Table of contents for Aug/Sept 2017 in BeanScene

The O’Kelly Group 6/24 Monash Dr, Dandenong South, Victoria, 3175 www.okellygroup.com.au This year we’ve celebrated cold brew, green beans and coffee cupping on the cover. Some images are artistic, but the August cover of BeanScene is a statement. “One of the most pressing issues the Australian coffee industry is facing is the environmental effects of our disposable cup waste. It’s a topic we can’t shy away from, so we decided to continue the conversation and put a disposable coffee cup on our cover,” says BeanScene Editor Sarah Baker. “No matter which side of the fence you sit on – recyclable or not – this image is a reminder to think about the materials we consume on a daily basis, and where they go after end-use.” Leading packaging producer The O’Kelly Group…

The countdown to the 40th edition of HostMilano has begun, with the trade show taking place at Fieramilano from 20 to 24 October. HostMilano has established itself as the leader in the Ho.Re.Ca (Hospitality, Restaurant and catering), food service, retail, mass distribution channel, and hotel industries. It is recognised as a must-attend event for all professionals in the hospitality industry. This year’s exhibition is already boasting large exhibitor numbers, promising to further build on the success of the last edition. There are currently 1824 companies that have confirmed their attendance, including 1092 Italian and 732 international firms, representing an increase of 11.4 per cent compared to this time in 2015. The international event will see 55 countries represented, including eight new entries taking part for the first time. Excluding Italy, Europe…

GRINDERS COFFEE X-TRACT Grinders Coffee X-Tract is the perfect mixer for making Espresso Martinis quickly and consistently every time. The X-Tract is 100 per cent pure extract of whole coffee beans, using filtered water for up to eight hours – the perfect amount of time to extract the full, pure coffee bean flavour without unpleasant bitterness or acidity. Grinders Coffee X-Tract is 100 per cent Single Origin Colombian coffee with smooth, rich chocolate and hazelnut notes. There are no additives, no alcohol, no sugar – just pure coffee extract to flavour your cocktail, mocktail or favourite recipes. For more information, visit www.grinderscoffee.com.au NOWPRESSO Introducing NowPresso, created in Melbourne, Australia. The endless search for the perfect cup of coffee on the go is over – without compromising on quality. NowPresso is…

It’s been a busy few months: hours of training, practising, and pouring in preparation for the World Latte Art Championship (WLAC) in Budapest, and just 10 minutes on the world stage to show the judges what I could do. It was incredible to represent Australia, and achieve a result I’m proud of – 20th in the world, not too bad. It’s amazing to think that just a few years ago I knew nothing about making coffee or latte art, and now I’m an Australian latte art champion and world finalist. I have so many people to thank, including my boss at Short Black Café and the team at Veneziano Coffee Roasters for allowing me to utilise its world-standard training facilities twice a week for seven weeks leading up to the…

Just as a barista balances pressure with speed and heat to pull a great espresso, an expert teamaker uses brewing technique to draw aroma, flavour, length and texture from tea. It’s an area that keeps evolving, and the proliferation of tea making contests has sped up innovation in this field. Competitive tea making has only been on the world radar for a few years. The two main global championships, the Tea Masters Cup International and the World Tea Brewers Championship (WTBC), began in 2014 and 2015 respectively. However, tea contests have been a mainstay of Chinese culture since the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279). Called tea fighting, the practice developed — ironically, perhaps — during one of China’s most peaceful periods. MAKE TEA NOT WAR Tea fighting began as a…

Since Abigail Forsyth established KeepCup in 2008, the product has become Australia’s leading reusable coffee cup. KeepCup users help divert more than 1 billion disposable cups from landfill each year. After the ABC program War on Waste went to air in June, KeepCup Managing Director Abigail says the company has seen a phenomenal response, with a 400 per cent increase in online sales. “It seems the show has become a tipping point for the reuse movement, and really had Australians pause to consider the impact of their actions. It’s something we’ve been advocating for so many years, so it’s wonderful to see the issue top of mind,” Abigail says. “For Australian consumers who saw that program, and even those who didn’t, it started public conversations about how we can reduce…

Jared Chapman is the National Team Leader for Mocopan Coffee. He has an extensive background in coffee, training and consulting, working with cafés of all shapes and sizes from independent cafés to corporate coffee chains. Jared’s passion is sharing this experience to help others in the industry run their businesses successfully. Adeline Teoh is a writer and content developer specialising in tea and tea culture. She has a background in small and international business, and organises events for The Sydney Tea Meetup. She loves high mountain oolongs and wild ancient Yunnan teas. Finding many tea resources too serious, she started www.teashirts.com.au, which focuses on the irreverent side of tea drinking. Aaron Dongsu Shin is the 2017 ASCA Australian Pura Latte Art Champion. Originally from Korea, Aaron studied architecture and joined the…

