Not even coffee’s sharpening effect could rouse Daniel Shadbolt from his dream come true.
The head of coffee and production at Evolve North in Shepparton attended this year’s Golden Bean Awards, the largest coffee roasting competition worldwide, and watched the business’s blends clinch medal after medal.
“Evolve North put 16 entries in the competition, and we were lucky enough to walk away with 14 medals,” Mr Shadbolt said.
“Out of those 14 medals, 11 were bronze and three were silver.
“A bronze medal is no small feat, it’s something you scream about, and to get a silver medal is extraordinary.”
The week-long event, held from October 15 to 19, produced several champions, and those lucky enough to win silver or gold gained entry to international acclaim – the World Series, to be hosted in Guatemala in 2025.
“The northern and southern hemispheres will come together, head-to-head, and may the best coffee country win,” Mr Shadbolt said.
However, before stepping foot on the same land that grows the world’s finest Arabica coffee beans, another competition is brewing on home soil.
On behalf of the business, Mr Shadbolt will compete in The Australian Roasting Championship, where contenders are given green coffee samples to grade, assess, and roast for judging.
Those who advance to the finals are plonked on a set akin to Masterchef, minus the explosive tyrant that is Gordon Ramsay.
“You have to create the best combination of coffee that you can and also do it while being timed ... it’s very intense,” Mr Shadbolt said.
“I was lucky enough to win it in 2022, so we’ll throw our hat in the ring again.”
For the team at Evolve North, these accolades are about more than proving their coffee-roasting prowess.
“It’s a testament to what Evolve North has been working on and developing over a long journey and how far we’ve come,” Mr Shadbolt said.
“We’re not just talking the talk, we’re also walking the walk to give this high-quality coffee to our customers.”
That “walk” has its fair share of hurdles to ensure full traceability from crop to cup.
Evolve North sources its beans sustainably and ethically, tracing their origins from the farmers harvesting in the fields to the baristas perfecting their latte art behind the counter.
“It all comes down to relationships and sustainability,” Mr Shadbolt said.
“We don’t just buy coffee at a price point – we look at investing slightly more into our product to also give back to the farm and create that full circle sustainable cycle.”
Although this brings a higher price tag, the team maintains a cup-half-full approach.
From a business perspective, Mr Shadbolt said that Evolve North want regional Australians to have the best coffee in the world.
“Our customers can see the time, effort, energy, everything that’s gone into trying to create something that works everywhere and gets regional Australians the coffee that they, as Australians, deserve,” he said.
“You shouldn’t have to be in Melbourne’s immediate suburbs to get high-quality coffee.”
To achieve this, Evolve North approaches its daily grind with motivation, passion, and, of course, a large cup of coffee in hand.
For more information about Evolve North, visit evolvenorth.com.au