Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2020 i BeanScene

The October edition of BeanScene is our biggest of the year. Not only is it huge because of its size, but because of our annual Roaster’s Directory, which this year has compiled more than 900 roasters across Australia and New Zealand – an impressive feat and representation of businesses given the current climate. So naturally, when looking for the right company to grace the cover of this coveted edition, we looked no further than Espressology, a bespoke Sydney-based roaster who, for the past 12 years, has been working with some of the biggest names in the coffee industry. This edition, we take a deep dive into the brand Instaurator has helped establish and nurture over the past decade. We learn about Espressology’s commitment to its clients, and its passion for…

NEW HIGH-SCORING COFFEE GENETIC GROUP DISCOVERED IN YEMEN A new genetic group of coffee, named Yemenia, has been discovered in Yemen. It was made available for the first time in the second Qima Yemen Coffee Auction in September 2020. After several years of research into Yemen’s coffee genetics, Qima Coffee in partnership with Dr. Christophe Montagnon from RD2 Vision announced the discovery of the entirely new genetic group of Coffea arabica. This new group represents a previously unknown group of coffee genetics that Qima Coffee says has the potential to reshape the coffee world for decades to come. In addition to the new genetic diversity this discovery will offer, Qima Coffee says its cup quality is “exceptional”. As part of Qima Coffee’s research and development program, the company undertook an unprecedented…

Many people will say they were born into coffee, with generations beforehand working in coffee, but there are few who mean it quite as literally as Will Valverde. “When my mother was pregnant with me – I’m the fifth of seven children – my family moved to another town to work in the harvest. On my birthday, she picked coffee during the day and I was born during the night,” Will says. “I grew up with a coffee plantation as my backyard. That was my playground, so coffee has always been connected to who I am.” Will grew up in the Brunca region of Costa Rica, a region where both of his parents’ families had emigrated as smallholder coffee producers from the famous coffee region of Tarrazú. He tells BeanScene…

The phrase ‘new normal’ has been tossed around a lot in 2020, as people adjust to life in lockdown with the spectre of COVID-19 looming overhead. For many cafés it has meant fundamental changes to their levels of business, how they operate, and the way that customers behave. Fifteen Pounds in Fairfield, Victoria, was one café forced to act swiftly when restrictions came into effect in March. “We’re located next to a train station, so we’d already lost 20 to 30 per cent of our clientele off the bat because there was no city commuting,” Fifteen Pounds Owner-Operator John Kanellakos tells BeanScene. “We’re an old school-kind of a café, and the only online presence we had before COVID-19 was Skip pre-ordering and a bit of social media. We had to be…

Taste and consistency are huge considerations to the specialty coffee industry, so when Riverina Fresh received two or three comments about an unusual flavour profile coming from its milk in July, the dairy supplier sprang into action. “Like all businesses, we get consistent feedback from our partners on our products. Every now and again, we get a complaint or comment that requires investigation. Typically, with a fresh product issues mostly relate to an interruption to the cold chain or storage,” Riverina Fresh CEO Rob Collier says. “In early July, we received a small number of calls from café partners within 48 hours with similar feedback about a grassy flavour from some of our milk. It wasn’t hugely objectionable, and was only in a small amount of product, but it was…

If you ever happen to be exploring Italy and stroll along Via Bernardino Verro in Milan, you will catch the surprisingly intense aroma of freshly ground espresso. But as you follow that seductive smell to find the café inviting you to sit down and enjoy a sip of a traditional Italian espresso, you’ll instead be greeted by the doors to number 33. Behind that unassuming façade is the headquarters of espresso grinder manufacturer Anfim. The waft of espresso comes from fully assembled machines being put through final quality tests to ensure they will produce no less than perfect results for clean, sweet, and balanced cups. Italy, the birthplace of espresso, is home to many of the most prestigious manufacturers of espresso equipment. As such, Anfim has had its fingers on the…

When BeanScene set out to gather a comprehensive list of roasters throughout Australia and New Zealand, given the current climate, we didn’t expect the response nor the volume of roasters who would be quick to participate in what has become an annual tradition. In fact, our representation in this year’s directory listing is our biggest yet at just over 900 roasters. “This volume represents a demand from customers across the country, and a strong increase of roasting as a profession,” BeanScene Editor Sarah Baker says. “It’s been a challenging year for our industry, however, we hope this volume of roasters remains over the next 12 months as businesses begin to recover from the economic impact of COVID-19. In the meantime, we hope this listing will be a valuable resource to…

