COFFEE'S NEXT WAVE

In Australia, coffee isn’t simply a habit but a way of life. After decades of refining, innovating and pushing the craft into ever more esoteric territory, where does the next sensation lie? NADIA BAILEY gets the state of play.

- NADIA BAILEY

Here in Australia, we tend to think of ourselves as an egalitarian bunch, with little patience for wonks and wowsers. Except, perhaps, when it comes to coffee. When it comes to coffee, being a snob is a point of pride.

In Melbourne, where one's coffee order is held as sacred as one's football team, show director Lauren Winterbottom is preparing for the Melbourne International Coffee Expo; a place where both industry professionals and enthusiastic punters gather to buy beans, sample brews and discover the latest tech.

This year, she says, automation is poised as the next big thing. As hospitality struggles with staff shortages, innovations such as milk texturisers and fancy telemetry systems mean bad coffee might become a thing of the past, even if it's the barista's first day behind the machine. But she's quick to emphasise that innovations like automated milk texturisers aren't intended to replace the skills of a highly trained professional, but rather make it easier for those who are new to the industry. "These devices allow companies to get new staff in and start making those quality coffees straight away, she says.

For Sam Keck, co-founder of Mornington specialty roaster Commonfolk, it's less about gadgets and more about growers. "We're going to see all of the great developments, but it's not going to come from some new fancy piece of machinery, or the latest hip café in Melbourne," he says. "It's going to come from a coffee producer who uncovers a new way to grow a really exciting varietal and processes in a way that really amplifies its characteristics."