On today’s show: A Geisha coffee smashes records, we explore why freezing your beans might be worth it, and debate workflow innovations like the EK grinder and WDT. Plus, we discuss the surprising impact of La Cimbali and Eversys on DeLonghi’s profits. Coffee Break is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything from on the fly barista tips, honest and unfiltered cafe reviews (eek), hospitality stories and gate kept coffee secrets. Want more coffee content? IT'S JUST COFFEE: ht...
Aug 20, 2025•21 min
Picture this: you’re a café owner, or dreaming of opening one, and it’s time to choose the coffee you’ll serve. But where do you even start? With endless choice, and a fickle market, designing a coffee menu can be daunting. That’s why we’ve got Jack Simpson in the studio! A three-time Australian Barista Champion and sales rep for the renowned Axil Coffee, you could say he knows a thing or two about selecting coffee. Join us as we unpack the process of designing a coffee menu. Learn how to create...
Aug 18, 2025•1 hr 17 min
On today’s show: Philz Coffee has been sold for a record price… will other chains follow suit? Plus! We discuss the coffee raves popping up over the city, and explore coffee sourcing at different scales. Coffee Break is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything from on the fly barista tips, honest and unfiltered cafe reviews (eek), hospitality stories and gate kept coffee secrets. Want more coffee content? IT'S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod?utm_source=linkt...
Aug 13, 2025•24 min
So you’re green coffee sourcing, where do you begin?? Well… start by listening to this episode! Today we’re joined by Katie Cargulio, an expert in green coffee sourcing. She’s a U.S Barista Champion, sensory expert, and leader at one of the most respected roasters in the U.S, Counter Culture Coffee. We’ll explore the myriad of ways one can choose to source coffee, weighing up the choices that can often make coffee sourcing difficult to navigate. So if you’re a green buyer, or simply are curious ...
Aug 12, 2025•1 hr 16 min
Today we break down Tuesday’s episode with Chris Maybury: Should we be jumping on the automation train? And what automated coffee machines are worth your buck? Plus, Street Smart Hospitality is raising funds for homelessness through their annual coffee-led campaign, CafeSmart. More details about the CafeSmart event available soon. In the meantime, check out https://www.instagram.com/streetsmarthospo/ to learn more. Coffee Break is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything fr...
Aug 06, 2025•22 min
We’re joined by Chris Maybury, the mastermind behind the fully automated cafe - Beta Coffee. Chris discusses his vision for his Sydney based cafe, including his groundbreaking pre-batched espresso and automated milk steaming. Despite all this automation, Chris is an advocate for building connections between customer and barista, arguing that automation may just be the key to better hospitality. So, can pre-batched espresso really stand up to fresh espresso - and if it can, what does that mean fo...
Aug 04, 2025•1 hr 1 min
We’re answering your questions! What would we be doing if we weren't working in coffee…are we wasting single origin beans on home machines…and should you get your cafe staff sensory trained?? Plus! We discuss the most overrated trends in coffee right now, and share our thoughts on some of La Marzocco’s luxury brand collaborations. Coffee Break is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything from on the fly barista tips, honest and unfiltered cafe reviews (eek), hospitality stor...
Jul 30, 2025•21 min
Today we are joined by La Marzocco’s Head of Marketing, Anita (Jets) Langlands! With over 20 years experience in the industry, Jets has a unique and in depth understanding of marketing in the coffee world. She’s been tasked with carrying on the legacy of La Marzocco, while also carving out the future of the brand - piece of cake! We discuss everything from luxury brand collaborations to marketing for the next gen. Plus! We break down La Marzocco’s most recent ‘Future of Coffee’ report, tackling ...
Jul 28, 2025•1 hr 10 min
On today’s Coffee Break: a recent study has found that dairy milk pairs best with coffee, so what does this mean for alt milks? And Trump's new tariffs on Brazilian goods are set to alter the US coffee market dynamics, how will this impact the rest of the world? Plus! We digest Tuesday’s heavy chat about Q grading, summing up all you need to know. Coffee Break is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything from on the fly barista tips, honest and unfiltered cafe reviews (eek),...
Jul 23, 2025•30 min
Let’s dive into the coffee Q grading system! Ben Bicknell, our chief coffee grader, breaks down the complicated guidelines - allowing everyone (yes even those coffee novices) to get a better understanding of how Q grading actually works. Join us for an informative episode and come away with some killer knowledge that will blow your coffee friends out of the water! If you're new here (welcome), our show dives into some of the best coffee conversations on the internet, but we will always remind ou...
