Coffee pros Ben Bicknell and Rohan Cooke spill the tea on how to have the best start to the year in coffee…From cooking tips, dining experiences, and advice for cafe owners. Plus, a call-out to the roasters, now's the time to reflect on your supplier relationships and align your purchasing choices with your values. There’s a little something for everyone this Coffee Break!

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 [email protected] for any questions or comments.

Proudly sponsored by 

Eco Barista: https://www.ecobarista.com.au/  

Apax Lab: https://apaxlab.com/ Condesa Co.Lab: https://condesacolab.com.au/ 

 Riverina Fresh: https://www.riverinafresh.com.au/

Thanks for listening!

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What will the coffee industry look like in 2026? 

Join us as we speculate on the year ahead, and look back on the one just passed. We predict market trends, (some guesses are more educated than others..), coffee innovations, and supply chain changes. And how did those predictions we made at the start of 2025 turn out? 

Was there a wave of cafe closures? Did matcha popularity increase? What’s the current home market looking like?!

SO many questions - join us for some answers and a lot of speculation!  

Here’s to a fabulous 2026 - Happy New Year! 

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 [email protected] 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!

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We’re wrapping a big year of coffee. From Jack Simpson’s World Barista Championship win, to Nemo at the Aeropress Championships, big changes in green coffee pricing, signature drink trends, and so much more.

Plus, we share some personal reflections, babies, Dad-life, and Ben’s experience joining the podcast. Also tune in for a very exciting announcement in which we need your help!

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 [email protected] for any questions or comments.

Proudly sponsored by 

Eco Barista: https://www.ecobarista.com.au/  

Apax Lab: https://apaxlab.com/

Condesa Co.Lab: https://condesacolab.com.au/ 

Riverina Fresh: https://www.riverinafresh.com.au/

Thanks for listening! 

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Whether it’s tips for brewing on the road, at the beach, or with the in-laws, we’ve got you covered. Christmas recipes, a gifting guide, and advice for café owners on surviving the Christmas rush. Join us for a bit of holiday cheer, and who knows, maybe even a visit from the man of the hour.

Hope you all have a safe and happy holiday season!

Find our seasonal recipes here: 

Holiday Crema de Café: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSeQjG3jtF_/ 

Christmas Coffee Cocktail: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSg1Vk-iUd3/ 

Christmas Cold Brew: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSjaPB-im_N/

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: LINK TREE

Want to get in touch? Hit us up at [email protected] 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! 

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We continue to break down the fundamentals of coffee cupping - we just went deep on our 101 ep this week, so what did we think? From how many cups, passes, and rounds are actually involved, to why identifying defects matters just as much as chasing flavour. Along the way, we connect cupping to everyday brewing, unpacking sensory memory, common faults like channeling and over-extraction, and how temperature and freshness can completely change what you taste. It’s a practical, no-gatekeeping look at tasting coffee better by understanding the basics and trusting your palate.

Coffee Break is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything from on the fly barista tips, honest and unfiltered cafe reviews, 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 [email protected] for any questions or comments.

Proudly sponsored by 

Eco Barista: https://www.ecobarista.com.au/  

Apax Lab: https://apaxlab.com/

Condesa Co.Lab: https://condesacolab.com.au/ 

Riverina Fresh: https://www.riverinafresh.com.au/

Thanks for listening!

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Coffee Cupping 101 - Basics, Benefits & Equipment!We break down the fundamentals of coffee cupping - why it exists, how it’s done, and what you actually need to get started. From setting up a cupping session and understanding ratios, to identifying defects and building sensory skills, this episode walks through the industry’s shared tasting language and why it matters.Guiding us through the process is our main man, Ben Bicknell - World Barista Championship judge, Q Grader, and co-host.This one’s for baristas, roasters, café owners, and curious home brewers who want a clearer way to taste, compare, and talk about coffee.It’s Just Coffee is where the global coffee community comes to think out loud - honest conversations about flavour, business, and the future of coffee.At the end of the day though … 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-b419-28c825b1b236Want to get in touch? Hit us up at [email protected] 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!

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Hydro-honey, thermal shock… unique processing methods are coming out of Colombia right now, and we need to talk about it! We reflect on our chat with Juan, and discuss the broader coffee industry, including Nestle's potential sale of Blue Bottle Coffee, Fair Trade's overhaul of global standards, and a new initiative in Ethiopia called Best of Ethiopia. Plus, coffee grounds make concrete stronger?! All this and more on your Coffee Break. 

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 [email protected] for any questions or comments.

Proudly sponsored by 

Eco Barista: https://www.ecobarista.com.au/  

Apax Lab: https://apaxlab.com/

Condesa Co.Lab: https://condesacolab.com.au/ 

Riverina Fresh: https://www.riverinafresh.com.au/

Thanks for listening!

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Juan Pablo Campos is the founder of Lohas Beans, a company committed to sourcing Colombia’s finest coffee. He’s built relationships with some of Colombia’s most innovative coffee producers, many of whom are engineering value through unique processing methods. Juan joins us today to talk about Lohas Beans’ journey; discussing fermentation, producer-trader relationships, and the future of Colombian coffee.

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This Coffee Break is all about unpacking the big ideas from Peter Roberts episode.

We get into why coffee pricing feels so broken, what the Specialty Coffee Transaction Guide is actually fixing, and how transparency could reshape the entire value chain.

Plus: the wild world of flavoured vs infused vs co-fermented coffees (where is the line?), why young drinkers are obsessed with syrups, and Australia’s brand new Barista, Latte Art, and Brewers Cup Champions.

Coffee Break is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything from on-the-fly barista tips, honest and unfiltered café 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 [email protected] for any questions or comments.

Proudly sponsored by

Eco Barista: https://www.ecobarista.com.au/

Apax Lab: https://apaxlab.com/

Condesa Co.Lab: https://condesacolab.com.au/

Riverina Fresh: https://www.riverinafresh.com.au/

LOVE yah !

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If you’ve ever wondered why your green coffee costs what it does - or how the whole system could work better - this episode will completely change how you see the industry.

Peter Roberts is a Professor at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School and the Academic Director of the Specialty Coffee Transaction Guide (@sctguide) and Grounds for Empowerment.

Focusing on making markets fairer and more transparent - especially for coffee producers - after more than a decade studying entrepreneurship, social enterprise, and how organisations behave over time. He helped launch two of the most influential initiatives in specialty coffee.

the Transaction Guide and Grounds for Empowerment.

Ben and Peter  unpack why coffee prices behave the way they do, why volatility hits producers hardest, and what a new pricing logic for specialty could look 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!

Explore the here  @sctguide and www.transactionguide.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 [email protected] 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/ 

LOVE yah !

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices