About Us
Our History
Giving a voice to specialty coffee in Australia
ASCA began as a vehicle for like-minded people in Australia with an interest in specialty coffee, at a time when the specialty coffee industry was very small. It enabled them to bounce ideas off one another, share opinions, successes and to work together collectively on issues affecting the industry.
An Australian outfit with international ties
Over time, the association has proceeded to adopt international quality standards through benchmarking with international specialty coffee associations. ASCA’s competitions are the only events that feed into the world’s most prestigious coffee competitions organised by World Coffee Events, supporting by specialty coffee associations across the planet.
ASCA is governed and run completely by volunteers. All work full time in the specialty coffee industry and contribute their free, unpaid time to run it.
Bruno Maiolo
President
Kieran Westlake
Past President
Our Function
Specialty coffee professional training and development
ASCA is dedicated to promoting specialty coffee and providing professional training for the development of specialty coffee all over the country. ASCA achieves this objective via:
Convening and promoting regional, state and national coffee championships, and sponsoring winners to compete in international coffee events;
Endorsing quality work practices amongst those involved in the processing, distribution consumption and education of specialty coffee;
Promoting the specialty coffee activities of members;
Fostering public information, education and promotion of specialty coffee;
Providing membership across all aspects of the specialty coffee industry, including but not limited to: baristas; roasters; coffee retailers; coffee bar, café and restaurant operators; growers and producers; brokers, importers and exporters; coffee equipment suppliers; coffee educators; and ancillary businesses; and
Liaising with organisations with similar objectives, both nationally and internationally.
Our Constitution
To find out more about our Constitution, please download the brochure below.
Australia’s got coffee talent
We are proud of the accomplishments our baristas have achieved on the international stage. Australian competitors regularly top international competitions.
Australian Barista Champion
2001 Corinne Tweedale
2002 Paul Basset
2003 Paul Basset – World Champion
2004 Mako Lapena
2005 Hazel De Los Reyes
2006 David Makin
2007 Scott Callaghan
2008 David Makin
2009 Tim Adams
2010 Scott Callaghan
2011 Matt Perger
2012 Craig Simon
2013 Matt Perger
2014 Craig Simon
2015 Sasa Sestic – World Champion
2016 Hugh Kelly
2017 Hugh Kelly
2018 Craig Simon
2019 Matthew Lewin
2020 Hugh Kelly
Australian Latte Art Champion
2006 Scott Callaghan – World Champion
2007 Jack Hanna – World Champion
2008 Con Haralambopoulos – World Champion
2009 Erin Sampson
2010 Will Priestly
2011 Kirby Berlin
2012 Scott Luengen
2013 Jen Marks
2014 Rie Moustakas
2015 Caleb Cha – World Champion
2016 Ben Morrow
2017 Aaron Shin
2018 Shin Fukuyama
2019 Jibbi Little
2020 Victor Vu
Australian Cup Tasting Champion
2004 Rob Forsyth
2007 Hazel De Los Reyes
2008 Catherine Ferrari
2009 Ben Bicknell
2010 Jonny Pisanelli
2011 Luca Constanza
2012 Fred Lullfitz
2013 Elisha Mauger
2014 Byoung-Woo Kang
2015 Harry Ko
2016 Harry Ko
2017 Yama Kim
2018 Yama Kim – World Champion
2019 MJ Kim
2020 Charlie Chu
Australian Brewers Cup Champion
2011 Luca Costanzo
2012 Matt Perger – World Champion
2013 Lachlan Ward
2014 Devin Loong
2015 Dane Oliver
2016 Devin Loong
2017 Sam Corra
2018 Heath Dalziel
2019 Yanina Ferreyra
2020 Carlos Escobar
Australian Coffee-In-Good-Spirits Champion
2009 Kirby Berlin
2010 Mitch Faulkner
2011 Mitch Faulkner
2014 Matt Perger – World Champion
2015 Lucas Woods
2016 Shae Macnamara
2018 Danny Wilson
2020 Danny Wilson
Australian Cezve Ibrik Champion
2010 Rob Forsyth
2011 Andy Freeman
World Champions
Barista
2003 Paul Basset – World Champion
2015 Sasa Sestic – World Champion
Latte Art
2006 Scott Callaghan – World Champion
2007 Jack Hanna – World Champion
2008 Con Haralambopoulos – World Champion
2015 Caleb Cha – World Champion
Cup Tasters
2018 Yama Kim – World Champion
2020 Charlie Chu – World Champion
Brewers Cup
2012 Matt Perger – World Champion
Coffee-In-Good-Spirits
2014 Matt Perger – World Champion