Australia’s coffee culture is changing, not in its pursuit of quality but in where and how that quality is delivered. Franke’s Oceania team discuss the shifting landscape and how businesses can adapt.
Australia has long been known as a global trendsetter in coffee culture. From the vibrant café scene in Melbourne’s laneways to Sydney’s artisan cafés, the country has cultivated a reputation for quality and innovation.
Over the past few years, however, the nature of the coffee scene has evolved rapidly. Once confined to boutique cafés and specialty roasteries, quality coffee is now being embraced across a more diverse range of venues – from hotels, restaurants, and bars to convenience stores and self-service chains.
Behind this change is a blend of consumer demand and the rise of automated technology, which has opened the door for venues of all sizes to offer great coffee without the need for highly trained baristas.
Swiss machine manufacturer Franke offers automated and semi-automated coffee solutions that aim to help both seasoned roasters and new entrants to the coffee space meet Australia’s continuously evolving coffee expectations.
According to Hamish McKinstry, Franke Business Development Manager Oceania, the shift towards broader coffee accessibility is unmistakable.
“We’re seeing a lot of interest in coffee outside of the café space, whether that be in offices, restaurants and bars, or coffee carts,” he says.
Hamish believes this change isn’t just about consumer convenience but is also a strategic response from coffee roasters to navigate rising green-coffee prices and increased competition. With traditional café markets reaching saturation, roasters are actively seeking growth in non-traditional environments.
“The corporate market has huge potential, particularly for specialty roasters,” he says. “Offices are looking to elevate their coffee offering with high-street brands and quality as a value-add for their staff.”
According to Hamish, the common thread across all these new coffee venues is the need for consistency, simplicity, and quality attributes that fully automatic and semi-automatic coffee machines are uniquely positioned to deliver. Franke’s equipment, especially its fully automatic systems, offers what he calls “best in class in-cup quality combined with a very user-friendly interface and daily operation”.
“Current consumption trends reveal Australian consumers’ desire for accessibility and value, without sacrificing quality. A challenging ask in today’s environment is one that Franke is aiming to be on the forefront of delivering through its leading technology and in-depth understanding of the Australian coffee culture,” he says.
“Customisation continues to grow, especially with the younger generations. Alternative milks are on track to reach 30 per cent of all coffees sold in Australia by 2030. We’re also seeing an immense increase in cold coffee beverages such as iced lattes, iced long blacks and cold brew, as well as milk-based coffee substitutes like matcha lattes.”
In response to consumer trends, Franke has developed technology to cater to these needs, including cross-contamination free milk dispensing which enables multiple milk options to be delivered through the one machine.
Simplifying operations
One of the people behind Franke’s push into automation is Dubravko Palinic, the company’s Oceania Technical Manager. He explains how the adoption of smart technology is reshaping the landscape for both coffee professionals and new entrants.
“Among the many automated features, the most useful are the cleaning functions,” says Dubravko.
“These functions simplify the tedious task of machine maintenance, allowing components to remain in place while cleaning products are automatically dosed at specific intervals.”
This automation is designed not only to improve hygiene and ease of use but also save time and labour, allowing business owners to focus on service rather than technical upkeep.
While automatic functions such as these often focus on streamlining workflow, Dubravko stresses that automation doesn’t mean oversimplification. For technicians working in the sector, as well as users, he believes understanding how components such as valves and pumps work still matters.
“Some systems are completely plug and play, others take a little more adjusting to get the absolute best out of them. In saying that, a solid understanding and passion for coffee is a prerequisite,” he says.
“Understanding coffee, the machines, and being able to fix them is essential, a little bit of passion goes a long way.”
He points out one of the biggest technical challenges isn’t the complexity of the machines – it’s the lack of passionate, well-trained technicians.
“There seems to be a scarcity of passionate technicians out there who really love what they do,” says Dubravko.
“Coming from an industrial electrical background I’d like to think that I have a very high standard when it comes to my work, which also comes with passion and motivation to do the best I can. I hope the passion I have for my work, machinery, and coffee rubs off on those I train, meet, and interact with.”
In line with this, Franke places a strong emphasis on training, both at its Swiss headquarters and through local partnerships.
Growing coffee ecosystem
At the helm of the Franke operation in Oceania is David Downing, who has been part of the Franke team for 17 years. His work in the coffee industry, however, spans more than two decades and his passion for coffee remains “as strong as ever”.
“My long tenure with Franke is a testament to my belief in the strength of Franke Coffee Systems – not only in its cutting-edge technology but, more importantly, in its people,” he says.
David’s background in technical service drives his focus on maintaining exceptional after-sales support. He emphasises this level of service is made possible by the certified training Franke provides to their national, state, and local service partners.
“Without this foundation, our ability to uphold our commitments would be meaningless,” he says.
“Given Australia’s vast size, challenges in support are inevitable, which is why Franke is continuously growing this service network to ensure dependable assistance no matter where customers are located.”
According to David, purchasing the right coffee machine is only the start.
“Having the right support behind it makes all the difference,” he says.
He advises buyers take the time to thoroughly research their equipment choices to avoid wasted money, poor performance, and frustrating user experiences.
“This is the first and most important action,” he says.
Franke Coffee Systems Oceania is backed by a team that collectively holds more than 70 years of experience in the coffee industry. David sums up their dedication through their commitment to delivering the best service possible.
“We’re not just committed, we’re ethically driven, with deep local knowledge backed by global expertise,” he says. “When it comes to supporting our customers, we go above and beyond, because we are Franke.”
For more information, visit coffee.franke.com
This article appears in the October 2025 edition of BeanScene. Subscribe HERE.