El Jo, Head Barista at Muffin Break Burwood Plaza in New South Wales, has won the Monin Coffee Creativity Cup Australia. El beat 15 other baristas from Foodco Group’s Jamaica Blue and Muffin Break chains to win the title with a Monin Popcorn-inspired drink. She will now represent Australia at the Asia Pacific Finals, taking place on 8 November in Seoul, Korea. El will also attend the World Barista Championship as a guest from 9 to 12 November. The Monin Coffee Creativity Cup is an international signature barista competition that invites competitors to create their most creative coffee beverage using Monin products. The competition has chapters in more than 15 countries across the Asia Pacific and Middle East. “The quality of the baristas who have been entered is top-notch. It…

Applications are now open for the 2017 New York City Coffee Masters competition. If you think you have what it takes to become a Coffee Master, and keen on winning a $5000 cheque, then apply before 20 August. The competition will return to The New York Coffee Festival from 13 – 15 October at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York, United States. For the chance to compete and represent your country on the world stage, complete a registration form and submit a one to two-minute video presenting a signature drink via WeTransfer, Dropbox or via email to info@coffeemasters.org. Event organisers Allegra Events will judge the best videos and applicants from around the world, and select representatives to compete in the NY event. Coffee Masters is a fast-paced, multi-disciplinary global barista tournament…

As a kid, Colin Harmon wanted to be a star football player, a chef, and a journalist. Colin is none of those things, but oddly enough through his 10-year coffee career, he’s managed to achieve those ambitions in a coincidental way. “I got to represent my country in front of hundreds of spectators in the World Barista Championship (WBC), I’ve just put two commercial kitchens into my cafés, and I’ve written my first book. So, in many ways coffee has given me the avenue to achieve all of my early ambitions,” Colin says. Colin’s first taste of hospitality was flipping burgers at Dublin’s Grafton Street McDonald’s at age 15, followed by cafés and bar work during his university days, studying business and law. When he finished his undergraduate study, Colin…

Chad Wang of Jascaffe China in Taiwan, but there could only be one winner. “[It was a feeling of] blankness. When I’m put in a situation where there is very high tension (good or bad) I go numb and just act on instinct. I felt this way through my routine, and when the winner was announced, I was so high my brain just went into autopilot. I didn’t [come back to down to reality] until three days later,” says Chad, a QC cupper and Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) instructor at Jas Coffee Academy in China. Chad stopped working for three months to train, clocking up eight hours a day, five days a week. Chad chose Brewers Cup as his preferred competition not only because he loves brewed coffee, but because…

THE YOUNGER GENERATION OF CAPPUCCINO DRINKERS HAS SLIPPED UNDER THE RADAR FOR SOME TIME, BUT THEY ARE THE “SPECIALTY GENERATION”. Author Sir Francis Bacon once said that knowledge is power, and within Australia’s coffee market, that sentiment rings true. Information is crucial to understanding the wider market, industry trends, movements, growths and challenges. To stay ahead in this competitive field, we rely on data to better position our businesses for success, and how to please our consumers. After all, they’re the ones who keep cafés in business. The tricky part is getting your hands on such information. Market research data for the  foodservice or away-from-home coffee industry is limited. Data gathering is expensive and time consuming in a market that is fragmented with so many different layers. Demographics, regional breakdowns of incomes, brand…

“DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPORTANCE OF SELECTING THE RIGHT GRINDER AND MAINTAINING ITS CARE FOR OPTIMUM EXTRACTIONS AND FLAVOUR IN THE CUP.” When it comes time to setting up the right coffee equipment, the varied selection of shiny toys to consider can be quite overwhelming. While so many people consider the espresso machine to be one of the most important pieces of café equipment, don’t underestimate the importance of selecting the right grinder and maintaining its care for optimum extractions and flavour in the cup. The determining factor when it comes to in-cup quality is your coffee grinder. So arguably, your grinder selection takes precedence over your coffee machine selection. When making a purchase, there are three main things to consider when deciding which grinder will best slice and dice your beans…

 BioPak Managing Director Gary Smith is passionate about getting the right message across to the industry: that BioPak’s cups are both compostable and recycled through many council paper waste collections. “COMPOSTABLE PACKAGING IS THE SOLUTION. IT SIMPLIFIES AND IMPROVES WASTE MANAGEMENT, PROTECTS RESOURCES, AND REDUCES GREENHOUSES GASES. AT BIOPAK, THAT’S OUR GOAL.” “We have to set the record straight. The myth that councils are not recycling paper cups needs to be dispelled – because they are,” Gary says. BioPak confirms 43 councils do recycle bioplastic lined and regular plastic lined paper cups, including all Australian Capital Territory councils, Byron Shire Council, Shellharbour, City of Busselton, City of Adelaide and Brisbane City Council. “The waste solution is not a complex one. It’s actually very easy,” Gary says. “Australia has the necessary facilities…

