IT’S JUST COFFEE!

Ben Bicknell & Rohan Cooke
  • 4.2 (9)
  • Food
  • Updated Weekly

Whether you’re a world barista champion brewing a $150 rare coffee from the hills of Panama, or you’re stirring a spoon of instant coffee in boiling water, at the end of the day, It’s Just Coffee! It’s Just Coffee! is a podcast for all those coffee lovers out there and we're endeavouring on a journey to find the perfect cup. Not only will we be talking to the world’s best coffee makers and roasters, we’re going to be talking to athletes, comedians, celebrities and anyone that just loves a great cup of coffee. The coffee community around the world is engaged and passionate (sometimes to a fault), and we want to explore some of the biggest debates that happen across the Internet, and in the local cafe around the corner from you. Questions like: • Which country has the best coffee in the world? • Should it be illegal to mix milk in black coffee? • Is Starbucks actually coffee? We’ll dive into some of the best coffee conversations on the internet, but we will always remind ourselves at the end of the day, that It’s Just Coffee!

  1. 9h ago

    World Champ Anthony Douglas, Won't Call his Bar a Cafe | HOMEBODY UNION!

    No matcha. No hot chocolate. No signature drinks. So what happens when a World Barista Champion opens a space entirely dedicated to coffee? Anthony Douglas is back, and he’s opening a coffee bar with a very clear rule: coffee comes first. The 2022 World Barista Champion’s new Melbourne space, Homebody Union, takes its cues from wine bars. Think 40 seats, a long menu of coffees, and no matcha, hot chocolate or signature drinks. We get into the espresso techniques behind the concept, how to make specialty coffee feel welcoming, and why Anthony has put buying a house on hold to make it happen. A world title might get people through the door, but can it take the nerves out of opening your first place? Plus, we test his hospitality skills with an order for two strawberry matchas. 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! Anthony Douglas: https://www.instagram.com/anthony_jdouglas/ Homebody Union: https://www.instagram.com/homebodyunion/ Shop Homebody Union: https://homebodyunion.com/ CHAPTERS 00:00 What Happens When a World Champion Opens a Coffee Bar? 02:53 Why Anthony Isn’t Calling It a Café 07:54 Choosing a Coffee Bar Over Buying a House 09:07 Home Baristas Are Raising the Bar 10:30 Rethinking Nine-Bar Espresso 12:22 Why Build a Coffee Bar Around Decent Machines? 15:04 Trying Modern Espresso at Home 17:23 Is Competition Keeping Up With Coffee? 19:20 APAX LAB 20:22 Finding the Right Roast, Ratio and Temperature 23:55 What China Gets Right About Signature Drinks 26:25 The Money, Risk and Fear of Opening 34:10 Making Specialty Coffee Less Intimidating 38:53 Unlearning Competition Habits 40:13 Training Baristas Beyond the Numbers 44:05 Telling Coffee Stories Customers Care About 48:13 Putting Anthony’s Hospitality to the Test 51:28 Do Flavour Notes Really Matter? 55:18 Breaking the Usual Café Routine 57:21 Anthony’s Advice for Opening Your Own Place 58:47 Hot Take: Is There Such a Thing as Bad Coffee? 1:02:01 Ben’s Positivity Corner: Shout-Out to Sue 1:02:58 Where to Find Anthony and Homebody Union Want more coffee content? IT’S JUST COFFEE: Find everything here Want to get in touch? Hit us up at hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com with your questions, hot takes or guest suggestions. Proudly sponsored by: APAX LAB: apaxlab.com Thanks for listening! #AnthonyDouglas #SpecialtyCoffee #ItsJustCoffee Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  2. 5d ago

    Thurman Wise Takes On Coffee in Good Spirits | COFFEE BREAK!

