Australian Brewer's Cup Championship 2025: A 4th Place Finish For Brew Methods
The 2025 Australian Brewer’s Cup Championship wrapped up over the weekend, and what a competition it was. For the second year running, our founder Julijan represented Brew Methods in the Top 6 final showdown—securing an impressive 4th place overall and earning the highest score in the compulsory service.
While a trip to Jakarta for the Worlds would have been incredible, we’re immensely proud to stand among the country’s top brewers once again. This year, we’re walking away with valuable insights and celebrating the small wins that make a big difference. Achieving the highest compulsory service score reaffirms that our strategy worked—giving us the confidence to refine and elevate it even further. As for Open Service, we know exactly where to sharpen our focus, and that work starts now.
Julijan's coach this year was once again Apax Lab founder Simon Gautherin, a very close friend and colleague. Simon has been an incredible mentor and support, pushing us to be better every step of the way.
Julijan competed with the Orea Brewer Porcelain, the same brewer he used in 2024, but with a small yet significant tweak—this time, he paired it with Orea’s Flat Filter Paper Type G and the Melodrip, mounted with the Melodrip Holder, refining his extraction process to bring out even more clarity, sweetness, and vibrancy in the cup. These small refinements unlocked greater control over flow rate and turbulence, resulting in an exceptionally clean and expressive brew. If you’re looking to brew with the same precision, the Orea Brewer Porcelain is now available at Brew Methods.
For coffee, Julijan selected a blend of two extraordinary Colombian coffees:
Colombia - Finca El Paraiso / Anti Maceration / Gesha – A farm that we've personally traveled to and spent time with the producer (Diego Bermudes) at. This coffee is fermented and dried a unique innovative vacuum environment that retains volatile aroma compounds for a truly expressive and floral driven coffee.
Colombia - Finca Las Flores / Hydrohoney / Java – The newest innovation from producer Jhoan Vergara, showcasing a clever processing method which utilises a mix of both freshly picked and pre-fermented Java cherries to create a distinctively unique cup profile, layered with complexity and tropical sweetness.
These coffees were chosen for their incredibly distinctive profiles, when blended together it was something truly unique, showcasing a colourless or white fruit tropical profile, with tasting notes of mangosteen, lychee, rose, and cherry blossom. The interplay of these flavours created a refreshingly ethereal experience, offering a dimension of flavours we've never experienced in coffee before. If you’re eager to try Julijan's competition blend, stay tuned—we'll have it available for purchase soon.
The inspiration behind Julijan’s routine was built around the concept of time and slowing down, incorporating an hourglass as a central element. Inspired by his travels through Tokyo, this theme was a reminder to be present and intentional when brewing coffee. The hourglass represented patience, presence, and the fleeting beauty of a well-brewed cup. We’re also looking to stock these hourglasses soon, so you can bring a piece of that experience into your own brewing ritual.
A huge congratulations to Tom Hutchins and the Code Black Coffee team, who took home his third consecutive championship title and will represent Australia in Jakarta this May. His performance was nothing short of incredible, with his now-iconic routine, “Bloom, Bloom, Boom,” setting the standard yet again.
Also on the podium: Devin Loong taking 2nd place, proving once again why he’s one of the most respected brewers in the country. And our dear friend Hany Ezat finishing 3rd, delivering a very personal performance that captivated the judges.
Julijan followed closely in 4th place, with Harry Ko and Daniel Zeljko rounding out the top six. The level of competition was fierce, and it’s clear that Australia’s specialty coffee scene is stronger than ever.
A massive thank you to ASCA (Australian Specialty Coffee Association) for organising another fantastic championship, as well as the judges, volunteers, and everyone at Criteria Coffee for hosting. These events push the boundaries of coffee brewing and inspire us all to keep improving.
We’ll be back next year, stronger and more prepared. Until then, keep brewing, keep experimenting, and stay tuned for more updates from Brew Methods!