IT’S JUST COFFEE!

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!)...

We have some thoughts following Tuesday’s episode with Nathan Toleman, including the disputed origins of the smashed avo…and how he managed 24 individual venues without franchising! Plus, get all your coffee market updates including recent price increases and Fellow’s espresso machine debut.  Coffee Break is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything from on the fly barista tip...

Opening 24 venues over the past 20 years, Nathan Toleman is a true legend of the hospitality world. He’s the founder and Creative Director of The Mulberry Group, opening iconic venues such as Top Paddock, Kettle Black, Higher Ground, Liminal and Heide Kitchen.  Nathan joins us in the studio to share how he became one of Melbourne’s most innovative hospitality entrepreneurs. If you're a cafe/restau...

We recap our key takeaways from Ollie Brown and Tuesday’s deep dive into the coffee market (tune in if you missed the full episode!). Then, it’s AeroPress training time -Sonam and Liam break down a precise, competition-style recipe using Condesa’s Peru single origin, and things turn out DELICIOUS! We also chat about the future of the coffee industry, including the rise of automation, the environme...

Why is the cost of coffee rising so quickly? Today we’re joined by Oliver Brown, Sales and Relations Manager at Condesa Co. Lab, to unpack the complexities and volatility of coffee pricing. We’ll break down the C-price, dive into the dynamics of supply and demand, and explore the environmental challenges impacting coffee production. Plus we’re asking the big question: what does the future of the c...

Let’s Coffee Break! On today’s show: We brew up a Danish championship recipe using a filter roast Ethiopian heirloom with notes of blueberry, mandarin, and jasmine. Plus, we discuss the simplicity of AeroPress brewing, share our current home barista setups, and explore the buzz from a Japanese coffee festival. Also…we’re on the quest to find Australia’s busiest cafe!?  Coffee Break is your weekly...

Today we’re joined by one of Melbourne’s most influential hospitality entrepreneurs, Kantaro Okada! He’s the man behind cult favorites like 279, Chiaki, Sebastian Kakigori, Le Bajo Milk Bar and Leonie Upstairs. His latest project, the 2025 Coffee Weekend in Melbourne, is set to be a groundbreaking event, featuring 27 of Japan's top coffee roasters. In this episode we attempt to uncover his creativ...

In today’s Coffee Break: We reflect on the humility and patience necessary to Ziv’s product design journey, and discuss the future of milk solutions. Plus, we brainstorm our own inventions to improve the coffee industry and continue our search for a new host! Coffee Break is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything from on the fly barista tips, honest and unfiltered cafe revi...

Ziv Shalev is the man who’s made waves in the coffee industry time and time again. He’s pushed the boundaries of both hardware and software in the coffee space - from designing his groundbreaking automatic milk steamer in his garage, to facilitating one of the biggest coffee subscription services in Beanz.com.  Ziv joins us to discuss his commitment to innovation in the industry. For those interes...

This week’s Coffee Break we are reflecting on our chat with Andy Cooks and pointing out our most valuable takeaways. Plus, new coffee tools have hit the market: How will Flair’s stovetop milk steaming device and the NCD Pulse for coffee distribution change the way you brew? Coffee Break is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything from on the fly barista tips, honest and unfil...

Welcome to It’s Just Coffee - the podcast that brews up everything from industry gossip to world-class gear tips. Hosted by Rohan Cooke, each episode dives deep into the culture, craft, and chaos of the coffee world. From chats with World Barista Champions and café owners killing it, to viral chefs and comedy legends, we cover it all. Hear from the biggest names like Scott Rao, Anthony Douglas, Sa...

On today’s show: Andy Hearnden, also known as Andy Cooks, joins us in the studio to discuss his remarkable journey to becoming a leading culinary influencer. Since working at Melbourne's iconic ST. ALi, he’s amassed millions of followers, partnered with BOSS Coffee, released a smash-hit cookbook, and collaborated with personalities like Rita Ora and Taika Waititi— and he’s only just getting starte...

Let’s take a Coffee Break! On today’s show: How did Tim Williams transform Climpson and Sons into a destination café and popular London roaster?…Liam is entering the next World AeroPress Championship… Plus! We compare espresso vs. drip coffee, and explore the subjective nature and historical context of natural coffees.  Coffee Break is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything...

