

IT’S JUST COFFEE!
Ben Bicknell & Rohan Cooke
Whether you’re a world barista champion brewing a $150 rarecoffee from the hills of Panama, or you’re stirring a spoon ofinstant coffee in boiling water, at the end of the day, It’s JustCoffee!It’s Just Coffee! is a podcast for all those coffee lovers out thereand we're endeavouring on a journey to find the perfect cup.Not only will we be talking to the world’s best coffee makersand roasters, we’re going to be talking to athletes, comedians,celebrities and anyone that just loves a great cup of coffee.The coffee community around the world is engaged andpassionate (sometimes to a fault), and we want to exploresome of the biggest debates that happen across the Internet,and in the local cafe around the corner from you.Questions like:• Which country has the best coffee in the world?• Should it be illegal to mix milk in black coffee?• Is Starbucks actually coffee?We’ll dive into some of the best coffee conversations on theinternet, but we will always remind ourselves at the end of theday, that It’s Just Coffee!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 12, 2025 • 31min
Turning Unripe Coffee Into Gold - Coffee Prices, Fermentation & Social Media | COFFEE BREAK!
In today’s Coffee Break We discuss the rising coffee prices in the US, with a particular upswing in the value of cold brew. We also explore the potential of anaerobic fermentation to improve unripe coffee cherries, and mull over the impact of short-form content in the coffee industry; how do we continue to have deep conversations online when content is becoming more and more bit-sized?
Plus, Oli from Condesa CoLab jumps in with a quick coffee market forecast, giving us the inside scoop on what’s happening at origin and beyond.
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=linktree_profile_share<sid=4e8cead0-6644-4c4a-b419-28c825b1b236
Want to get in touch? Hit us up at hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com for any questions or comments.
Proudly sponsored by -
Eco Barista: https://www.ecobarista.com.au/
Apax Lab: https://apaxlab.com/
Riverina Fresh: https://www.riverinafresh.com.au/
Condesa Co.Lab: https://condesacolab.com.au/
Thank you for listening, love ya!
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Nov 10, 2025 • 60min
How to Use Social Media in the Coffee Industry | PIZZASHOP MEDIA × SENSORY AGENDA!
Ever wondered if social media plays a role in the success of a coffee business? Does every cafe need an online presence? How do you connect with audiences as a small business? Rohan Cooke, (host and social media expert) answers all of this and more, diving into the nuances of social media in the coffee industry, and speaking from his personal experience as the face of Golden Brown Coffee.
If you're new here (welcome), our show dives into some of the best coffee conversations on the internet, but we will always remind ourselves at the end of the day - It's Just Coffee!
Explore Pizza Shop Media here: pizzashopmedia.com Contact Sensory Agenda here: ben@sensoryagenda.com
Want more coffee content?
IT'S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=4e8cead0-6644-4c4a-b419-28c825b1b236
Want to get in touch? Hit us up at hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com for any questions or comments.
Proudly sponsored by
Eco Barista: https://www.ecobarista.com.au/
Apax Lab: https://apaxlab.com/ Riverina Fresh: https://www.riverinafresh.com.au/
Thanks for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 5, 2025 • 39min
Scoring the World’s Best Baristas - Inside the Milan Championship | COFFEE BREAK!
The team is back together! Fresh off the plane from Milan adventures, the team reflects on a huge week at the World Barista Championship and what it really takes to keep learning, innovating, and competing at the highest level.
From anaerobic fermentation turning unripe cherries into gold, to Maxwell Colonna-Dashwood’s water filtration system that’s changing how we think about quality at home.
Ben and Rohan unpack the difference between innovation and refinement, the hidden realities of judging and coaching competitors, and the emotional rollercoaster that comes with being the one who gives the scores to competitors.
Plus, a market update from Oli at Condesa Co.Lab, bringing you the latest trends in the Market.
Want more coffee content?
IT'S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=4e8cead0-6644-4c4a-b419-28c825b1b236
Want to get in touch?
Hit us up at hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com for any questions or comments.
Proudly sponsored by -
Eco Barista: https://www.ecobarista.com.au/
Apax Lab: https://apaxlab.com/
Riverina Fresh: https://www.riverinafresh.com.au/
Thank you for listening, love ya! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

16 snips
Nov 3, 2025 • 1h 37min
Learning in Your Coffee Journey | MAXWELL COLONNA-DASHWOOD!
