Most Awarded Roaster at #AICA2020

Our golden streak continues at the 2020 Australia International Coffee Awards (AICA), winning an unprecedented 20 medals last week.

We won the most medals of any roaster including medals in all eight brewing categories.

Honoured? Very much.
Surprised? Yes, humbled.
Grateful? Overwhelmingly.

An annual competition held by the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria, AICA is the first and only international coffee roasting competition in Australia. This year, over 800 entries were received from 174 Australian and international roasters, with blind tastings conducted by 41 judges.

20 in 2020 at 25

Winning 20 medals in 2020, is a pinnacle moment for us as we celebrate our 25^th anniversary. It tops off stellar AICA wins that crowned us the Champion Australian Roaster in 2018 and 2019.

And as we reflect on the way coffee in Australia has evolved since we started out back in the 90s, it’s evident that one thing stays the same.

Danes’ founder, Paul Jackson, explains. “Being recognised with 20 awards is testimony to the integrity that underpins everything we do at Danes. We are guided everyday by our principles to maintain exceptional quality standards and focus on flavour.”

Affinity, custom made for AICA

One of the medal winners we’re most excited about is, Affinity, which was created especially for AICA. Using the highly awarded Costa Rica Las Lajas and an Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, AICA judges described the blend as featuring “cherry ripe chocolate flavours” in milk-based coffees and “lemon lime zest” in black coffee. Affinity took out a bronze medal in espresso blend and a silver medal in cappuccino, milk coffee category. 

Danes Specialty Coffee AICA 2020 Medals