Tim Williams is the founder of Fieldwork Coffee in Melbourne and the director of the World AeroPress Championship (WAC). In today’s episode, we deep-dive the origins of the WAC and explore what makes the competition unique. Tim also shares his entrepreneurial journey, the impact of COVID-19, and his experience working alongside the legendary James Hoffmann. And don’t miss out on a heated discussio...

On today’s show: We’re recapping MICE2025! The event saw over 31,000 attendees walk through the doors - so what made this year double its previous attendance record? Joined by MICE Show Director Lauren Chartres, we reflect on the event’s key features, live performances and interactive exhibitions. Plus what’s on the table for 2026...? Coffee Break is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee commun...

We’re joined by Arthur Karuletwa and Ben Liebmann to discuss tackling poverty through coffee live at MICE2025.  Arthur is a social entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience using coffee and agriculture to uplift communities. Ben is the founder of Understory and the Executive Producer of Omnivore - the eight-part culinary docuseries. This was an enlightening discussion surrounding traceability,...

On today’s Coffee Break: we debate buying the entire set of the Lion King musical, share our thoughts on filtered water, and spill the beans on our current favorite coffee shops in Melbourne. Plus, MICE is only a few days away! We’ll be there at the ‘It’s Just Coffee Podcast’ Stall - be sure to come say hello. Get 50% OFF your MICE tickets by using code ITSJUSTCOFFEE at checkout! Details: 20-22 Ma...

Well it’s almost our favourite time of year… Melbourne International Coffee Festival (MICE)! We’re joined by Lauren Chartres, MICE’s Show Director, to discuss everything you need to know about the upcoming expo. 2025 brings exciting new features, in depth masterclasses and of course lots of amazing coffee to try! Plan your day and make sure to visit us at the ‘It’s Just Coffee Podcast’ stall (near...

Why should you care about coffee grounds? In today’s show: We discuss using coffee grounds for eco-bricks, biofuel and mushroom cultivation, the importance of companies like Reground, and the environmental impact of the coffee industry. Plus, what should you be doing as a home brewer to support a sustainable future? Coffee Break is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything fro...

Join us as we do the rounds with Beatrice from Reground! Reground is transforming waste, collecting used coffee grounds and soft plastics from cafes and roasteries, diverting over 2 million kilograms of waste from landfills! In today’s episode, we explore their innovative process: turning coffee grounds into rich compost and fertilizer, while soft plastics are repurposed into oil. Along the way, w...

Grab a COFFEE and take a BREAK. On today’s show: dining in UAE causes a minor lapse in Kirk’s vego diet (blame the wagyu double smash patty), we revel at seeing the Burj Khalifa in real life and reflect on the prevalence of expats and economic transition away from oil in Dubai. Plus, what are our thoughts on Pete Licata's ‘Caffeine Control Coffee’ and are we jumping on his 4-Week Caffeine Reductio...

Pete Licata, former World Barista Champion, joins us to talk about ‘Caffeine Control Coffee,’ an Australian roastery launched by Pete and his wife in 2024. The brand focuses on managing caffeine intake for improved sleep and overall wellbeing (we were served some hard truths!). We discuss various decaffeination methods as well as a greater need for caffeine education. Pete shares his experience in...

It’s the final episode of our Dubai Special! We’re reflecting on the incredible experience that was ‘World of Coffee Dubai’ — the first time we’ve taken the podcast internationally, and what an absolute privilege it’s been. We’re a bit blurry-eyed in the hotel lobby (literally), but feeling full of love and gratitude. World of Coffee Dubai is a world-class event, and we made sure to soak in everyt...

Dave Crosby and Cole Torode are the dynamic duo behind ‘Buy The Drip,’ the podcast exploring the craft and business of coffee. We caught up with them in Dubai to talk about their careers in competition and coaching. Dave and Cole also share the journey behind ‘Forward Coffee’ and ‘Russell Coffee Roasters’, and we dig into a fun question: What do Canadians really think of the Australian coffee scen...

Ben is a renowned Canadian barista, with Six Canadian Barista Championship titles and multiple World Barista Championship finals under his belt. We caught up with Ben at World of Coffee Dubai to discuss his approach to competition - Why is it crucial to have a deep understanding of coffee production? Ben also opens up about the sacrifices required for a career in coffee and the ongoing challenge o...