    In our latest episode, bartender and beverage innovation specialist Thurman Wise taught us what coffee professionals can learn from the cocktail world. Now we’re putting those lessons to the test. Thurman is back for a competition-style collaboration loosely inspired by the World Coffee in Good Spirits finals. His challenge is to make two drinks using the same bright Kenyan peaberry: a classic Irish coffee and a completely different designer beverage, all while keeping coffee at the centre. There are no rehearsed routines, and we’re following the competition rules very loosely. Thurman adjusts the whiskey by taste, sweetens the cream and changes his signature drink halfway through making it. The result is a lighter specialty-coffee Irish coffee, followed by a stripped-back Manhattan riff made with rum, cherry syrup and black pepper, with coffee taking the place of sweet vermouth. We explore how to balance coffee with spirits, why temperature and dilution matter, how these ideas could become non-alcoholic café drinks and why the best signature beverages are often the simplest. Then Thurman shares his favourite martinis from around the world and explains what coffee can learn from bars obsessed with getting every little detail right. It’s Coffee in Good Spirits, IJC style. Plus, Condesa Co.Lab joins us with the weekly green coffee market report. COFFEE BREAK! is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything from on-the-fly barista tips and honest café reviews to hospitality stories and gatekept coffee secrets. CHAPTERS! 00:00 The Coffee Cocktail Challenge 00:58 How Coffee in Good Spirits Works 02:52 Making a Specialty Irish Coffee 05:15 Finding the Right Coffee-to-Whiskey Balance 07:10 How to Float the Cream 07:49 Tasting the Irish Coffee 10:41 Coffee Cocktails Beyond the Espresso Martini 12:56 Riverina Fresh 13:35 Challenge Two: The Signature Drink 13:57 Turning Coffee Into Vermouth 15:01 Changing the Recipe Mid-Drink 18:02 Tasting the Coffee Manhattan 19:45 Does a Coffee Cocktail Need to Taste Like Coffee? 21:37 Making Coffee Cocktails Without Alcohol 23:35 Why Signature Drinks Go Wrong 25:21 Thurman’s Favourite Martinis 28:37 What Coffee Can Learn From Martinis 29:40 Condesa Co.Lab Market Report 31:41 Should Thurman Enter the Competition? LINKS Find Thurman and MEASURED Guide: Thurman Wise: https://www.instagram.com/thurmanwise/ MEASURED Guide: https://www.measured.guide/ Want more coffee content? IT’S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod Want to get in touch? Hit us up at hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com with your questions, hot takes or favourite coffee cocktails. Proudly sponsored by: APAX LAB: https://apaxlab.com/ Condesa Co.Lab: https://condesacolab.com.au/ Riverina Fresh: https://www.riverinafresh.com.au/ Thanks for listening! #CoffeeCocktails #CoffeeInGoodSpirits #SpecialtyCoffee Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Thurman Wise Takes On Coffee in Good Spirits | COFFEE BREAK!

  3. Sep 7

    The Bartender’s Guide to Better Coffee Drinks | THURMAN WISE!

    Signature coffee drinks are everywhere. But are they actually balanced, or are cafés piling on syrups, foams, layers and garnishes until the coffee disappears? Thurman Wise is a bartender, beverage innovation specialist and Product Director at MEASURED Guide. He’s also gone viral travelling the world in search of its coldest martini. Today, Thurman becomes our spirit guide, in every sense of the word, as he teaches Rohan Cooke and Ben Bicknell what coffee professionals can learn from the cocktail world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  4. Sep 2

    Are Cafes Still Our Third Place? | COFFEE BREAK!

