It's 9pm on a Saturday night in Collingwood, just outside of the Melbourne CBD grid. If you look around you seen grown men and woman in bright costumes, a back drop of a star-filled galaxy, and the host is dressed as Buzz Lightyear. The theme is 'outer space'. Would you believe your were surrounded by some of Australia's best coffee roasting talent? It's the awards night of the 2024 Golden Bean Australasia Roasting Competition.
In the three days prior, thousands of coffees from all around Australia were blind tasted by some of the best coffee palates in the business - a delicate and scientific process to answer the question 'who is the overall roasting champion?' Naturally, the preliminary awards are announced first as the pressure builds up to the final announcement. The ceremony is live on Instagram. You can feel the tension rising. All eyes are now on Buzz Lightyear to announce the overall winner.
".. And the Overall Winner is White Horse Coffee!"
A Major Milestone
After years of dedicated participation in the competition, White Horse Coffee has reached a significant milestone. Co-founder Dominick expressed the team's excitement: “We’ve won a bunch of medals over the years, including a Gold Medal last year in the ‘Elite’ (filtered coffee) category, which we’re super proud of! But we’d never managed to come home as the Overall Winner. Now we can tick that one off the list!”
This prestigious accolade underscores White Horse Coffee’s commitment to excellence, placing it among the elite names in the industry, including former winners such as Campos Coffee (2006), Proud Mary (2013), and ONA Coffee (2017).
Behind the Scenes
Dominick shared an insight into the team's dynamic:
“We’re always trying to do better. Behind the scenes, the arguments are real!”
This passion and commitment to improvement have undoubtedly contributed to White Horse Coffee's success, as the team continually seeks innovative ways to enhance their roasting techniques and flavour profiles. White Horse Coffee has come a long way from opening a single ‘no nonsense’ espresso bar in Sutherland in 2008 with a small La Marzocco espresso machine and the goal of sharing the very best coffee with the local community. White Horse Coffee now roasts for cafes Australia-wide, and this year celebrates its 16th Birthday with the release of a new blend called ‘Sweet 16’.
About the Golden Bean
The Golden Bean competition challenges roasters to showcase their finest brews across three categories: espresso, milk-based, and filter coffee. Each category’s scores are combined to determine the Overall Champion. The Golden Bean competition employs a rigorous judging process, with over 100 judges participating in tasting sessions to evaluate entries meticulously. Gold, Silver and Bronze medals are awarded to acknowledge each level roasting excellence. This structure has helped countless roasters, including past champions, showcase their skills and grow their businesses into successful global entities.
The Background The Golden Bean has been recognizing excellence in coffee roasting since 2004, created by Sean and Kristine Edwards to spotlight the essential role roasters play in the coffee supply chain. In its inception, the competition aimed to create an inclusive platform for all roasters, big and small. The Edwards duo took inspiration from wine tasting competitions, ensuring that the Golden Bean would provide fair opportunities for every participant. The event has evolved into a major global platform, now held on two continents: North America and Australia. With over 30,000 individual coffees judged since its inception, the Golden Bean has established itself as a benchmark for quality in the coffee industry. What’s Next? ‘We’ve got a saying around here. You’re only as good as your last cup!’ Dominick shares, ‘so we’re not taking our foot of the gas just yet! We could not be here without the full White Horse Coffee family, from customers, suppliers, team members, and everyone else!’
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