Canberra has cemented itself as Australia’s coffee capital, picking up a number of accolades at this year’s Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE).
For the second consecutive year, ONA Coffee’s Head Trainer Hugh Kelly has been awarded the Australian Barista Championship title. Joining Kelly in his achievements is ONA’s Head Roaster Sam Corra, who has taken out the National Brewers’ Cup title. The appointments of these titles will now see Kelly and Corra travel to Korea and Budapest respectively to represent Australia.
Kelly and Corra are the latest award winners to have flourished under the tutelage of former world’s best barista, Sasa Sestic. The founder of ONA Coffee, Sestic has been on a campaign to put Canberra on the map as a global coffee destination after winning the 2015 World Barista Championship title.
In another coup for the Canberra coffee scene, Bean!Roasters in Fyshwick took out the Australian International Coffee Award at MICE. This is also the second consecutive year Bean!Roasters have received this award, in one of the most recognised and respected competition Australian and international coffee roasting competitions.
Combined with ONA Coffee’s success, Bean!Roasters Head Roaster and Coffee Science Manager Mick Walker says “Canberra is fast becoming the go to place for the Coffee Capital of Australia”.