BeanScene

1 month ago | beanscenemag.com.au | Kathryn Lewis

New figures from CreditorWatch reveal one in 10 hospitality businesses in Australia shut down over the past year, but more positive data for April 2025 shows insolvencies have started to plateau. The report identifies the foodservice sector as one of the worst hit in the country, as well as construction. Pressure on the hospitality industry, including rising costs and decreased consumer demand, saw 9.6 per of businesses in the sector close permanently between April 2024 and April 2025.

1 month ago | beanscenemag.com.au | Kathryn Lewis

On 20 May, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) announced a 0.25 per cent cut to the official interest rate, which will come as a relief for many households and small businesses such as cafés. The official interest rate is now 3.85 per cent and marks the second cut in 2025. A reduction in official interest rate can benefit small businesses in many ways, including improving cash flow, encouraging consumer spending, and making borrowing cheaper.

1 month ago | beanscenemag.com.au | Kathryn Lewis

Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis is entering the coffee market, launching canned coffee brand Jolene with actor Shane Powers. After meeting for coffee nearly every Thursday for more than 20 years, the two friends decided to turn their ritual into a business. The duo collaborated with friend John Terzian of the h.wood group to fulfil their mission “to bring incredible coffee to wherever people may want to drink it”.

1 month ago | beanscenemag.com.au | Kathryn Lewis

The team at Barista Group are set to launch an Australia first with the release of the Plus X Espresso. From the makers of the Übermilk, the new fully automatic espresso machine is completely hidden from the customers’ view and is located underneath the counter, with only a spout and two hoppers visible on the bench. “It’s a fully automatic coffee machine like no other. At the touch of a button, it grinds, tamps, and extracts,” says Joe Chalhoub, Barista Group General Manager.

2 months ago | beanscenemag.com.au | Kathryn Lewis

Japanese specialty coffee brand % Arabica has signed a lease to open its first Australian flagship store in Bondi, Sydney. Over the weekend, ‘Coming Soon’ signage was put up at the venue on the corner of Hall Street and Campbell Parade, which is due to open in late 2025. On Monday 21 April, the brand also set up a % Arabica Australia Instagram page, including a post featuring the Bondi location, with the Australian venue also confirmed on its website.