IT’S JUST COFFEE!

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...

Hi coffee people! Joining us on the show this morning - the wonderful Dan Dick. Dan has an illustrious career in the industry, with five cafes across Melbourne and a budding roastery by the name of 'Born and Raised'. He is also a dedicated father, husband and all round coffee lover. Dan describes coffee as his ‘love language’, and gained publicity during the pandemic by providing free coffee to th...

What’s up! We have a very special guest on the pod today; the wildly hilarious comedian and writer, Gen Fricker. We were lucky enough to steal Gen for a chat while she was in town for the Melbourne Comedy Festival. In this episode, Gen, Kirk and Rohan discuss getting (and giving) bad reviews, Gen shares tales from the comedy scene, as well as hospo horror stories, and introduces the boys to the fa...

Hello lovely people. Today we are joined by the coffee powerhouse, Daniel Seyoum. Daniel’s family have been growing coffee in Ethiopia for over 45 years, with Daniel himself running farms using traditional agricultural practices. He now heads two successful cafes in Melbourne. Both Ageyo and Little Ezida have grown wildly successful, with a focus on ethical and direct trade.  In this conversation,...

Hey everyone! Today we welcome the legendary Ross Quail to the pod. Ross has years of experience working for equipment manufacturers and specialty coffee roasters. You may recognise him from his role as Head Judge at the World Barista Championships (this man knows good coffee). Today, he is Head of Sales at the Hemro Group, constantly travelling across the world in the name of coffee! We were luck...

Hello hello, this one’s a cracker!  On today’s show: Kirk is joined by Golden Brown co-founder Sonam Sherpa. Sonam has had an esteemed career in the coffee industry; from pouring countless lattes to the establishment of two cafes and a coffee brand, this guy’s done it all! Together, they explore the often overlooked business aspects of the coffee industry.  Plus, Sonam flips the script, grilling K...