The O’Kelly Group, a leading family-owned packaging producer, is passionate about working with café customers to deliver products that cater to its practical needs. But more than ever, The O’Kelly Group Director of Sales Nathan O’Kelly says those needs come with a sustainable ethos. “On the back of the War on Waste documentary, we’ve started doing our own investigations and spoken with recycling companies and local council to see how they’re managing coffee cup waste. We had company members visit a council, and they came away feeling they didn’t know as much about it as us,” Nathan says. “There’s a bit of confusion as to what exactly it means to be environmentally friendly.” Nathan says it’s important to recognise that not all councils are large enough to recycle themselves, and will…

Coffee transcends our differences and connects as human beings, and this was never more apparent than when I attended the World Latte Art Championship (WLAC) in Budapest, Hungary. The June event was chock-full with people from every corner of the globe. The competitors were excited to ply their artistry and show their creative flair with others who love and appreciate coffee and latte art. The atmosphere was electric. I could sense the patriotic fervor from the moment I arrived. I was accompanying New Zealand Latte Art Champion Leo Li from Atomic Coffee Roasters as a coach and mentor. This role allowed me a unique and valuable insight into the competition, and a deeper understanding as to why some baristas succeed more than others. First and foremost, experience is invaluable. Most…

Matthew Evans blames Melbourne for his coffee habits. For three years he worked as a café reviewer for The Age, critiquing, drinking and writing about the city’s must-visit and must-avoid coffee haunts. At each venue he went through the same routine: look at the empty cups of other customers to see how much milk foam was left on the insides of the cup, observe the brand of coffee and the interaction of staff with customers. “If I was reviewing a café, I ordered two cups of coffee to make sure they were consistent. People were relying on me to disclose the ‘10 best cafés in Melbourne’, or where to find ‘the best coffee in the suburbs’, so high consumption was just part of the job,” Matthew says. “I went from…

The screeching sound of a barista incorrectly texturing milk is enough to send any die-heart coffee consumer out the door they entered, and it’s the same with a blender. “Traditional blenders ignite a high volume, intense and almost alarming tone when blitzing vegetables or fruit for a morning smoothie – not the greatest way to start the day – but we’re excited to say it’s a thing of the past,” says Kuvings’ Andrew Kelly. Leading healthy kitchen appliance company Kuvings Australia has released its quiet Vacuum Blender that’s soft enough to not even notice. The dimmed volume is thanks to a pump that’s integrated into the lid of the blender and connected to the lid cover, which Andrew calls the “cone of silence”. Using the removable noise-reduction shield eliminates noise…

It’s around a one-hour drive from Mount Hagen airport to the Sigri Coffee Estate, located in the Wahgi Valley of the Western Highlands in Papua New Guinea. For the most part, the road is newly laid or well maintained, however, there is a section of road that passes by a pineapple market that slows the traffic to all but a crawl. Our Land Rover Defender navigates a path between the crater-like potholes and cut-out ruts, past the line of pineapple vendors. Their faces filled with eager expressions. “You can’t be serious,” I say. “There is no way a group of pineapple vendors could band together, hire earthmoving equipment and get away with destroying a 150-metre stretch of newly-laid road for the sole purpose of increasing pineapple viewing time and upping…

A few months ago, my boss asked me if I would like to take part in a Q Grading course. The first thing that crossed my mind was: “There is no way I have the time or the skills for that right now.” But instead of telling him that, I just said I’d think about it and let him know my decision within the week. Q Grading is essentially a system by which coffee professionals can objectively assess the quality of a coffee. The course itself runs over six intense days and the end result is a close alignment among those that pass on using the objective scale to grade coffee quality. If you’d like to learn more, I recommend checking out the Coffee Quality Institute’s website. Before I got…

Detpak has partnered with Smart Planet Technologies, a materials engineering company in the United States, to develop a new cup lining that has potential to be easily recycled through existing cardboard and paper recycling channels. The new cup, called RecycleMe, features a lining called EarthCoating, a highly mineralised coating that consists of approximately 50 per cent calcium carbonate and 50 per cent mix of low and high-density polyethylene (PE). Tom Lunn, Detmold Group General Manager for Marketing and Innovation, says traditional paper cups use an interior PE lining, which proves “expensive and difficult” for recyclers to separate from paperboard. Detpak’s new RecycleMe cups however, use up to 60 per cent less plastic than traditional coffee cups thanks to its coating formulation, and has been engineered to repulp then recycle with existing…

One of Europe’s leading coffee events, World of Coffee, has come to an end with the crowning of four champions in Budapest, Hungary. Chad Wang of Jascaffe China in Taiwan won the 2017 World Brewers Cup (WBrC) on 15 June. Arnon Thitiprasert of Rostr8to in Thailand won the World Latte Art Championship (WLAC). Martin Hudak of Slovakia won the World Coffee in Good Spirits (CIGS), and Lok Chan of Hong Kong won the 2017 World Cup Tasters Championship (CTC). See full winner bios on page 50. The Australian Specialty Coffee Association (ASCA) was proud to have three of its National Champions compete on the world stage. Australia’s Sam Corra of Ona Coffee finished runner up in his first WBrC. For his routine, the Ona Coffee Head Roaster used a coffee…