IT’S JUST COFFEE!

Ben Bicknell & Rohan Cooke

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. 32 min ago

    The 2nd Best Brewer in the World Says You’re Extracting Too Much | SIMON GAUTHERIN & CARLOS ESCOBAR!

    What does it take to become the second-best brewer in the world? Fresh from the World Brewers Cup stage in Brussels, Australian Brewers Cup Champion Simon Gautherin joins us alongside coach Carlos Escobar to unpack the routine, strategy and tiny details behind their world runner-up finish. Simon and Carlos take us inside one of coffee’s most technical competitions: the compulsory round that can decide a championship, the enormous logistics behind bringing coffee and equipment across continents, and the clarity-focused routine that earned them perfect tasting note accuracy from every judge. 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! Find Simon here: @simon_gautherin Find Carlos here: @carlos.esco.bar APAX LAB: @apaxlab https://apaxlab.com/ Differente Coffee: @differentecoffee Want more coffee content? IT’S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod 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

    1hr 10min
  2. 29 Jun

    World Barista Champion Explains the Perfect Espresso | RAUL RODAS!

    This week we're joined by World Barista Champion Raul Rodas for a conversation about what actually makes great coffee! We chat about dialling in espresso, building your palate, why better equipment doesn't always mean better coffee, and the realities of coffee production today. Join us for a practical, thoughtful conversation packed with insights for baristas, coffee professionals, and anyone who wants to better understand what's in their cup. 00:00 Are We in the Golden Age of Coffee? 01:24 Meet Raul Rodas 02:13 How a World Champion Drinks Coffee 05:26 Winning the World Barista Championship 07:59 Lessons From a Career in Coffee 10:32 Why Isn't Espresso Better? 16:23 How to Dial In Coffee Better 23:06 Sponsor Break 24:08 Espresso Recipes & Brew Temperature 26:23 Building Better Sensory Skills 34:09 The Reality of Coffee Production 46:35 The Future of Coffee Careers 49:15 Promoting Coffee Origins 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! Find Raul Here: https://www.instagram.com/raulitobarista/ 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  Eco Barista: https://www.ecobarista.com.au/   Apax Lab: https://apaxlab.com/  Thanks for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1hr 4min
  3. The SCA Just Created a 'Master of Specialty Coffee' | COFFEE BREAK!

    24 Jun

    The SCA Just Created a 'Master of Specialty Coffee' | COFFEE BREAK!

    Specialty coffee has a new title …  Master of Specialty Coffee. The SCA has just announced a new accreditation for people at the very pointy end of the industry. To even apply, you need every SCA Skills Diploma, a Q Grader certification, years of experience, professional recommendations… and that is only the front door. So what is it actually trying to do? Why is coffee chasing its own Masters of Wine moment? Is this certification genuinely intended to elevate the industry without creating barriers to entry? also get into the bigger question: who gets to become a recognised voice for specialty coffee, and does this create a better pathway for coffee professionals, or just another very expensive title? 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, honest and unfiltered cafe reviews (eek), hospitality stories and gate kept coffee secrets. CHAPTERS 00:00 New Master of Specialty Coffee 01:18 Who can apply? 03:14 Does Ben want the title? 04:44 The exams explained 07:22 What do Masters actually do? 09:25 Is it accessible for producing countries? 11:32 Where is the barista career pathway? 14:21 Condesa Co.Lab Market Report 16:30 Final thoughts on coffee’s new top title 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

    20 min
  4. 22 Jun

    Make Filter Coffee Like a Champion | ELYSIA TAN!

    With the 2026 World Brewers Cup just around the corner, we wanted to ask: What should we (the non-competitors and regular coffee people) be paying attention to… and how can the competition inform our own coffee and business practices? Here to help answer these questions is multiple-time Singapore Brewers Cup Champion and two-time World Brewers Cup finalist, Elysia Tan! Along with her extensive competition insight, Elysia shares practical (and golden!) tips for improving brewing, such as using different filter papers to adjust mouthfeel and sweetness.                                    Tune in to discover just how magical the world of coffee brewing can be!  CHAPTERS! 00:00 Why Brewers Cup Matters 02:32 Falling for Filter Coffee 08:27 How Brewers Cup Works 12:27 What to Watch on Stage 14:52 Competition Ideas in Cafés 17:10 Blends, Flatbeds & Immersion 23:28 Building a Competition Routine 28:03 Better Café Filter Service 34:02 Sweetness, Body & Balance 39:03 What to Stop Obsessing Over 44:27 Better Brewing at Home 47:38 Filter Paper Changes Everything 49:30 Why the V60 Still Wins 52:44 Hot Take: Hospitality First 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! Find Elysia here: https://www.instagram.com/elysiaholmes/  World Coffee Championships: https://www.instagram.com/worldcoffeechampionships/  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

    57 min
  5. 12 Jun

    Coffee Science vs Coffee Myths | CHRIS H. HENDON!

    Coffee people love science … but only when it agrees with them. In this episode, we sit down with Christopher H. Hendon, computational chemist, Associate Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oregon, co-author of Water for Coffee, and one of the most recognisable voices in modern coffee science! We talk about what makes good science, why the coffee industry is so vulnerable to pseudoscience, and how professionals can better separate useful evidence from confident noise. Chris breaks down everything from freezing coffee beans and the Ross Droplet Technique to water chemistry, coffee extraction, cold brew, co-ferments, climate change, and why one experiment rarely proves what people think it proves. This one is for the coffee nerds, the science-curious, and anyone who has ever heard a coffee claim online and thought: “Wait… is that actually true?” 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 everything Chris here: Insta @chhendon https://pages.uoregon.edu/chendon/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-71526-5?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&utm_id=97760_v0_s00_e0_tv3 CHAPTERS 00:00 Coffee Science vs Coffee Myths 03:29 Meet Chris Hendon 05:21 Why Coffee Gets Science Wrong 13:00 Freezing Coffee Beans Explained 14:39 Ross Droplet Technique Explained 17:39 Better Coffee Experiments 21:24 James Hoffmann’s Long Black Theory 29:00 How to Spot Bad Coffee Science 36:46 Can Science Fix Bad Coffee? 41:32 Why Water Chemistry Matters 44:46 Water for Coffee 2 49:33 Why Coffee Tastes Different Everywhere 55:13 The Future of Coffee Education 01:03:33 Coffee Processing and Climate Change 01:08:40 Is Cold Brew Actually Bad? 01:10:02 Rethinking Coffee Equipment 01:12:47 One Coffee Belief to Challenge 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

    1hr 23min
  6. We React to North America’s Specialty Coffee Report | COFFEE BREAK!

    10 Jun

    We React to North America’s Specialty Coffee Report | COFFEE BREAK!

    For the first time, specialty coffee has overtaken traditional coffee consumption in the U.S. We unpack this year’s Specialty Coffee Report, including the key trends behind the shift, where people are drinking coffee, who's driving growth, and what drinks are gaining the most momentum. Plus! – How can you apply these findings to your place in the industry?!  00:00 – The 2026 Specialty Coffee Report 03:00 – Specialty Coffee Takes the Lead 06:10 – America’s Espresso Boom 09:15 – Cold Coffee All Year Round 11:10 – Who’s Driving Coffee Growth? 12:20 – The Flavours Consumers Love 16:20 – The Rise of Home Brewing 17:30 – What Coffee Businesses Should Know 18:50 – Coffee Market Update 21:00 – Final Thoughts 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

    22 min

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!

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