"Welcome to Five Senses Coffee"

The first Five Senses Synesso espresso machine arrived in May 06 and was fired up for the first time at the June long weekend Food and Wine festival. From then it began travelling the country on an exclusive roadshow where it was showcased at many prestigious events beginning with the 2006 Aroma Festival held in Sydney.

The Aroma Festival was held at the Rocks in Sydney where the Australian Specialty Coffee Association (AASCA) hosted a champion’s tent featuring the world’s best barista’s. Organisers flew the current World Barista Champion Klaus Thomsen from Denmark, the Indian Barista Champion, K.S. Gautam, and the Russian Barista Champion, Yelizarova Tatiana, as their special guests.

The talented group of baristas provided demos and also had the opportunity to have a play on a Synesso for their first time. The event also had some local guests such as current World Latte Art Champion from Australia, Scottie Callaghan and Hazel de los Reyes, the 2005 Australian Barista Champion.

Held on Sunday 23 July, The Aroma Festival is an annual event held at the Rocks in Sydney. The Festival is a coffee-lover’s paradise and is considered the largest coffee festival in the Southern hemisphere.

As the current World Barista Champion, Klaus Thomsen, certainly draws a crowd with his knowledge, technique and ability to make the perfect cup of coffee. Watch in particular his ‘Stockfleth’ technique of coffee distribution and relatively low dosing level (by Australian standards). Bear in mind Klaus jumped straight on this machine ‘cold’ so every shot wasn’t up to his usual impeccable standards.

Hazel de Los Reyes always impresses with her barista skills and her amazingly well rounded knowledge of all facets of coffee. Hazel uses a typical Australian up-dosing approach, with a slightly coarser grind and higher dose level. Does anyone speak more eloquently or passionately about coffee than Hazel?

After the Aroma Festival the Five Senses Synesso travelled to The Cauldron where Hazel put it through its paces, then on to St Ali for the Melbourne barista crowd to check out.