    re cafes still the place where community happens, or have laptops, rising costs and grab-and-go culture completely changed the role they play? Rohan Cooke and Ben Bicknell unpack the idea of the “third place”, the space between home and work where people can gather, connect and feel like they belong. From regulars and barista-led connection to run clubs, book clubs, no-laptop venues and day-to-night models, we explore what cafe community looks like in 2026. Why is the traditional third-place model becoming harder to sustain? Can someone working silently on a laptop really be part of a community? And how can cafes create genuine belonging without letting customers occupy a table for six hours on one coffee? We also discuss why the experience surrounding a cup of coffee might be specialty coffee’s strongest defence against convenience. Plus, APAX LAB introduces Conflux, and Condesa Co.Lab joins us with the weekly green coffee market report. COFFEE BREAK! is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything from on-the-fly barista tips and honest cafe reviews to hospitality stories and gatekept coffee secrets. CHAPTERS! 00:00 Are Cafes Still the Third Place?01:50 What Is a Third Place?03:39 Do Cafes Still Build Community?06:45 Why the Old Model Is Hard to Sustain09:18 The Five Cafe Models Emerging Now10:16 Events, Run Clubs and Community13:03 The Laptop Paradox15:39 Baristas as Community Connectors17:05 How No-Laptop Cafes Create Connection18:10 The Cost of Accessibility20:02 Cafes Built Around Shared Interests21:52 What the Third Place Means Today24:41 Condesa Co.Lab Market Report26:57 A Place vs a Sense of Belonging28:11 Tell Us About Your Third Place Want more coffee content? IT’S JUST COFFEE:https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod Want to get in touch? Hit us up at hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com with your questions, comments or favourite third places. Proudly sponsored by: APAX LAB:https://apaxlab.com/ Condesa Co.Lab:https://condesacolab.com.au/ Riverina Fresh:https://www.riverinafresh.com.au/ Thanks for listening! #CoffeeBreak #CafeCulture #SpecialtyCoffee Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Are Cafes Still Our Third Place? | COFFEE BREAK!

  5. Aug 31

    Italy Called the Police Over His €2 Espresso | FRANCESCO SANAPO!

    Would you call the police over a €2 espresso? It actually happened to Francesco Sanapo. Francesco is a three-time Italian Barista Champion and the co-founder of Ditta Artigianale, the specialty coffee group challenging tradition from inside one of the most tradition-bound coffee cultures in the world. In this episode, Francesco explains why Italy’s famous €1 espresso is no longer sustainable, what happened when an angry customer called the police over a €2 decaf, and why charging more only works when cafés deliver better coffee, better storytelling and better hospitality. We also trace Francesco’s journey from washing cups and secretly studying customer orders to reaching the World Barista Championship final and building Ditta Artigianale across Florence and Milan. Then we get into Italian modern espresso, why specialty cafés around the world are beginning to look exactly the same, how to expand without stripping the soul from your business, and Francesco’s deceptively simple advice for the entire specialty coffee industry: Be nice. 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 that at the end of the day, it’s just coffee! CHAPTERS! 00:00 The €2 Espresso That Brought the Police01:07 How to Pronounce Ditta Artigianale01:37 Riverina Fresh02:30 Is the Macchiato Overrated?05:02 From Washing Cups to Making Coffee06:55 Compete for Yourself09:38 Taking Italy to the World Stage11:14 The Moment Francesco Changed His Life13:05 Why He Had to Open a Café14:15 Italy’s Coffee Contract Problem17:39 Expanding Without Becoming a Chain20:41 Why Espresso Still Costs €1 in Italy23:34 The Customer Who Called the Police25:20 How Cafés Can Raise Their Prices26:33 Italian Coffee vs Australian Coffee29:38 Has Italian Espresso Fallen Behind?31:23 What Is Italian Modern Espresso?34:33 Why Specialty Cafés All Look the Same37:19 Francesco Reveals His Next Milan Café39:10 Free Espresso for IJC Listeners40:08 Specialty Coffee Needs Nicer Baristas42:00 Where to Find Francesco Find Francesco and Ditta Artigianale: Francesco Sanapo: https://www.instagram.com/sanapofrancesco/Ditta Artigianale: https://www.instagram.com/dittaartigianale/Website: https://dittaartigianale.com/ Want more coffee content? IT’S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod Want to get in touch? Hit us up at hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com with your questions, hot takes or guest suggestions. Proudly sponsored by: APAX LAB: https://apaxlab.com/Condesa Co.Lab: https://condesacolab.com.au/Riverina Fresh: https://www.riverinafresh.com.au/ Thanks for listening! #ItalianCoffee #SpecialtyCoffee #FrancescoSanapo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  6. Aug 26

    Deep-diving Gen Z Coffee Culture | COFFEE BREAK!