Jul 21, 2025•1 hr 13 min
We’re discussing home-brewed coffee vs cafe coffee; What do hospo venues have to do in order to compete with the rising army of home baristas? Plus, we talk coffee freshness, Japanese coffee culture, and supermarket beans. Also, what should you look for when hiring cafe staff in this ever-changing coffee landscape? And finally, is the debate over whether Australia or New Zealand invented the Flat White over? Coffee Break is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything from on t...
Jul 16, 2025•28 min
Today we’re joined by none other than Coffee Supreme CEO, Andrew Low! We’re asking the big questions… Like how did Coffee Supreme grow from a small New Zealand coffee brand to a multinational company with locations across NZ, Australia, and Japan? We discuss Andew’s ‘people-first’ approach, how to lead like a CEO, and what his experience has taught him about expanding a business overseas. This is one of our best conversations yet, you don’t want to miss it! Massive thank you to Andrew for joinin...
Jul 14, 2025•1 hr 16 min
Time for a Coffee Break! We reflect on our chat with Samurai Shin and his unique journey from snowboarder to latte artist. Plus, it’s time to unpack the results from the 2025 World Coffee Championships in Geneva… this year was one for the books. And finally: What coffee tool won the People’s Choice award for its ability to steam multiple milks? Tune in to find out! Coffee Break is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything from on the fly barista tips, honest and unfiltered c...
Jul 09, 2025•20 min
Today we’re joined by latte art champion Shinsaku Fukayama, also known as Samurai Shin! We discuss his journey from Japan to Melbourne, moving to Australia with limited English and even more limited coffee knowledge. Shin tells his story, working his way up in the Melbournian ranks, only to return to Japan nearly a decade later to begin his very own coffee business. So what does it take to build a career in coffee… and where is the coffee better: Tokyo or Fitzroy!? Tune in for all this and more!...
Jul 07, 2025•51 min
How much did David Lynch’s coffee machine sell for?! We discuss the record-breaking auction, explore an exclusive cacao tea ceremony, and reflect on our chat with Nick Terzulli about the Espresso Series 1 — what could Fellow be up to next? All that and more in this week’s Coffee Break! Coffee Break is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything from on the fly barista tips, honest and unfiltered cafe reviews (eek), hospitality stories and gate kept coffee secrets. Cacao Meets ...
Jul 02, 2025•22 min
Fellow have just dropped their first ever espresso machine and we need to talk about it! We’re joined by Nick Terzulli, the VP of Research and Development at Fellow, who shares the creation journey of the Espresso Series 1. We dive into specialty coffee at home, the evolution of coffee accessories, and the importance of challenging industry norms in order to innovate. Massive thank you to Nick for a fantastic conversation! If you're new here (welcome), our show dives into some of the best coffee...
Jun 30, 2025•1 hr 9 min
What’s happening in the coffee industry at the moment? Well it turns out, a lot. We discuss the Australian Barista Championship, with Jack Simpson taking home the title for the third year in a row. Nestle Gold has also experienced a 10% market growth, so what does that say about the mood of the industry right now? And Melbourne is gearing up for The Coffee Weekend Festival. We’ll be joined by Kantaro Okada to tell us all about this incredible event. Coffee Break is your weekly inside scoop into ...
Jun 25, 2025•26 min
Southeast Asia has long been overlooked in the specialty coffee world — but that’s changing fast. In this episode, we sit down with Amelia Hicks and Yosir Le Cerf , co-founders of Old Quarter Coffee, to unpack how a trip to Hanoi led to a radically transparent, values-first approach to sourcing coffee directly from Southeast Asia. From challenging stereotypes about Vietnamese robusta to building an in-house importing, roasting, and café model — this conversation dives deep into what it takes to ...
Jun 23, 2025•1 hr 18 min
In today’s Coffee Break: We share our takeaways from Tuesday’s conversation with Dan Dick and explore his shift from a high traffic cafe to a local suburban spot. Plus… we discuss liquid decaf coffee concentrate, and debate the pricing of alternative milks. Coffee Break is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything from on the fly barista tips, honest and unfiltered cafe reviews (eek), hospitality stories and gate kept coffee secrets. Want more coffee content? IT'S JUST COFFE...
Jun 18, 2025•39 min
In this episode, Dan Dick joins us to talk about his latest hospitality venture, Paperboy . We dive into the challenges of opening and running a café, and what it takes to create a venue that genuinely responds to the needs of its local community. Dan shares how Paperboy differs from his other café, Nigel , and breaks down his evolving approach to hospitality. We also discuss how using social media to share the behind-the-scenes has shaped both the brand and the business. If you're new here (wel...
