Get your copy now for $55 including shipping anywhere in Australia! Click here to get your copy of Scott Rao's "Everything But Espresso"

Everything But Espresso includes a wealth of knowledge presented in a well organised format by an industry leader and professional. Scott Rao has run his own roastery, several cafes, and pioneered perfecting single-serve brewing techniques igniting the current single-serve pour over craze now spreading across top flight cafes around the world. Mr. Rao’s presentation is approachable, educational and up to date with the latest technology.

With the popularity of old-school brewing devices such as the Chemex and pour over cone making a come back in Australia, there is very little information out there about how to correctly brew and extract a perfectly balanced beverage. Rao takes us step by step through many brewing methods (other than espresso) and takes a scientific approach to brewing coffee. A must have for any coffee aficionado!

Get your copy now for $55 including shipping anywhere in Australia! Click here to get your copy of Scott Rao's "Everything But Espresso"

Gwilym Davies, World Barista Champion is currently in Australia checking out the Australian coffee scene. Last night I had the opportunity to meet the World Champ over some drinks at Little Creatures on Brunswick St in Fitzroy. Gwilym has already been through Queensland and New South Wales and is currently in Victoria. On Wednesday he heads back to Sydney to attend Big Wednesday and then flies back to Melbourne for the Coffee Experience as part of the Good Food and Wine show this year. If you want the chance to meet the reigning world champion, be sure to go to The Coffee Experience.

The Espresso School was recently featured in The Sunday Age's "M magazine". Jayne D'Arcy, the freelance journalist who wrote the article is writing a series of articles featuring things to do on the town during the week.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Long before the Starbucks invasion, Malaysia had its own kopi (coffee) culture in the form of kopitiam (coffee shops) that not only served coffee but also wholesome meals and function as meeting points for locals.

My first experience with Kopi O (black coffee with sugar - no milk) was the other day in Bangsar whilst having lunch with friends at an Indian restaurant. When ordered as a take away, it comes served piping hot and tied up in a plastic bag with a straw. It seems when you da bao (take away) in Malaysia, everything gets served in plastic bags such as noodles and noodle soup bases. The coffee itself is made from low grade liberica, arabica or robusta (or a combination) coffee roasted in-house with butter and sugar. Every roaster has their own little secrets which gives rise to a variety of kopi.

When brewed, Kopi O has a rich molasses thickness and has a distinct initial taste like sweet grass jelly syrup and finishes off with Kopiko confectionery.

I'm currently in Malaysia and have been on a bit of a shopping spree on coffee toys. Hario gear is readily available in department stores in KL like Parksons and Isetan unlike Australia. I purchased a Hario V60 dripper, V60 server, Skerton hand grinder and a woodneck dripper all for less than $100 AUD - insanely cheap compared to Australian RRP prices!!! What got me confused though was, even though they sold V60 drippers no store stocked the paper filters. I was told I could go to any supermarket and purchase them. After searching through 4 different supermarkets which all had the regular paper filters by Bonmac and Mellita but not the V-shaped filters, I gave up.