Maxwell Colonna-Dashwood has authored multiple books on coffee, as well as many academic papers. He’s the founder of Colonna Coffee in the UK, and works across a number of coffee development and research projects.
In today’s episode we focus on the evolving landscape of learning and innovation in coffee. We ask the big questions: When should coffee businesses chase new trends, and when is it best to double down on nailing the basics? Maxwell also breaks down the myths (and marketing) around “specialty” coffee versus commercial, greenwashing, and what real sustainability in the industry looks like.
If you're new here (welcome), our show dives into some of the best coffee conversations on the internet, but we will always remind ourselves at the end of the day - It's Just Coffee!
Check out Maxwell here: https://maxwelldashwood.com/
Want more coffee content?
IT'S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=4e8cead0-6644-4c4a-b419-28c825b1b236
Want to get in touch? Hit us up at hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com for any questions or comments.
Proudly sponsored by
Eco Barista: https://www.ecobarista.com.au/
Apax Lab: https://apaxlab.com/
Riverina Fresh: https://www.riverinafresh.com.au/
Thanks for listening!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 29, 2025 • 33min
Can Coffee Ever Be Truly Sustainable? | COFFEE BREAK!
Sustainability Isn’t a Badge ... It’s a Verb!
This week on Coffee Break, Ben and Producer Liam unpack their chat with Ninna from Reground and Dion from Single O, diving deep into what real sustainability looks like in the coffee industry.From composting your grinds to having tougher conversations with suppliers, how do you move beyond certifications and start taking action ? ... being “green” isn’t just a box to tick, it’s a mindset.
Market update from Condesa Co.Lab on Colombia’s bumper harvest, this weeks news has a surprising twist in the Kona coffee fraud case, and why 30% of your roaster’s emissions might be coming from the bin!
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=linktree_profile_share<sid=4e8cead0-6644-4c4a-b419-28c825b1b236
Want to get in touch?
Hit us up at hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com for any questions or comments.
Proudly sponsored by - Apax Lab: https://apaxlab.com/
Thank you for listening, love ya! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 28, 2025 • 1h 19min
Single O × Reground - Give a Puck - Turning Coffee Waste Into Change | DION COHEN & NINNA LARSEN!
What happens when coffee’s biggest waste problem becomes its biggest opportunity?
Across cafés, roasteries, and homes, millions of coffee pucks hit landfill every day - but two Australian pioneers are proving that sustainability doesn’t have to be boring, expensive, or impossible through collaboration.
In this episode, Ben sits down with Dion Cohen (Single O) and Ninna Larsen (Reground) to unpack how their “Give a Puck” campaign is set to divert 85 million coffee pucks from landfill in Sydney alone - and why this could reshape how the entire coffee industry thinks about waste.
They share the wins, challenges, and realities of going green in a global industry that’s still catching up - from rethinking single-use cups existence to creating circular supply chains that actually work for our future.
If you’re new here (welcome), our show dives into some of the best coffee conversations on the internet - but we’ll always remind ourselves at the end of the day, It’s Just Coffee!
Explore Reground here: https://www.reground.com.au
Check out Single O: https://www.singleo.com.au
Want more coffee content?
IT’S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod
Want to get in touch?
Hit us up at hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com for any questions or comments.
Proudly sponsored by:
Eco Barista – https://www.ecobarista.com.au
Apax Lab – https://www.apaxlab.com
Thanks for listening! love yah ! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 23, 2025 • 21min
Australia’s New World Champion JACK SIMPSON | COFFEE BREAK! at HOST Milan
This week Ben stands in Milan with the newly crowned 2025 World Barista Champion Jack Simpson from Axil Coffee Roasters.
After eight years of training the final three almost coming to a breaking point - Jack reflects on the people, emotions, and responsibility that shaped his world-title win. From early mornings at Axil to visiting producers like Jonathan Gascara in Colombia, Jack shares how one moment on stage can ripple all the way back to origin.
They unpack what it takes to compete at the highest level, the power of teamwork, and why every barista has a duty to tell the stories behind the cup.