Jun 16, 2025•1 hr 4 min
Ben Bicknell joins his first Coffee Break and things heat up fast! He drops a hot take that makes us reconsider how we talk about coffee, Liam shares hospo stories, and we let you in on the future of the podcast (lots of exciting stuff to come!). Coffee Break is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything from on the fly barista tips, honest and unfiltered cafe reviews (eek), hospitality stories and gate kept coffee secrets. Want more coffee content? IT'S JUST COFFEE: https://...
Jun 11, 2025•25 min
The moment is finally here - *que drum roll* - we’re so excited to welcome our new co-host, Ben Bicknell, to the IT'S JUST COFFEE FAMILY! This episode is all about Ben: who he is, where he’s been, and how he ended up joining us behind the mic. With over 20 years in the coffee world, he’s got a ton of stories, insight, and passion to share. Tune in to hear about his journey through the industry and what’s next for the podcast now that Ben’s on board. We’re stoked - and we think you will be too. I...
Jun 09, 2025•1 hr 3 min
Coffee Break Description In today’s Coffee Break: Liam is on a journey to become a World AeroPress champion, we share some tips on blooming espresso, and why is it important to pre-batch coffee for events? Plus, Katie got an iced-coffee at a morning rave at Melbourne’s club revs… and it went viral?! Coffee Break is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything from on the fly barista tips, honest and unfiltered cafe reviews (eek), hospitality stories and gate kept coffee secrets...
Jun 04, 2025•34 min
From vibrating tampers to fashion-collab espresso machines, we’re diving into the most exciting (and bizarre) coffee gadgets of 2025. This week, Rohan, Liam, and KP break down 25 tools, toys, and machines that are either changing the game or wasting your bench space. We get hands-on with gear from Breville, La Marzocco, Fellow, Mahlkönig, Subminimal, and more - exploring how these devices stack up for home users, café pros, and competition baristas alike. We’ll also unpack trend forecasts, upcom...
Jun 02, 2025•1 hr 1 min
On today’s Coffee Break: We’re exploring innovative coffee trends found in Asia, detailing a five-star experience at KFC, and diving into the diverse coffee culture of Bangkok. Plus, you best believe we have some thoughts on RTD after our conversation with Connor Nestor. Tune in to find out! Coffee Break is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything from on the fly barista tips, honest and unfiltered cafe reviews (eek), hospitality stories and gate kept coffee secrets. Want m...
May 28, 2025•34 min
New Ground is bringing specialty to convenience coffee. We’re joined by Connor Nestor, founder of New Ground, to discuss fifth wave coffee, and how New Ground isn’t just riding the wave, they’re absolutely ripping it. From unique brewing systems to supplement infused brews, they’re changing things up from your classic canned servo coffee. We’ll get to the core of New Ground, including their greatest challenges, best collaborations, and vision for the future of specialty convenience coffee. If yo...
May 26, 2025•59 min
In today’s Coffee Break: we discuss Starbucks’ perception in Australia, particularly amongst coffee enthusiasts. Plus, we’re breaking down the cultural differences between Australian and American coffee preferences, and revealing the fascinating story behind the Starbucks name and logo. Coffee Break is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything from on the fly barista tips, honest and unfiltered cafe reviews (eek), hospitality stories and gate kept coffee secrets. Want more c...
May 21, 2025•32 min
Today we’re diving into Starbucks’ resurgence in Australia! Arriving on Australian shores at the turn of the millennium, Starbucks rolled out fast across the continent, but by 2008 was forced to close two-thirds of its stores. Fast forward to 2025, and Starbucks is back with a bang. To help us understand the comeback is Starbucks’ marketing and communications manager, Nick Casey! Join us as we discuss the Starbucks growth strategy: including menu development, the importance of consistency, the i...
May 19, 2025•1 hr 44 min
On today’s Coffee Break: We brew up Kiril's secret AeroPress technique, draw parallels between artisan chocolate and specialty coffee, and discover how sustainable pioneers are transforming cacao byproducts into tea and cola. Plus stick around for some exciting personal updates! Explore Mörk here: https://www.morkchocolate.com.au/ Coffee Break is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything from on the fly barista tips, honest and unfiltered cafe reviews (eek), hospitality stor...
May 14, 2025•27 min
If you’ve had a delicious hot chocolate in Melbourne, chances are it was made with Mörk. Today we’re joined by the husband-and-wife team behind the specialty chocolate business; uncovering the secrets behind their sweet success. Kiril and Josefin share the origins of Mörk, the importance of cacao traceability, and the very real cacao crisis unfolding right now (with cacao 4x the price of coffee!). Plus we explore the wilder side of the chocolate industry—from viral Dubai chocolate to the rise of...
May 12, 2025•1 hr 16 min
