Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE) and Sensory Lab are recognising coffee creativity through the launch of the MICE Product Innovation Awards. Read more
Western Regionals registration closing soon
Australian Specialty Coffee Association’s (ASCA) Western Regional Coffee Championships are returning to Unley Town Hall in Adelaide, as part of the Double Shot! Coffee Fiesta on 27 – 28 February. Read more
St Ali opens in Jakarta
St Ali has conquered the next phase of its global expansion mission with the opening of its first Southeast Asian location on 2 February.
Owner Salvatore Malatesta flew the star-studded barista trio Matt Perger, Ben Morrow and Lachlan Ward to Indonesia for the first week of February, to launch St Ali Jakarta.
Located on the ground floor of a shopping centre, the latest international St Ali store is in partnership with Indonesia’s Common Grounds Roastery.
Matt, Ben and Lachlan ran a series of workshops in 2014, which lead to an invite for an Indonesian collaboration.
“It was an easy decision for me to bring the heart of Melbourne to the heart of Jakarta,” says Common Ground Founder Aston Utan. “St Ali will be a game changer here for coffee connoisseurs, especially as we try to transfer that specialty coffee movement to Indonesia.”
St Ali Jakarta is decked out to cater to the specialty coffee crowd, with two 30-metre brew bars, to complement the brand new La Marzocco espresso machine. The bars will offer a variety of the latest Australian coffee trends, including cold drip, siphon, nitro and pour-over.
“What Melbourne has is culture and experience, today it is almost impossible to walk around a corner in Melbourne without the familiar scent of a perfectly brewed coffee wafting down a laneway,” says Salvatore. “This is what we are trying to transport here to the heart of the city.”
The Melbourne roaster is not only replicating its popular coffee styles in the busy city, it is also taking most of its South Melbourne menu, and Australian’s love of all-day breakfast.
St Ali and Deadman Espresso Chef Mark Richardson has also found a new home in Jakarta, with Mark overseeing the serving of Australian café fare in the new store.
This is the second international café for St Ali following the opening of a London store, now Workshop Coffee Co, in 2011. Plans are currently underway for a new café in Bali in 2016.
ASCA to offer World Coffee Event Certification in Melbourne
ASCA and World Coffee Events (WCE) are inviting members of the specialty coffee community to get WCE Judge Certified at Veneziano Coffee Roasters, from 8 – 9 March. Read more
Veneziano to host latte art smackdown in Adelaide
Veneziano Coffee Roasters will host a Latte Art Smackdown at First Pour Adelaide on 17 February.
Thirty-two of Adelaide’s best baristas will go head to head in a fast-paced latte art competition for the chance to win $1000 in prize money, donated by competition sponsor Vitasoy. Read more
Greg Scace to guest speak in Australia
Time is running out to secure tickets to hear Greg Scace present on the current state of coffee practices.
The creator of the Scace Device is appearing in Toby’s Estates Knowledge Talks Series in Sydney on 17 February and Melbourne on 18 February. Read more
Umami Barista Camp to find Barista & Farmer Australian representative
Genovese Coffee will host Australia’s first Umami Barista Camp from 7 – 12 March.
Participants in the camp will also be invited to compete for a chance to visit Brazil as part of a unique coffee experience. Read more
Jade Jennings wins Southern Region Barista competition
Veneziano Coffee Roasters’ Jade Jennings has taken home the gold trophy in the Southern Region Coffee Championship Barista competition, held at Proud Mary Coffee Roasters on 30 – 31 January.
Jade placed ahead of Axil Coffee Roasters’ Anthony Douglas in second place and Matt Lewin, also at Axil, in third. Read more
Merlo Coffee to roast in Melbourne
Queensland’s Merlo Coffee is set to open its flagship roastery and coffee shop in Melbourne. Read more
Barista & Farmer to host third series in Brazil
Ten international baristas will compete in the third edition of reality TV show Barista & Farmer in Brazil. Read more