The ‘Best of Honduras: Late Harvest’ auction for 2018 began yesterday, with an International Panel of judges arriving at the headquarters of IHCAFE to begin calibration and judging sessions.

We spoke to a new judge, Sian Minary-Bland about her career in coffee and attending her first coffee judging event at origin.

How long have you worked in coffee for?

I have been working in coffee for roughly three and a half years. I first started in a local eatery in Canberra’s parliamentary triangle. I was waitressing at the time but I knew I wanted to broaden my skills and within a few months I was trained as a barista. I moved to Sydney not long after and found another barista job in a high volume cafe within the Commonwealth Bank buildings. But when I moved back to Canberra and started working with ONA I knew I was only at the beginning of understanding coffee and what it takes to be a good barista.

Where do you currently work?

Currently I have been overseas travelling with my partner. We have been exploring what the world has to offer and along the way finding some speciality coffee shops. It has been quite refreshing finding people all over the world that share the same passion as you. What drew you to coffee and working with it? Initially I knew the coffee industry is one of the biggest in the world and if I could have even the basic skills it would give me job opportunities wherever I travelled. Now I enjoy how it provides an opportunity to meet so many people whether they are in the industry or just regular customers. I think coffee is ever evolving and you can always learn something day to day which keeps it interesting. I think in particular with ONA we are always trying to push the boundaries and for every coffee there is a new boundary to push.

What is your favourite part of the industry?

I am still quite new to the industry but every aspect right from farmer to cup has its own unquieness. I think one of my favourite things is how coffee connects the world. For example being able to travel half way across the world, sit down in a cafe and chat to the local barista about where they source beans, who roasts their coffee and what they enjoy. It has a real sense of community and we all share a passion for making quality coffee.

How did you get involved with Project Origin?

Working with ONA links in with Project Origin as they source the coffees, so naturally I got to meet Habib and Yanina through working at ONA. Before I left for overseas they put on a slid show about Project Origin and I found it very fascinating, especially how they have Best of Auctions and how much work goes into producing and processing coffee. So when the opportunity came up I knew it was something I couldn’t pass up.

Will the Best of Honduras Auction be your first origin trip?

Yes!! I think the turning point for me was when I got to meet one of the producers, Don Fabio from Honduras. He shared his stories about being a producer and it really hit a note with me how much passion and commitment they put into growing coffee. Just the sheer amount of work to grow coffee is incredible. From that point on I thought if the opportunity to go to origin and see first hand and meet the producers I had to go. And what better way to hopefully see these producers get the best for their hard work then at the Best of Auction event.

Do you have a favourite coffee or coffee producing country?

For me I love Ethiopian coffees. I remember the first Ethiopian coffee I had was actually at ONA when I first started and I have loved it ever since. I really enjoy fruity flavours and aromatics. Is there anything in particular you will be looking for/to achieve in Honduras? To absorb and learn as much as I can in such a short time. Meet as many people as possible within the industry. To have a better understanding of what Project Origin do and how the worldwide coffee community connects and revolves.