WEGA AIRY The Wega Airy is a coffee machine capable of adapting itself to every environment and any style. Versatile and practical, the Airy’s uniqueness comes from the interchangeable coloured side panels, which allow it to blend into to any space and design. Apart from using the programmed touchpad selections, the barista can personalise their coffee with the override button, in conjunction with the shot counter timer. On the technical side, the machine features LED lighting of the barista work area, 10-millimetre stainless steel steam wands with four-hole steam tips, four programmable doses per group, manual brewing buttons, automatic cleaning and group head backflush, raised or standard height groups, ergonomic-handle portafilters, lowered feet, and a pressure gauge cover. It is available in two and three group models in black or…

Some businesses are carefully orchestrated with five-year plans, while others grow organically out of a passion that turns into a profit. For Espressology Founder Instaurator, the creation of his roasting business happened completely by accident. “After 40 years working in the coffee industry, I had people still asking me to help them out and roast for them. Business was always from word of mouth, but I didn’t take it seriously,” Instaurator says. “I was busy consulting for a large company, and roasting on the side wasn’t my main income. In the early days, it was simply my travel fund to attend various industry events around the world. But after a few years the business snuck up on me. I realised if I put more serious systems in place, I could…

Ten years ago, the idea of a marketing rebrand would simply involve a revised logo in a new font and colour, but these days, it’s about so much more than visual identity. It’s a deep dive into a brand’s DNA. After five reiterations of the Veneziano Coffee Roasters brand, design agency Pop + Pac was tasked with the job of helping Veneziano navigate its brand refresh. Managing Director Craig Dickson says this time was the longest and most extensive process yet. “The first brand relaunch we did 18 years ago involved [Veneziano Co-founder] Rocky Veneziano drawing on the back of a cocktail napkin,” Craig says. “We’ve been through the process a few times, but this time around, it wasn’t just about designing a suite of new packaging. It was about…

Coffee usually plays a small role in fifth birthday parties – fuelling parents through the festivities – but for Milklab, it was the centrepiece. In 2020, the dairy alternative brand is celebrating the five-year anniversary of its launch with its customers and partner cafés. Among the celebrations, Milklab has profiled the coffee industry members who contributed to the development of the range on its website and social media. “Milklab was built off collaboration, it’s important to us that we continue to highlight the efforts of the people who helped create Milklab, so we can continue to grow with them and the industry,” Milklab Assistant Brand Manager Melissa Swinscoe says. “Milklab was the first Australian brand to specifically design a plant-based milk range for coffee. In the last five years, the growth of both…

When contacting some of the businesses Cafetto holds longstanding relationships with, all of them shared two things in common: a wonderful portrayal of the man behind the brand, Managing Director Christopher Short, and they all proudly claim to be “one of the first” Cafetto customers. “Chris and I go way back,” says Matthew Galea of Suntory Coffee Australia. “Chris approached myself and Murray Takle, then Espresso Mechanics Customer Service Manager. Chris was launching the Cafetto brand into the market [as a cleaning solutions manufacturer] and came to visit our office in Seven Hills. Little did Chris know we were having some issues with our supply of coffee cleaning tablets from another supplier that kept breaking down. Chris happened to say: ‘I have a solution for you if you would care…

When Craig Milton started coffee machine service company Brewtech in 2015 as a one-man show from his Melbourne home, he never could have imagined the growth trajectory this humble service company would undertake. Craig bought the cheapest van he could to start collecting and servicing coffee machines. He recalls David Makin of Axil Coffee Roasters as his very first customer, installing the roaster’s first espresso machine on the bench of its Hawthorn venue. Before long, Craig took over the garages of his two next door neighbours and employed technicians Scott Curtis and Steven Lay to join the team. It became such a tightknit group that when Craig’s eldest son drew a family picture for school, Scott and Steve were included. That model of unity and approach to work with a…

Like many people in lockdown, André Eiermann has had a lot of time to reflect. Living in a cabin high in the Swiss Alps, waiting for his Visa to permit him into Australia, the 2017 Swiss Barista Champion and Victoria Arduino brand ambassador sees more mountain goats and cows on his daily runs than he does humans. The grass is green and the air is crisp. But what if it wasn’t? What if in 10, 50, or even 100 years, the generations to come faced a world devastated by pollution, extreme climate change, and never-ending drought? André is passionate about leaving a legacy of sustainable choices, and it starts with the coffee industry and our impact within it. “When we look at the carbon footprint of coffee, we automatically think…

