IT’S JUST COFFEE!

Time for a COFFEE BREAK!Today we’re taste testing YOUR COFFEE! Thanks to the incredible roasters who sent in their beans and blends. Plus, we’re experimenting with APAX LAB’s mineral concentrates, Kirk explains Tuesday's ‘huggate’, and Rohan shares his journey to coffee and lifelong competitive streak. Also, Kirk details his brief disillusionment with the coffee industry during covid and subsequent return (the lesson here is just keep swimming!). 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.Big thanks to Redeemer Coffee Roasters for sending in your coffee!Find them at: @redeemer.coffeeInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/redeemer.coffee?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Website: http://redeemer.coffee/ Love our content?Watch Tuesday’s full episode and all other past eps on YouTube or find them in your podcast feed  - and follow us @itsjustcoffee on Instagram!Want more of Rohan and Kirk? (duh) Rohan Cooke - @goldenbrown.coffeeInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/goldenbrown.coffee?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Kirk Pearson  - @kirkthebaristaInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/kirkthebarista?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Project Zero Coffee - @projectzero.coffee Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/projectzero.coffee?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Plus!! Get your hands on some quality beans for home brewing at Golden Brown Coffee.  Want to get in touch? Hit us up at hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com for any questions or comments.Proudly sponsored by Eco Barista! Find them: @ecobaristaInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/eco_barista?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==  Website:https://www.ecobarista.com.au/ Thankyou for listening, love ya!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yello! We’ve got a treat for you today…Sasa Sestic, aka ‘The Coffee Man,’ is here – and he’s OBSESSED with coffee!Sasa is a World Barista Champion and the founder of Ona Coffee, Project Origin, and Nucleus. In this episode, he shares his incredible journey—from a turbulent childhood in former Yugoslavia to playing handball at the Sydney Olympics, roasting coffee from his garage, and winning the 2015 World Barista Championship in Seattle. He’s done it all!We’ll dive into the ways Sasa has revolutionised the coffee industry: Pioneering methods like carbonic maceration (a fermentation technique that unlocks new flavors), the ‘Compass’ tool, and extract chilling balls. Plus, stick around to hear about the three best coffees he’s ever tasted – you’ll want to try these ASAP!Finally, Sasa shares his thoughts on the future of coffee: Can AI and automation complement the human touch in the art of coffee service?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!Big thanks to Sasa for gracing our humble studio, we absolutely LOVED this conversation!Find Sasa at - @sasasesticInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/sasasestic?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Ona Coffee - @onacoffeeInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/onacoffee?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Where to find us:Rohan Cooke - @goldenbrown.coffeeInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/goldenbrown.coffee?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Kirk Pearson - @kirkthebaristaInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/kirkthebarista?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Proudly sponsored by Eco Barista! Find them: @ecobaristaInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/eco_barista?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==  Website:https://www.ecobarista.com.au/ Want more coffee content? Follow us on instagram @itsjustcoffee or browse all of our content here.Love you for listening! Want to get in touch? Hit us up at hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com for any questions or comments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let us COFFEE BREAK.Off the back of our episode with Scott Rao, we have a lot to say about his blunt, no-nonsense approach to coffee. Rohan and Kirk discuss Rao’s ability to read roasting data, as well as the importance of the ‘rate of rise’ curve and the critical ‘flick’ post-crack. We also take a moment to get personal. How have certain health struggles impacted our lives and the lives of our families? It’s a reminder to enjoy life's small moments, including that first sip of a good cup of coffee.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.Love our content?Watch Tuesday’s full episode and all other past eps on YouTube or find them in your podcast feed - and follow us @itsjustcoffee on Instagram!Want more of Rohan and Kirk? (duh) Rohan Cooke - @goldenbrown.coffeeInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/goldenbrown.coffee?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Kirk Pearson - @kirkthebaristaInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/kirkthebarista?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Project Zero Coffee - @projectzero.coffee Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/projectzero.coffee?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Plus!! Get your hands on some quality beans for home brewing at Golden Brown Coffee.  Want to get in touch? Hit us up at hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com for any questions or comments.Proudly sponsored by Eco Barista! Find them: @ecobaristaInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/eco_barista?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==  Website:https://www.ecobarista.com.au/ Thankyou for listening, love ya! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we welcome Scott Rao to the podcast!! Scott is one of the world's most recognised and influential coffee roasters and consultants. He’s had a wild journey: Growing up disliking coffee, opening his first cafe in Massachusetts in 1999 (a story filled with challenges and controversy), and pioneering the cafe scene in NZ and Canada. Now Scott is focused on pushing the coffee industry forward through his writing, consulting work, and development of new roasting technologies. In Today’s Show: We discuss the challenges of roasting in small towns, the benefits of decaf, and the emergence of air roasters. We also dive into the nuances of coffee fermentation, and Scott shares his complicated history with barrel fermenting. In Coffee News: A recent study in the US has shown that drinking coffee in the morning can lower the chance of heart disease. Specifically, the study found that people who drink coffee are 31% less likely to develop heart disease compared to those who don't. Plus!! Our hot takes ignite thought-provoking discussions. We explore the art of roasting, the role of the barista, and the unspoken hierarchy of drink orders. 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!Thank-you so much to Scott for such a rich discussion, come back anytime!Find Scott at - @whereisscottraoInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/whereisscottrao?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Website: https://www.scottrao.com/ Where to find us:Rohan Cooke - @goldenbrown.coffeeInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/goldenbrown.coffee?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Kirk Pearson - @kirkthebaristaInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/kirkthebarista?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Proudly sponsored by Eco Barista! Find them: @ecobaristaInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/eco_barista?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==  Website:https://www.ecobarista.com.au/ Want more coffee content? Follow us on instagram @itsjustcoffee or browse all of our content here.Love you for listening! Want to get in touch? Hit us up at hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com for any questions or comments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s time for a COFFEE BREAK yooo!How can AI help to roast coffee beans? What kind of impact will AI have on artisanal experiences? Why is Japan overtaking Melbourne as the global mecca of coffee? These are some of the questions running through our mind after our incredible chat with Matt Perger. And…stick around for the most important question of all - Who has better meat pies, Australia or New Zealand??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.Love our content?Watch Tuesday’s full episode and all other past eps on YouTube or find them in your podcast feed - and follow us @itsjustcoffee on Instagram!Want more of Rohan and Kirk? (duh) Rohan Cooke - @goldenbrown.coffeeInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/goldenbrown.coffee?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Kirk Pearson - @kirkthebaristaInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/kirkthebarista?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Project Zero Coffee - @projectzero.coffee Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/projectzero.coffee?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Plus!! Get your hands on some quality beans for home brewing at Golden Brown Coffee.  Want to get in touch? Hit us up at hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com for any questions or comments.Proudly sponsored by Eco Barista! Find them: @ecobaristaInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/eco_barista?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==  Website:https://www.ecobarista.com.au/ Thankyou for listening, love ya!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt Perger, a two-time world champion barista and founder of Barista Hustle, joins to explore the impact of AI on the coffee industry. He discusses how AI is optimizing logistics and automating coffee shops, while also debunking myths around rising coffee prices. As a self-proclaimed techno-optimist, Matt shares insights on the balance between innovation and maintaining artisanal roots. The conversation even touches on a potential new coffee capital rivaling Melbourne and the importance of fair compensation for producers in an evolving market.

