Entertainment News

While Triple M’s Ian Skippen is most famous for his stellar career in radio and for anchoring Triple M’s The Cage breakfast show, he has always harboured a secret wish … to become a barista. In December the team at Merlocoffee granted this wish, giving Skip one-on-one barista training at the Merlocoffee Bowen Hills torrefazione (roasting factory) and after his inside look at the art of the perfect coffee, Skip is now keen to spread the word about coffee appreciation (photos available, or can be taken, interviews available).

Skip rises every day at 3.30am to prepare for The Cage on Triple M, so making sure his coffee is strong, and of top quality is a priority for him.

Just before Christmas, he spent the best part of a day with the Frith La Vin Lloyd, Merlo Training Manager, learning about roasting, equipment, pouring and presenting the perfect cup of coffee. Even so, Dean Merlo said while Skip was someone who really knew his brew, and appreciated fine coffee, for him to work in a Barmerlo would take another two years of training on the job.

“Over the past few years we have noticed an overwhelming interest from our customers in how coffee is made, and questions about beans and countries of origin. Because of this increasingly demand for cafe style coffee at home, we developed the Merlocoffee Coffee Commercial Training, where anyone who wants to perfect the art of making a coffee can come in and learn,” said Merlo. “So the experience Skip had is available to anyone who wants to learn more about their coffee.”

Famed for being a foodie as well as one of the Australian radio industry’s most successful announcers, Skip said he would love to do further barista training with the Merlo team. “Anyone who loves their coffee like I do, and wants to create the perfect brew at home, should do this session because you walk away with a whole new understanding of coffee beans and what coffee is really supposed to taste like,” he said. Ian Skippen and The Cage (Greg Martin, Greg Sullivan and Emily-Jade O’Keefe) can be heard back on the Triple M airwaves for breakfast air from January 11.

Merlocoffee Coffee Commercial Training Sessions: merlocoffee hosts 3 hour Commercial Training Sessions for $195pp. Each session covers roasting of coffee beans, equipment demonstrations, pouring and presentation of coffee. Commercial Training sessions are held at the Merlo Factory in Bowen Hills.

Other MerloCoffee News…

FEBRUARY Bean of the Month

The elegant, medium bodied Nicaraguan Maragogype is Bean of the Month for February 2010. Coffee’s floral equivalent, the Nicaraguan Maragogype is a large bean which can be sometimes quite difficult to obtain. From Central American origins, it has a wonderful flowery fragrance with a delicate sweet cup, low acidity with an extremely smooth, crisp and clean flavour, and is continually regarded as producing one of the world’s best coffees. During February, coffee aficionados can indulge in 100 percent unblended Nicaraguan Maragogype at any BarMerlo espresso bar or MerloCoffee Torrefazione, and the coffee is also available online.

romantic recipe for Valentine’s Day 2010

With only a few weeks to go until the most romantic day of the year is celebrated on February 14, Queensland’s iconic coffee house MerloCoffee has unveiled the ultimate recipe for romance, an indulgence that is sure to get lovers licking their lips – ladies and gentlemen, the recipe for the Merlo Dark Chocolate Espresso Ice Cream Balls. (full recipe available on request)

Merlocoffee Coffee Appreciation Sessions

The merlocoffee Bowen Hills Torrefazione hosts a Coffee Appreciation Breakfast from 7:30am on the first Wednesday of each month; the Fortitude Valley Torrefazione hosts the same on the first Friday of each month; the Gold Coast merlocoffee headquarters at the Ferry Road Markets in Southport from 9am on the first Tuesday of each month; and the Springfield Torrefazione hosts afternoon tea from 5.30pm on every third Thursday of each month. In addition, the Fortitude Valley Torrefazione is also hosting Factory Tours by appointment.

Each hour-long Coffee Appreciation Breakfast or Brunch is designed to introduce patrons to the joy of premium fresh espresso, its history, flavours and roasting methods. The sessions includes a light continental breakfast or brunch, a tour of the roasting facility, a short history of coffee, a sample of two origin beans, and a merlo coffee blend, expert advice on making the best coffee at home and a sample bag. The sessions cost $25 per person, with group prices and private bookings available on request.

· bowen hills torrefazione: 10 Thompson Street, Bowen Hills

· fortitude valley torrefazione: 104 McLachlan St, Fortitude Valley

· southport torrefazione: Ferry Rd Markets, The Brickworks Centre, 107 Ferry Rd, Southport

· springfield torrefazione: Orion Springfield Town Centre, One Main Street, Springfield Lakes

· barmerlo acnm: Cnr Water & Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley

· barmerlo qut: Level 1, X Block, QUT Gardens Point Campus

· barmerlo george st: 239 George Street, Brisbane

· barmerlo market st: 10 Market Street, Brisbane

· barmerlo queen st: 344 Queen Street, Brisbane

· barmerlo uq: SS&H Library, Duhig Building, UQ St Lucia Campus, St Lucia

· barmerlo riverside: Riverside Centre Foyer, 123 Eagle Street

· barmerlo southbank: Shop 1D, Southbank Institute of Technology, 66 Ernest St, Southbank

· barmerlo airport: Brisbane International Airport, Departure & Check-in L4

merlocoffee can be found throughout Australia and internationally at the best and most innovative restaurant, bars and coffee houses. www.merlo.com.au