Episodes

  • LACHLAN WARD! | Why ST. ALi Increased Coffee Prices, A Talk with the CEO.

    LACHLAN WARD! | Why ST. ALi Increased Coffee Prices, A Talk with the CEO.
    Jul 8 2024
    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’t forgotten his Byron roots, discussing the power of mindfulness and using running as a meditative practice. Lachlan also highlights the importance of staying connected with his employees and customers, and defends the recent price raise at the South Melbourne ST. ALi (talking $6.50 plus…). In coffee news, heat waves are affecting crops in Vietnam and Brazil, latte flavoured TimTams have hit the shelves, and Starbucks is attempting to reduce plastic waste by 20%. If you're new here (heyyy), 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! Thankyou Lachlan for joining the show, it was a pleasure to hear your story. Find him on Instagram at @lachw and @st_ali and follow us @itsjustcoffee to stay virtually caffeinated. Big thanks to the coffee lovers out there, we hope you enjoy the show!
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    46 mins
  • COFFEE BREAK! | Rohan’s Stories, Kirk’s Coffee Science, and Liam's show and tell

    COFFEE BREAK! | Rohan’s Stories, Kirk’s Coffee Science, and Liam's show and tell
    Jul 3 2024
    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, could coffee farms have the same widespread appeal as wineries? 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!) Check out Kirk’s cafe @projectzero.coffee on Instagram and find Rohan @goldenbrown.coffee. Plus!! Get your hands on some quality beans for home brewing at Golden Brown Coffee. Thankyou for listening! We promise to confiscate Liam’s airhorn next week…
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    20 mins
  • JAMIE THOMSON! | - Tips to Transform Your Home Brewing!

    JAMIE THOMSON! | - Tips to Transform Your Home Brewing!
    Jul 1 2024
    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 - never afraid to thermometer check your milk… Plus, grab a pen! Jamie shares simple tips to help any home brewer improve their coffee. In coffee news, the world’s first beanless espresso has hit the market and the boys are not happy about it (what did you expect). Also, Lavazza moves to create bean to cup vending machines, prompting a discussion about the future of the service industry and the rise of convenience coffee. If you're new here (welcome aboard!), 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! Thanks to Jamie for a wonderful conversation. Check him out on Instagram @jamiethomson4, and follow us @itsjustcoffee so you never miss a drop. And to our listeners…thanks for being here, we hope your week is full of great coffee!
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    51 mins
  • COFFEE BREAK! | behind the SCAP statement!

    COFFEE BREAK! | behind the SCAP statement!
    Jun 26 2024
    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 through the coffee world and prompting discussion of barriers in barista competitions. Plus, Kirk divulges his own controversial use of infused coffee in his cafe, and Liam gets into it with the whisky (don’t ask). 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? (yeah you do…) Check out Kirk’s cafe @projectzero.coffee on Instagram and find Rohan @goldenbrown.coffee. Plus!! Get your hands on some quality beans for home brewing at Golden Brown Coffee. But most importantly, a shout out to the lovely listeners - thank you for joining us on our Coffee Break!
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    26 mins
  • BREAKING NEWS! - S.C.A.P. president rejects infused coffees

    BREAKING NEWS! - S.C.A.P. president rejects infused coffees
    Jun 24 2024
    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 them from genuine Speciality Coffee” Who better to discuss this topic on ‘It’s Just Coffee!’ than Founder of Criteria Coffee, Craig Simon. Craig is a 3 times Barista Champion and the First Q Grade Instructor in the southern hemisphere (1 of 50 positions held worldwide) You’ll hear both sides of the story and get an in-depth understanding of why this statement is huge in the coffee industry and just exactly why co-fermented coffees are getting a closer look. Once you’re finished listening, check out Craig on Instagram @craig_simon, and follow us @itsjustcoffee so you never miss an episode. LINK TO STATEMENT: https://scap-panama.com/
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    59 mins
  • COFFEE BREAK! | the show after the show!

    COFFEE BREAK! | the show after the show!
    Jun 19 2024
    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, honest and unfiltered cafe reviews (eek), hospitality stories and gate kept coffee secrets. In today’s Coffee Break, the boys reflect on Tuesday’s conversation with Brandon and Mitch from Good Measure. They talk of young people killing it in the industry, as well as the sacrifices made to get there. Plus we hear from enigmatic producer Liam - the newly anointed man of the people. 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? (we don’t blame you…) Check out Kirk’s cafe @projectzero.coffee on Instagram and find Rohan @goldenbrown.coffee. Plus!! Get your hands on some quality beans for home brewing at Golden Brown Coffee. As always, big thankyou to our wonderful listeners for making this show possible, we hope you love the new segment
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    12 mins
  • GOOD MEASURE | 'Mont Blanc' - From Idea to Icon

    GOOD MEASURE | 'Mont Blanc' - From Idea to Icon
    Jun 17 2024
    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-inspired cocktail bar. With vinyls spinning, Good Measure will serve a stunning range of sake and unique signature cocktails, accompanied by snacks like their house made kimchi-fries. Rohan and Kirk unpack with the boys what it’s truly like running Good Measure. You’ll hear stories of the early days when Good Measure was just an idea and how that idea continually evolved into the cafe Melbourne now knows and loves. You’ll also hear the hilarious side of this cafe (ahem, the time Brandon fell through the ceiling during a very busy Saturday) and uncover the challenges they face working in the hospitality industry. In coffee news, we’re seeing a big increase of Americans drinking specialty coffee. Does this mean saying ‘goodbye’ to Starbucks? We’ll also discuss the Top 10 cities in the world for coffee, and if you’re a proud Melburnian, you’re not gonna like the outcome… If you're new here (happy to have you!), 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 thank you to Brandon and Mitch for joining the show. Check them out on Instagram @goodmeasuremelbourne and follow us @itsjustcoffee so you never miss a drop. Biggest thanks to our listeners. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did!
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    47 mins
  • DAN DICK! - before you open a cafe LISTEN TO THIS!

    DAN DICK! - before you open a cafe LISTEN TO THIS!
    Jun 12 2024
    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 those in need. Rohan and Dan reminisce on their time working together in Melbourne cafes (does anyone remember the clover machine?), swapping stories of hungover shifts and ridiculous rushes. Plus, Dan shares all the things he wishes he knew before starting a business. In coffee news, coffee grounds have been shown to protect water sources from pollution, and new findings from the ABC claim we need to stop complaining about the price of coffee in Australia. Also, get ready for some extra hot takes this episode as Dan comes for the sandwich shops. If you're new here (happy to have you!), 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 thankyou to Dan for joining the show. Check out Dan on Instagram @danielpeterdick and follow us @itsjustcoffee so you never miss a drop. Biggest thanks to our listeners. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did!
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    53 mins