    We discuss if Gen Z is actually ‘too anxious’ for cafés, why matcha and iced signatures are exploding, and how specialty shops can embrace customisation without selling their soul. Plus: book raves, barista phobia memes, and two unapologetic uncs trying (and failing) to speak fluent Gen Z.  Also, Condesa Co.Lab joins us with the weekly green coffee market report. 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 hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com for any questions or comments. Proudly sponsored by: Marco Beverage Systems: https://www.instagram.com/marcobeveragesystems/  Apax Lab: https://apaxlab.com/ Condesa Co.Lab: https://condesacolab.com.au/   Riverina Fresh: https://www.riverinafresh.com.au/ Thanks for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Deep-diving Gen Z Coffee Culture | COFFEE BREAK!

  7. Aug 24

    Reimagining the Role of the Barista | ALICIA FENG!

    Today we're joined by the incredible Alicia Feng. She owns Calēre in Fitzroy, co-founded Chiaki in Collingwood, which just won Age Good Food Guide's Cafe of the Year, and now runs Atelier Enso in Carlton, which has been described as a boundary pushing cafe - even Broadsheet posed the question, is Atelier Enso the future of Melbourne coffee shops? Join us as we discuss all the buzz, especially around how Atelier Enso has transformed the role of barista. 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! Alicia Feng: https://www.instagram.com/alicia.meow/ 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 hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com for any questions or comments. Proudly sponsored by: Marco Beverage Systems: https://www.instagram.com/marcobeveragesystems/  Apax Lab: https://apaxlab.com/ Condesa Co.Lab: https://condesacolab.com.au/   Riverina Fresh: https://www.riverinafresh.com.au/ Thanks for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  8. Aug 19

    The Hidden Levers Every Cafe Owner Should Know | COFFEE BREAK!

    Why does one cafe boom while another goes bust?  We asked some of the top cafe operators (Hugh Kelly, Beta Coffee, Onyx Coffee Lab, and Carlos Escobar) to reveal the hidden levers that quietly make or break a business. Join us as we unpack some of the biggest silent killers of cafes, and share the practical strategies you can use to avoid them.  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. Thanks to: Hugh Kelly: https://www.instagram.com/hugh_t_kelly/  Beta Coffee: https://www.instagram.com/beta_coffee/  Onyx Coffee Lab: https://www.instagram.com/onyxcoffeelab/  Carlos Escobar: https://www.instagram.com/carlos.esco.bar/  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 hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com for any questions or comments. Proudly sponsored by: Apax Lab: https://apaxlab.com/   Riverina Fresh: https://www.riverinafresh.com.au/ Thanks for listening!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The Hidden Levers Every Cafe Owner Should Know | COFFEE BREAK!
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4.2
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Whether you’re a world barista champion brewing a $150 rare coffee from the hills of Panama, or you’re stirring a spoon of instant coffee in boiling water, at the end of the day, It’s Just Coffee! It’s Just Coffee! is a podcast for all those coffee lovers out there and we're endeavouring on a journey to find the perfect cup. Not only will we be talking to the world’s best coffee makers and roasters, we’re going to be talking to athletes, comedians, celebrities and anyone that just loves a great cup of coffee. The coffee community around the world is engaged and passionate (sometimes to a fault), and we want to explore some of the biggest debates that happen across the Internet, and in the local cafe around the corner from you. Questions like: • Which country has the best coffee in the world? • Should it be illegal to mix milk in black coffee? • Is Starbucks actually coffee? We’ll dive into some of the best coffee conversations on the internet, but we will always remind ourselves at the end of the day, that It’s Just Coffee!

Information

  • Creator
    Ben Bicknell & Rohan Cooke
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    247
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    IT’S JUST COFFEE!

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