Plus, the gear talk you’ve been waiting for - from the wave machine to the vibrating table, and how these tools are already changing café workflows.
Straight off the stage with the Aussie Champ, It’s a grounded, emotional, and inspiring chat about purpose, craft, and the future of coffee.
Want more coffee content?
IT’S JUST COFFEE - https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=4e8cead0-6644-4c4a-b419-28c825b1b236
Proudly sponsored by:
Eco Barista - https://www.ecobarista.com.au/
Apax Lab - https://apaxlab.com/
Condesa Co.Lab (C-Price Forecast ) - https://condesacolab.com.au/
Thanks for watching and congrats Jack you absolute star ! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 21, 2025 • 21min
Our First HOST Milan - Here’s What It Was Really Like | IT’S JUST COFFEE!
Rohan and Ben hit Milan for HOST! one of the biggest hospitality expos in the world to take you inside the halls where coffee meets the global stage.
From live-ranking espresso machines to next-gen grinders and limited-edition tech drops, the guys unpack the biggest moments, ideas, and innovations shaping the future of coffee.
Ben also shares what it was like judging the World Brewers Cup, where 53 competitors from 53 countries went head to head for the world title.
We talk why specialty coffee still feels like a niche inside hospitality, what brands are getting right (and wrong) at the show, and the products that turned heads on the floor - including Mahlkonig's new Xenia and Victoria Arduino’s collector machine.
Plus - the trends that could define the next year of coffee tech, and why events like HOST might be more important than ever for connecting the global community.
If you're new here (welcome), our show dives into some of the best coffee conversations on the internet, but we will always remind ourselves at the end of the day 'It's Just Coffee!'
Want more coffee content?
IT'S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=4e8cead0-6644-4c4a-b419-28c825b1b236
Want to get in touch?
Hit us up at
hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com
for any questions or comments.
Proudly sponsored by
Eco Barista: https://www.ecobarista.com.au/
Apax Lab: https://apaxlab.com/
Thanks for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 15, 2025 • 29min
$628 Cups of Coffee and the Future of Australian Farming | COFFEE BREAK!
From the farms of Panama to the labs shaping the next generation of coffee - this week’s Coffee Break dives into the science that could decide coffee’s future.
The boys explore how researchers are fighting climate change with new coffee varieties, the wild economics of luxury Geishas fetching $628 a cup, and why Australia might be the next frontier for sustainable coffee farming.
There’s talk of young farmers, genetics, and even the idea that music might help your plants grow.
Coffee Break is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community -everything from on-the-fly barista tips and honest café talk to the unfiltered stories shaping coffee culture.
Want more coffee content?
IT’S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=4e8cead0-6644-4c4a-b419-28c825b1b236
Get in touch: hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com
Proudly sponsored by:
🌱 Eco Barista: https://www.ecobarista.com.au/
🧪 Apax Lab: https://apaxlab.com/
🌏 Condesa Co Lab: https://condesacolab.com.au/
Thank you for listening, love ya! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 13, 2025 • 1h 24min
The Future of Coffee Depends on Science - World Coffee Research | HANNA NEUSCHWANDER!
As climate change, disease, and shifting generations reshape coffee production, Hanna Neuschwander from World Coffee Research (WCR) joins us to unpack how genetics, collaboration, and innovation are securing the future of coffee.
From varietal trials across 18 countries to the race for climate-resilient plants, Hanna explains how research is helping farmers adapt - and why the next era of coffee depends on what we do today.
... If you care about the future of coffee, this one’s essential listening.
Follow us for more honest, curious coffee conversations @itsjustcoffeepodcast
💚 Support World Coffee Research or learn more at worldcoffeeresearch.org
If you’re new here (welcome), our show dives into some of the best coffee conversations on the internet but we’ll always remind ourselves at the end of the day IT'S JUST COFFEE!
Explore World Coffee Research and Hanna's work here:
https://worldcoffeeresearch.org
Want more coffee content?
IT’S JUST COFFEE:
https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepodutm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=4e8cead0-6644-4c4a-b419-28c825b1b236
Want to get in touch?
hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com
Proudly sponsored by:
💚 Eco Barista
⚗️ Apax Lab
Thanks for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


