IT’S JUST COFFEE!

You deserve a Coffee Break! Join Kirk and Rohan as they chat about all things coffee. In this episode, we dive into Jade's experience competing in some of the toughest years of the Australian Barista Championships. Plus, we’re exploring what happens when coffee becomes an essential, not a luxury. We talk about integrity in the industry, and Kirk has some big news... he's opening a new café! Coffee...

Hey! Today we’re talking to the wonderful Jade Jennings.  Jade is a championship barista, coffee trainer, and all-round legend. Her journey began in 2005 when she transitioned from disability care to part-time work at Hudsons Coffee. Since then, she’s earned the titles of 2016/2017 Southern Barista Champion and runner-up in the 2016 Australian Barista Championships—all while raising a young family...

Take a Coffee Break with us! Kirk is joined by Sonam Sherpa, co-founder of Golden Brown Coffee. The boys unpack this week’s episode with Anthony Douglas - praising his calm, humble and kind approach to life.  Plus we’re asking the big questions… is Italian food overrated? We’re talking ravioli vs xiaolongbao, curry vs pizza, lanzhou beef noodle soup and halal snack packs - hope you’re not hungry!...

Hey! Joining us today, World Barista Champion Anthony Douglas! Anthony - who originally trained as a baker - became interested in coffee while making the odd brew at his restaurant job. He fell in love with the process, completely altering his path to become a barista. Fast forward to 2022 and he’s winning the World Barista Championship...  Not bad! We’re chatting about his incredible journey to t...

Grab your brew, we’re going on a Coffee Break. Rohan and Kirk are back to spill the beans on their blind espresso machine tasting with none other than the queen of food critique, Dani Valent.  They dive into the surprising results (trust us, you won’t believe it!), share the watery details of the setup, and chat about why they’re fired up to bring more exciting content like this to the show. With...

Tools down, we’re having a Coffee Break.  Ever sipped a coffee and wondered, "What are these flavours supposed to be?". Tasting notes can be elusive for many reasons, let’s discuss why! Plus, Kirk and Liam take a closer look at co-fermentation—how it enhances flavour, its impact on coffee competitions, and whether we're moving towards artificially flavoured beans.  Kirk also updates us on ‘Project...

Few people understand coffee like Mark. Today, we're joined by the iconic Mark Dundon, founder and co-owner of Seven Seeds Coffee Roasters. Since the early 2000s, Mark has been pushing the boundaries of specialty coffee. His ventures - including the legendary ST. ALi and Brother Baba Budan - have set the pace for cafes in Melbourne, establishing Mark as patriarch of the caffeine scene. In this epi...

Grab your brew, we’re going on a Coffee Break.  So, seasoning water with minerals… gamechanger or gimmick? Kirk and Liam are behind the mics today for an honest review of APAX LAB’s mineral concentrates.  We also explore the dominance of espresso culture in Australia, and discuss how a shift to filter coffee could save time and money. Plus, Kirk has a surprising beef with a coffee meme page? Coffe...

Hello! This morning we are joined by the Water Wizard, Simon Gautherin.  Did you know that water minerals can drastically change the flavour of coffee? Well Simon does. Simon is the mastermind behind APAX LAB’s water mineral concentrates. After 6 years of research, he describes water minerals as the ‘seasoning’ of coffee; just a few drops adds depth and flavour to any brew.  On today’s show we dis...

You deserve a Coffee Break! (not much a fika can’t fix). Join us behind the scenes of It’s Just Coffee! for a casual conversation with Rohan, Kirk and Liam.   We have a lot of thoughts following Tuesday’s conversation with Sam Keck. His unique business model and holistic approach has Rohan and Kirk considering their ‘why’ when it comes to the coffee industry. Plus, we get into the nitty gritty wit...

Hiya! Join us this morning as we chat with legendary Commonfolk Co-founder, Sam Keck. Commonfolk Coffee is a roasting and brewing company with locations in Frankston, Mornington and South Yarra. More than just a cafe, Commonfolk have created ‘The Cup That Counts’ initiative, purchasing a coffee farm in the Ugandan highlands to ensure all their coffee is ethically sourced. Sam discusses the importa...

Hey, it’s time for a Coffee Break! Join Kirk and Liam for an insightful conversation about their unique position in the coffee industry.  As we experience a cost of living crisis, food and beverages have become the new luxury. Consumer spending has fallen, but many people still seem to find a little leftover for cash for their daily coffee - why? Community, connection, rituals.  Kirk and Liam disc...

Yello, Dan Dick is back! Dan has a finger in every coffee flavoured pie, with his own roastery as well as 5 locations of cafe ‘Nigel.’ So how does Dan juggle being both retailer and supplier - well quite seamlessly actually! And he’s got some golden advice for cafe owners.  In today’s show, we touch on everything from hospitality during the recession to the joys of working behind a coffee machine....

