Sarah Baker

Matthew Lewin of Ona Coffee wins 2019 Vitasoy Australian Barista Championship

It’s taken six years for Ona Coffee’s Matthew Lewin to declare himself the Australian Barista Champion, and now he can. Two-time Australian Barista Champion Hugh Kelly of Ona Coffee placed second, and Anthony Douglas of Axil Coffee Roasters placed third in the prestigious event, which took place in front of a packed crowd at the Melbourne International Coffee Expo from 7 to 9 February. After competing in the Australian Specialty Coffee Association Vitasoy Australian Barista Championship finals for the past six years, the one trophy lacking from the Ona Coffee Barista Trainer’s cabinet was the big one, first place.
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Yanina Ferreyra of Project Origin wins Australian Brewers Cup Championship

Yanina Ferreyra of Project Origin is the 2019 Australian Specialty Coffee Association Australian Brewers Cup Champion. In her first national brewers cup competition, Yanina claimed top honours with two-time Australian Brewers Cup Champion Devin Loong of Ona Coffee placing second, and David Train of Code Black Coffee placing third.
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melbourne world barista championship

Melbourne to host 2020 World Barista Championship 

Melbourne has won the bid to host the 2020 World Barista and Brewers Cup Championships. More than 60 national barista champions from across the globe will descend on Australia’s coffee capital when the prestigious coffee competitions take place at the Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE) in 2020.   “We can’t wait to welcome the global coffee community to Melbourne,” says MICE Show Director Simon Coburn. 
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Sucafina acquires MTC Group

MTC Group will join the Sucafina family in an announcement on 1 February confirming the company’s acquisition by the global trading company green.
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Cirrus FIne Coffee

Cirrus Fine Coffee holds breakfast with sustainable ethos

On 13 December, Cirrus Fine Coffee held a sustainable breakfast at its Port Melbourne roastery. At the breakfast, held with sister companies Australian Ecosystems and Biofilta, William Angliss College graduating student chefs prepared food with sustainable produce from Cirrus Fine Coffee’s on-site pop-up farm. The farm uses nutrients from composted coffee grounds to feed its produce.
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Sisto Malaspina

Melbourne mourns coffee icon Sisto Malaspina

Melbourne's coffee community is mourning the loss of Pellegrini’s Bar Co-owner Sisto Malaspina who was the victim of Bourke Street’s terror attack on 9 November. The popular Melbourne restaurateur was tragically killed just a few hundred metres from his business, which he had run for more than 40 years with business partner Nino Pangrazio, when he was caught up in the horrific attack.
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Shinsaku Fukayama of St Ali ready to compete in World Latte Art Championship

Australian Latte Art Champion Shinsaku Fukayama of St Ali is ready to share his talent with the world. The two-time ASCA Australian latte art will make his way to Brazil on 3 November to participate in the World Latte Art Championship (WLAC), taking place at International Coffee Week in Belo Horizonte from 7 to 9 November. “When I said I wanted to be a champion five years ago I meant it,” Shin says. “I’m ready. I’m so close now and extremely happy with what I’ve achieved to get to this point. I’m so happy. I dreamed big and my dream to compete on the world stage is nearly a reality.”
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devin loong of Ona Coffee

Devin Loong of Ona Coffee wins second ASCA Southern Region Brewers Cup Championship 

Devin Loong of Ona Coffee has won his second Australian Specialty Coffee Association (ASCA) Southern Region Brewers Cup Championship. David Train of Code Black Coffee placed second and Shen Choy of Cote Terra Coffee Roasters placed third in the competition, held at Criteria Coffee in Melbourne. “I’m so happy I got to use the same coffee I used at this year’s National Brewers Cup Championship and do it justice,” Devin says. “I was really sick at nationals. I couldn’t smell the aroma nor taste the coffee, and I had no voice. I had to reply on my team to present the flavour descriptors. Thankfully, I did well and I did it justice today.”
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