling logistics. Since the ABC TV series War on Waste drew attention to the more than one billion coffee cups sent to landfill every year, consumers, cafés, and companies have taken large strides to reduce single-use cup waste. One such company is Australian owned packaging manufacturer Detpak, which initiated a rollout of its RecycleMe System with customers in November 2018, providing a solution for takeaway cups. 
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Tanzania

Trekking Tanzania

Cofi-Com’s John Russell Storey explores Tanzania’s countryside that reveals committed farmers, impressive coffees and a real life animal kingdom.   Arriving in Tanzania was a world away from the bustling, crazy capital city experience of Kampala. Kilimanjaro Airport is bang in the middle of the countryside, with the nearest major town well over an hour’s drive away.  Most arriving passengers are whisked away by tour operators heading off to big parks like Serengeti. For us, it was a short drive to a nearby lodge for an afternoon of R&R before driving almost two hours the next day through arid scrub and acacia trees to Burka and Mondul Estates. 
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Silvia Colloca

Silvia Colloca shines

Silvia Colloca is a home cook with an unconditional love for baking. She speaks to BeanScene about keeping traditions alive, unforgettable food memories, and roasting coffee in the kitchen. There are two distinct aromas that make Silvia Colloca’s household the envy of most on a Sunday morning – freshly baked bread and freshly roasted coffee on the kitchen bench. “Those are the days you really want to be at our house. The smell is just incredible. It permeates every single room,” Silvia says. Freshly brewing coffee on a little moka pot has been a beautiful morning ritual ever since Silvia recalls growing up in Milan, Italy.
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Lavazza Australia

Lavazza grants Australia special permission

Lavazza explains why the Australian market has been given a leave pass to make history with one of the world’s most precious and original sources of Arabica coffee. Imagine sitting in the inner sanctum of Lavazza’s decision-making room in Torino, Italy, with Giuseppe Lavazza pondering one of the biggest brand decisions the family company has ever made.  No country has ever been given permission to alter the roast profile of one Lavazza’s premium coffees outside of Italy, until now. That honour has gone to Australia.
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Commonwealth bank of Australia

Smart banking with Commonwealth Bank of Australia

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia provides business and hospitality clients with insights needed to find a niche in a competitive field. Running a small business can be difficult. From what décor to use to what coffee to serve, café owners face tough choices that can ultimately make or break their venue. To make some of these decisions easier, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CommBank) has a dedicated team that specialises in the retail and hospitality environment. This includes commissioning original research on topics such as retailer resilience and pricing strategies, connecting clients to industry experts, and keeping staff up to date on the fast-moving world of retail. 
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