Brotha ehhh. Take a coffee break with us! A very unscripted conversation with Rohan, Kirk and Liam.  This week: Independent coffee shops are facing an uncertain future. Kirk - with his economics degree in hand (brag) - discusses the risk of coffee chains monopolising the industry. .  But first, Rohan dunks on fantasy trilogies, explains why he wants to drink straight from the Yarra River, and deba...

Good morning! Today we are cracking into coffee… made by celebrities.  From Patrick Mahomes to Emma Chamberlain, it seems many A-listers are peddling specialty beans and canned concoctions. Rohan and Kirk (yes Kirk is back!) dive into what it means for the future of coffee - plus, the most important question - does it taste any good? Also, Rohan hits Kirk with some revealing rapid fire questions…...

It’s Coffee Break time! Join us for an ‘off’ mic conversation with Rohan, Katie and Liam. No guests, no scripts, just vibes.  This week: We’re talking everything from Victor Vu’s latte art to BBQ shapes and avo. Plus Rohan was roasted at MICE, and we have some thoughts following our main show.  And a callout to the latte artists - if you can free pour the Golden Brown logo, give us a shout!  Coffe...

Hello hello! Joining us this morning - latte art genius Georgia Ellis and social media magnate Katie Payne.  Georgia stunned the coffee world with her epic free pours of bears, roosters and eagles; ranking 3rd in the Australian Latte Art Championship and 1st in the MILKLAB barista battle. Now she graces our studio all the way from Perth, sharing cafe tales and tips for aspiring artists.  Plus, Kat...

Hey you, it’s time for a Coffee Break… Grab your favourite brew and join Rohan, Kirk, and Liam for the show after the show! This Week: What are the perks of working in coffee? Kirk has travelled the world doing cafe popups, Rohan is going to Italy with La Marzocco, and Liam, well, he’s making some great soundbites (yeh boy).  Plus, Rohan recounts how a work trip somehow turned into a $1000 meal at...

Hey bean lovers! On today’s show: Rohan and Kirk are joined by ST. ALi CEO, Lachlan Ward.  Lachlan, originally from Byron Bay, moved to Melbourne in his early twenties and fell in love with its cafe scene. Working his way up in hospitality, Lachlan now heads one of Australia’s biggest coffee groups, ST. ALi, with the brand recently opening its first overseas venue in Pererenan, Bali.  But he hasn’...

Oh hi, come join us on our Coffee Break! Ever wondered what we talk about when the mics are off? Coffee Break invites you behind the scenes of It’s Just Coffee! for a casual conversation; no guests, no scripts, just vibes. This week, Liam has some gifts for the listeners, Rohan recounts stories from his barista days, and Kirk is pretty much a coffee scientist (ever heard of a refractometer?). Plus...

Hi there! On today’s show: the legend Jamie Thomson. For our longtime listeners, you may remember Jamie from his appearance on the show’s predecessor podcast, Sub-Zero Coffee. Now Jamie is back, and he continues to shock us with his extensive coffee knowledge.  As an Australian Brewers Cup finalist, barista trainer and Rohan’s (unofficial) mentor, Jamie dives into the niche aspects of coffee - nev...

Heyo, we are back with another Coffee Break - the show after the show! Ever wondered what we talk about when the mics are off? Coffee Break invites you behind the scenes of It’s Just Coffee! for a casual conversation; this week between host Kirk and producer Liam. We have a lot of thoughts following the conversation with Craig Simon on Tuesday.  SCAP scrapped infused coffee, sending shockwaves thr...

Infused coffee should NOT be considered specialty coffee The President of the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama released a very controversial statement earlier this week stating its rejection of infused coffee at the Best of Panama Competition.  It goes on to say that altered coffees jeopardise the hard work of Panamanian coffee and “should be categorised separately, clearly distinguishing th...

Hellooo, welcome to our new segment, Coffee Break - the show after the show! Ever wondered what we talk about when the mics are off? Coffee Break invites you behind the scenes of It’s Just Coffee! for a casual conversation between hosts Rohan and Kirk. No guests, no scripts, just vibes. Coffee Break is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything from on the fly barista tips, hon...

Hi coffee people! Today’s episode features Brandon and Mitch, 2 of the 3 owners of Good Measure. Good Measure is a vibey cafe on Lygon Street in Melbourne’s northside. During the day, they serve up delicious sandwiches and the very famous ‘Mont Blanc’, a lightly sweetened filter coffee topped with whipped cream and an orange nutmeg spice. At night, this space transforms into a cosy, Japanese-inspi...