LUPO LAB 151-153 Scarborough Beach Road, Mount Hawthorn, Western Australia, 6016 Open weekdays 6:30am to late, weekends 7am to late 08 9242 4426 Few industries attract the kind of passionate people that coffee does, and Mirko Silvestri is a great example. The Owner of Lupo Lab café and micro roaster in Mount Hawthorn fell in love with hospitality growing up in his family’s restaurants in Rome. His attention turned to coffee specifically in university, where he developed a passion that carried him around the world before landing in Western Australia. “At the time, about 17 years ago, we actually knew very little about coffee, at least in Italy. I joined the Specialty Coffee Association, started taking its courses, and built my knowledge of coffee origin and chemistry,” Mirko says. “I…

The ‘plant-based revolution’ has planted its seeds in the Australian coffee industry, with practically every café expected to offer its customers an alternative to dairy, if not multiple. With milk-based coffees such a large part of the local coffee market, Australian Specialty Coffee Association (ASCA) 2019 Australian Vitasoy Barista Champion Matt Lewin tells BeanScene it’s important cafés can still cater to the growing number of people on plant-based diets. “Products like plant milk are now a part of everyday life and increasingly on people’s radar as it continues to rise in mainstream popularity. So, regardless of how discerning someone is about coffee, they’re very likely to be aware of this and may expect today’s cafes to offer a range of plant-based milks,” Matt says. “Dairy alternatives bring additional benefits to…

Visiting origin is the dream of many coffee professionals. While COVID-19 has put a temporary halt to travel, they need not make the arduous journey to South and Central America or Africa once borders open up. Just an hour off the coast of Australia lies Timor-Leste. A young nation offering incredible natural beauty, rich history, and unique culture. It’s “Explore the Undiscovered” tourism campaign beckons travellers to its rugged mountainous interior where coffee is grown by almost a third of the country’s households. Although the coffee industry is relatively young compared to others, it is one of Timor’s largest non-oil exports and plays a significant role in its economy. “The growing conditions are extraordinary – tall, misty hills with cool nights and bright, warm sun during the day and fertile…

InterAmerican Coffee Australia opened its doors earlier this year under the guidance of General Manager Daniel Vella. As a part of the world’s leading green coffee service group, Neumann Kaffee Gruppe (NKG), the InterAmerican Coffee model has worked well in the United States and Europe due to its focus on specialty coffee and flexible service. NKG also saw potential for it Down Under. “For a long time, NKG had an interest in opening a business in Australia, but in order to set it up, it was important to find the right team that can execute the idea and get it started,” Daniel says. “Early last year, I connected with one of its directors and we started the conversation. It was a meeting of minds and we had the same vision.…

Langdon Coffee Merchants (LCM) Founder Chris Langdon encountered coffee beans numerous times when sourcing herbs and spices overseas for fifth generation family-owned business Langdon Ingredients. Green beans weren’t on the suppliers list, yet Chris found himself drawn to the fascinating and sometimes perilous journey these beans made from some of the most remote regions on Earth. “As I got to know different coffee traders, I came to realise what a specialised industry coffee is – particularly if you want to provide something that’s going to impress Australian roasters,” Chris says. “The traded commercial end of the coffee market was already well serviced in Australia, but I felt like there was a need for consistently high-quality beans that could be used by specialty roasters, but equally, satisfy premium commercial roasters who…

Australia’s roasters and baristas may be at the top of their fields, but most of the country’s espresso machines are still designed, produced, and imported from overseas. One of the few manufacturers to buck the trend and plant its flag firmly in Australia is Aremde, with each of its Nexus One espresso machines built in Queensland and its company headquarters in Brisbane. Co-founder and Technical Director Geoff Michelmore tells BeanScene that being Australian is core to Aremde’s identity. “All of the development and manufacturing has been done in Australia, and we’ve really pushed over the years to stay as Australian as possible. It’s very hard, but it’s what we’re very proud of,” Geoff says. While Australian made, it took an international collaboration to bring the Nexus One to life. Starting…

MELANIE STARK I moved to Australia from the United Kingdom four years ago, and I immediately fell in love with the café scene in Melbourne. I loved that cafés operated a table service model and grabbing a coffee would often turn into a chat with the barista and an afternoon well spent – a welcome ritual for someone who had just moved to a new country. From there, I started to explore the local roasters. I use an AeroPress at home, so I like to try single origins, with Ethiopian beans a firm favourite. I recently discovered a roastery near my work in South Melbourne called Cottle On Coventry. Here, Eugene and his passionate team roast the most beautiful selection of beans and the Ethiopian Yirgacheffe is my favourite. For…