Merlo voted the best coffee in Australia for second time
Dean Merlo has reason to smile. His coffee has been voted the nation’s best. File image: Darren England.Source: News Limited
CAFFEINE connoisseurs Merlo has been voted Australia’s favourite coffee for the second time in a row in the 2014 I Love Food Awards.
The Brisbane-based roasters won the people’s choice award at the previous contest in 2012, making them the country’s top coffee supplier for four years now.
When it’s considered Australians consume 2.1 billion cups of coffee every year — according to research by BIS Shrapnel in 2012 — that’s an astonishing achievement.
Merlo Coffee CEO James Wilkinson said the last time they won the award they saw a definite spike in sales to new cafes.
“I think winning the award helps a lot with our image in the marketplace,” he said.
“For a boutique roaster in Brisbane it gives us more confidence on the national scene.
“It gives us more confidence to take our brand interstate and try to replicate what we’ve done here.”
To repeat what they have achieved in Queensland will be no small feat. At the moment they supply about 1000 cafes across the state and 15 of their own stores.
That equates to roasting 15 tonnes of coffee beans every week, Mr Wilkinson said. That must mean a lot of hard work and a lot of caffeine consumption to maintain the gruelling pace set by the constant demand.
Dean Merlo and James Wilkinson enjoying their product. Pic: Tara Croser. Source: News Limited
“When you’re very passionate and you’ve got a very passionate team, you never really unwind,” Mr Wilkinson explained.
“It’s a fun working environment — and obviously there’s stress — but I think we’ve created a good balance between work and lifestyle after 22 years in the business.”
Aside from the caffeine cookers, Queensland had some other proud placements in the awards.
Trang Restaurant in Brisbane’s West End was voted the country’s favourite Vietnamese, while Pita Pan in Surfers Paradise received top honours for a Greek restaurant. Montezumas at Labrador didn’t escape without mention either, being named by voters as the best place to get a cheap feed.
Source: The Australian - 02/04/14
