Managed to get along for a couple hours today - would have liked to be there longer, but family commitments prevented that. Well worth it and better than the last coffee expo I went to in Melb (Cafebiz). some really beautiful machines. Had a few good coffees. Best was a DR of Tobys Estate Brunswick blend, roasted 23/4 - barista there said he likes to use coffee of an appropriate age. So many stands and machines, but I think shot was pulled on a slayer, FWIW. It is refreshing to see someone using coffee at its best, rather than straight out the roaster. Obviously I only have his word that it is the best age, but it was excellent... Also had a couple nice Geishas as pourover/syphon (one from Proud Mary, one from Hario) Picked up a couple of samples of Chai tea from Prana Chai - interesting and a bit different to your run of the mill chai - seems to be rolled in honey (and then baked?). An odd coincidence too - when I spoke to the guy on the Beanscene stand, I noticed he had a Scottish accent, turned out he is from Greenock (where I grew up) and used to live less than 100m from my parents house. I also noticed more of a presence from the sustainable materials crowd, no bad thing as takeaway seems to be growing as a proportion of sales - may be a perception thing, but that's how it seems to me.