3,2,1, BREAK. What is the cheapest way to serve elite coffee at home? What do we predict for the future of decaf? How do you make your barista competition routine stand out? We’re serving up hot takes and sharing our cafe brunch favorites. 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.Love our content?Watch Tuesday’s full episode and all other past eps on YouTube or find them in your podcast feed - and follow us @itsjustcoffee on Instagram!Want more of Rohan and Kirk? (duh) Rohan Cooke - @goldenbrown.coffeeInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/goldenbrown.coffee?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Kirk Pearson - @kirkthebaristaInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/kirkthebarista?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Project Zero Coffee - @projectzero.coffee Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/projectzero.coffee?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Plus!! Get your hands on some quality beans for home brewing at Golden Brown Coffee.  Want to get in touch? Hit us up at hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com for any questions or comments.Proudly sponsored by Eco Barista! Find them: @ecobaristaInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/eco_barista?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s predictions week!What will the coffee industry look like in 2025? Rohan, Kirk and Liam theorise everything from coffee prices, greenbuying, cafe trends, coffee apparatus, and the resurgence of a certain menu item…Plus, the moment you’ve all been waiting for… is Kirk actually Italian? Rohan shares Kirk’s DNA live on the show. To say we’re shocked is an understatement. 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!Where to find us:Rohan Cooke - @goldenbrown.coffeeInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/goldenbrown.coffee?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Kirk Pearson - @kirkthebaristaInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/kirkthebarista?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Want more coffee content? Follow us on instagram @itsjustcoffee or browse all of our content here.Proudly sponsored by Eco Barista! Find them: @ecobaristaInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/eco_barista?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==  Website:https://www.ecobarista.com.au/ Love you for listening! Want to get in touch? Hit us up at hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com for any questions or comments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

COFFEE BREAK less gooo. On today’s show: Will humans be obsolete in the industry’s future…What do we look for when ordering coffee… And what do climbing coffee prices mean for Melbourne’s cafe scene?? Hope you all are having a wonderful start to the new year. We are so happy to be kicking off 2025 with you!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.Love our content?Watch Tuesday’s full episode and all other past eps on YouTube or find them in your podcast feed - and follow us @itsjustcoffee on Instagram!Want more of Rohan and Kirk? (duh) Rohan Cooke - @goldenbrown.coffeeInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/goldenbrown.coffee?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Kirk Pearson - @kirkthebaristaInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/kirkthebarista?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Project Zero Coffee - @projectzero.coffee Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/projectzero.coffee?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Plus!! Get your hands on some quality beans for home brewing at Golden Brown Coffee.  Want to get in touch? Hit us up at hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com for any questions or comments.Thankyou for listening, love ya!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Good Morning!Today we are talking to the wonderful Fleur Studd!Fleur is one of the most influential women in the coffee scene, founding Market Lane Coffee and Melbourne Coffee Merchants. Her story starts in the U.K, finding a passion for coffee before moving back to Australia in 2008 to start her own roastery. Her keen eye for detail, distinctive style and focussed approach has made Market Lane one of the most recognisable brands in Australia.  In this episode, we dive into the decaf sugarcane method, explore Market Lane’s workplace culture, and chat about Fleur’s major influences—including her father, the cheese legend Will Studd. We also debate what the next decade holds for the coffee industry. Plus, don’t miss Fleur’s epic bolognese recipe and her must-have cheeses!In coffee news: Starbucks records a $5.8m loss as Australians cut back on costly lattes by brewing at home.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!Thank you to Fleur for joining the show, your work is inspiring!Find Fleur Studd at - @marketlaneInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/marketlane?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==Melbourne Coffee Merchants: @melbcoffeemerch Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/melbcoffeemerch?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==Where to find us:Rohan Cooke - @goldenbrown.coffeeInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/goldenbrown.coffee?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Kirk Pearson - @kirkthebaristaInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/kirkthebarista?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Want more coffee content? Follow us on instagram @itsjustcoffee or browse all of our content here.Love you for listening! Want to get in touch? Hit us up at hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com for any questions or comments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices