MILKLAB launches Roaster Royale 2027 with almond focus – BeanScene

MILKLAB has announced the return of Roaster Royale for its fourth year, with the competition once again shining a spotlight on Australian coffee roasters.

“Roaster Royale is back for its fourth year, and we couldn’t be more excited,” says Natalie Latimore, General Manager Marketing at Noumi.

“Australian roasters are the backbone of our coffee community. This competition is our way of putting them centre stage and celebrating the craft that goes into every cup.”

For 2027, the competition will take a new direction, with entrants challenged to create coffees designed specifically for MILKLAB Almond, with supplied green beans from InterAmerican Coffee.

Natalie says the decision to centre the 2027 competition around MILKLAB Almond was a nod to the brand’s origins.

“For the first time, the competition is all about MILKLAB Almond, the milk so many baristas and cafés first got to know us through. It’s where our story started, so it felt right to bring it to the heart of the competition,” she says.

Entrants will create and submit a roast using the supplied beans, with coffees assessed through a blind-judging process. Finalists will then go head-to-head on stage at the Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE), where the 2027 champion will be crowned. Previous winners include Extraction Coffee Roasters and Ratio Coffee Roasters.

The winner will receive a trip to Colombia, a $10,000 cash prize, and a MILKLAB Roaster Partnership, while second and third place will take home $5000 and $2500 respectively.

Entries are now open, with Australian roasters invited to put their skills to the test for the chance to be named the Roaster Royale 2027 champion.

For more information, visit milklab.com.au/roaster-royale