Queensland roaster wins Australia’s best coffee award
A Queensland-based roaster has been selected as the country's best coffee brand at the 2014 I Love Food Awards.
Australians voted Merlo as their favourite coffee provider for the second time in a row, with the Brisbane company also lifting the biennial People's Choice accolade in 2012.
The organisation has been the nation's top supplier of coffee for four years now, the Courier Mail reports. Merlo specialises in a premium fresh espresso, which the company says uses some of the world's highest-quality beans.
Speaking to the paper, CEO James Wilkinson admits the award has been good for business. Following last year's honour, the roaster saw a marked spike in sales to new cafes.
"I think winning the award helps a lot with our image in the marketplace," Mr Wilkinson explained.
"For a boutique roaster in Brisbane it gives us more confidence on the national scene."
The CEO said this year's award will help build confidence in the brand, allowing them to explore more interstate options. Currently, the business supplies 1,000 cafes in Queensland, as well as 15 of its own stores.
This means roasting 15 tonnes of coffee beans per week – a task Mr Wilkinson admitted was challenging. However, he said that despite the hard work, the rewards are worth it.
"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," he added.
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