Lavazza to launch three new blends at Australian Open

Lavazza has announced it will launch three new locally roasted coffee blends at the Australian Open 2019 tennis tournament, taking place from 14 to 27 January 2019.

“We are proud to be present for the fourth year running at the Australian Open, where we will be officially launching three new products destined for the food service channel,” says Silvio Zaccareo, Asia-Pacific Business Unit Director and Australia Managing Director of Lavazza.

“These are products that have Italian-ness at the centre, highlight Lavazza’s commitment to spreading quality and authentic coffee experiences worldwide. By locally roasting beans in Melbourne, Lavazza further cements its commitment to the Australian market and adapting key products to local customer tastes.”

Kafa is a single-origin Arabica product hailing from the World Heritage-listed Kafa forest region in Ethiopia, which Lavazza calls the birthplace of coffee plants. Kafa will be served exclusively at the tournament in the Lavazza Superbox at the Rod Laver Arena, and Grand Slam Oval Level 1 Lounge.

The other two new products are part of the ¡Tierra! project, which was launched in 2002 under the guidance of the Lavazza Foundation to improve the living conditions, social development, and economic growth of coffee farming communities, while respecting the environment.

¡Tierra! Brasil is a combination of Arabica coffee and washed conillon, or Robusta, grown at a Lavazza Foundation partner plantation in Lambari, Brazil.

The second is ¡Tierra! Colombia, a 100 per cent Arabica coffee roast originating from the Meta region of Colombia. In the region, Lavazza is working with local communities and partnering in land restitution programs and other sustainability projects, including bringing internet connectivity to Meta.

The ¡Tierra! Brasil, ¡Tierra! Colombia, and Kafa beans will be transported to Australia and roasted locally in Melbourne.

Lavazza’s main site at the tournament is the Lavazza Cafélocated at Grand Slam Oval, a two-storey, custom-built structure the roaster says offers soaring views across the oval.

Lavazza is the official coffee sponsor of the Australian Open for the fourth year running.

Lavazza says the café incorporates a refreshed design and will serve traditional hot beverages, along with refreshing summer options like Cremespresso, cold brew and iced mocha.

Additionally, a permanent Lavazza Coffee Café will also be opened at Garden Square, located in between Melbourne Park Function Centre and Show Court 3.

Lavazza has appointed Australian Chef ambassador Jock Zonfrillo of Restaurant Orana and Bistro Blackwood in Adelaide to curate a bespoke one-off menu for the Rod Laver Arena Lavazza Superbox, to be served on 16 January. Lavazza says the menu will hero the Kafa roast and incorporate Jock’s signature native ingredient cooking style.

Jock has designed five dishes, and paired each with a perfectly matched coffee-flavoured beverage. The menu includes damper with mud-crab and miso dip, pickled kohlrabi, quandong, burrata and lemon myrtle served alongside a Lavazza Espresso Martini; Mayura Station wagyu, smoked potato and wattle-seed, marron, Geraldton wax and green ants with a non-alcoholic Kafa Hot-Cold; and for dessert, set buffalo milk, strawberry and eucalyptus matched with a White Rose – Lavazza cold brew, vodka, rose water, honey, cream and dried rose petals.

Following the Australian Open 2019, coffee drinkers can experience Kafa, and the ¡Tierra! products at selected Lavazza restaurant partners throughout Australia.