GREEN BEAN COFFEE TO MAKE MICE DEBUT IN 2019
Ahead of their debut at MICE next year, we recently had a chance to catch up with Kirk Stuart of Green Bean Coffee. Kirk founded the company after he saw the Green Bean Coffee Roaster in prototype stages and brought it to Australia in 2000.
Q: Can you tell us a bit more about how Green Bean Coffee first started out?
A: I was in Chicago at the world’s biggest expo – I’d just sold my restaurant and was trying to work out what to do next. I came across a stand with a guy roasting coffee in a glass chamber in front of my eyes. I loved the food theatre it created and was instantly hooked – 18 years later it’s still the only fully automated roaster of its class around for in-house roasting.
Q: What is your favourite coffee-based drink?
A: Double Ristretto Flat White.
Q: If you could drink a cup of coffee with one famous person past or present, who would you choose?
A: Paul Newman – he seemed to be one of the coolest actors of our time and he did tremendous charity work.
Q: What is your favourite single-origin?
A: Yirgachaffe from Ethiopia – for it’s distinct subtle flavours and because it comes from the birthplace of coffee.
Q: What is your all-time favourite coffee experience?
A: Going to the Highlands in Papua New Guinea and meeting the people from the subsistence coffee farms there was a highlight. They were so warm and welcoming to me and took amazing pride in their coffee growing. They lived a simple life but in many respects a very fulfilling one of family and community.
Kirk and the Green Bean team will be exhibiting in Roasters Alley at MICE next year, you’ll be able to find them at stand R4!
