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Australia’s best coffee revealed – and it isn’t where you think it is

Emily MurphyBy Emily Murphy
The judges have spoken, and the flavours taking top honours are ones you’ll want to try.

Australia’s obsession with coffee has reached new heights with the country’s best brew officially crowned at the 2025 Sydney Royal Fine Food Show. After a blind tasting process that saw judges work their way through hundreds of entries, Brisbane’s Coffee Mentality has taken home the prestigious Champion Coffee title.

For a nation that prides itself on its caffeine culture, the result is as much a victory for local Brisbane coffee producers as it is for the daily coffee drinkers who demand nothing but the best.

The blend that impressed the judges

Coffee being poured by man with tattoos.
Coffee Mentality’s Auditory blend was crowned Champion Coffee. (Image: Nathan Dumlao / Unsplash)

Judges described the winning coffee as rich, complex and beautifully balanced, the kind of brew that lingers long after the last sip. Coffee Mentality’s Auditory blend stood out from a field of more than 1600 entries across 72 classes, a reminder that great coffee is as much about craftsmanship as it is about beans.

The Sydney Royal Fine Food Show is known for its rigorous standards and has become one of the most respected platforms for producers to prove their worth. To take out the top coffee prize is to declare yourself the leader of a nation that lives and breathes cafe culture.

Unlike international competitions, where beans can be sourced from anywhere, the Sydney Royal awards put a strong focus on Australian produce. All entries must contain at least 85 per cent Australian ingredients. Coffee Mentality’s win is therefore not just about flavour, but also about the rise of locally grown beans and the roasters who are finding new ways to showcase them.

Other winners worth celebrating

Coffee being poured with latte art
All entries must contain at least 85 per cent Australian ingredients. (Image: Fahmi Fakhrudin / Unsplash)

While coffee took the headline, it was just one part of a showcase that celebrated the diversity of Australian food and drink. Rice Culture was named Champion Drink for its Organic Black Koji Amazake, a fermented rice drink that reflects the growing popularity of craft non-alcoholic beverages.

Slowbreads Roseville impressed again with its Fig, Cranberry and Walnut Sourdough, taking home the Champion Sourdough title. The PieFather in Rosebery made headlines of its own by winning Champion Pie with the quirky but delicious MickTaco pie. Mandolé Orchard continued its dominance in the Champion Plant-Based Product category with its Honey Almond Butter, showing that nut spreads can be every bit as decadent as traditional dairy.

Meat lovers were also well represented. Stockyard Beef was declared Grand Champion Beef Exhibit for its Stockyard Black, while Millin’s Free Range Butcher won Champion Fresh Sausage with its beef Philly cheesesteak sausages. These winners highlight the breadth of Australia’s food scene, from boutique producers experimenting with new flavours to established names pushing boundaries in traditional categories.

So, while a humble cup of coffee might be the headline act, the bigger story is the creativity, dedication and innovation running through every part of Australia’s food industry. Whether you are chasing the perfect morning brew, hunting down sourdough with a twist or curious enough to try a pie inspired by tacos, the 2025 Sydney Royal Fine Food Show has made one thing clear. The best flavours of Australia are being created right now, and they are worth every sip and every bite.

Emily Murphy
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
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8 ways to discover a new side of Port Stephens

    Kate BettesBy Kate Bettes
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    Aussies might think they know what Port Stephens is all about – but it’s time to take another look.

    You might’ve driven through this NSW coast town. Maybe even stopped for fish and chips or a quick dip. But spend a long weekend in the new Port Stephens , and you’ll seriously regret not doing it sooner. We’re talking treks across beaches, reef dives and up-close time with rescued koalas.

    All in all? It only takes a day before you see Port Stephens in a whole new light, and not much longer until it’s locked in as your favourite family destination.

    1. Stockton Sand Dunes

    Port Stephens incredible Stockton Sand Dunes are the largest moving sand mass in the Southern Hemisphere. They shift like an endless magic trick across the Worimi Conservation Lands , a 4200-hectare coastal co-managed by the Traditional Owners.

    Tear over them in a 4WD. Rev through valleys soft as melting ice cream on a quad. Carve down 30-metre slopes on a sandboard. However you choose to cross them, you’re guaranteed a seriously wild ride.

    Four rugged 4WDs kick up trails of golden dust as they charge across the sweeping desert landscape.
    Chase thrills across shifting sands. (Image: Destination NSW)

    2. Scale Tomaree Head Summit Walk

    A short climb through bushland opens up to the coastal drama of Tomaree Head . Spot Zenith, Wreck and Box Beaches. See the Fingal Island lighthouse and offshore rookeries where Australia’s rarest seabird, the Gould’s petrel, nests.

    History buffs can’t miss the WWII gun emplacements. And if you’re hiking between May and November, bring binoculars. Travelling whales might just be breaching below.

    Friends enjoying a scenic walk along the Tomaree Head Summit Walk in Tomaree National Park, Port Stephens.
    Climb Tomaree Head for jaw-dropping coastal views. (Image: Destination NSW)

    3. Watch out for whales

    You’ve seen the spouts of migrating humpbacks and southern right whales from shore. Set sail from Nelson Bay to see them up close. Cruise straight into the action, with tail-slaps, barrel rolls and all.

    And they’ve got competition from the local show-offs. Port Stephens bottlenose dolphins leap and play. Some tours even spot pudgy fur seals, spending lazy days soaking up the sun on Cabbage Tree Island.

    A whale’s tail on the sea’s surface.
    Watch for ocean tails. (Image: Destination NSW)

    4. Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary

    Pop into the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary  to learn about the rescued koalas who climb, nap, snack and heal in this natural patch of bushland. Wander the immersive Sanctuary Story Walk to discover more about their habits, then head to the SKYwalk – a treetop platform constructed for spotting these eucalyptus-loving locals. Peek into the hospital’s viewing window, where sick or injured koalas may be resting in their recovery enclosures.

    Not enough time around these adorable marsupials? Stay overnight in silk-lined glamping tents.

    Koala sleeping in a tree at Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary, One Mile
    See koalas in their natural habitat. (Image: Destination NSW)

    5. Diving Port Stephens

    Port Stephens has some of NSW’s best dive spots. At Fly Point, float through sponge gardens and coral castles thick with nudibranchs (AKA sea slugs). Halifax Park has blue gropers and crimson-banded wrasse, while Shoal Bay’s seagrass meadows hide pipefish, cuttlefish and octopus.

    Accessible only by boat, Broughton Island is home to a vast array of marine (and bird) life. Snorkel with blue devilfish and stingrays at sites like The Looking Glass and North Rock. More experienced divers can head out with one of the many PADI-certified operators.

    At nearby Cabbage Tree Island, expect to see shaggy-faced wobbegongs cruising along.

    A couple suited up and ready to dive into adventure.
    Suit up and dive into Port Stephens’ vibrant marine life. (Image: Destination NSW)

    6. Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters

    Not quite ready to dive in? Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters is the perfect way to spot local marine life without getting too deep. But there’s no obnoxious glass tank tapping here. Instead, this interactive aquarium allows guests to wade into natural-style lagoons that mimic the real thing.

    Gently pat Port Jackson and bamboo sharks, hand-feed rays, and feel their sandpapery skin with your fingertips. It is all under expert guidance. If you want to go deeper, pop on a wetsuit and swim alongside tawny nurse sharks, white-tipped reef sharks and zebra sharks in the lagoon.

    Family enjoying an animal feeding experience at Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters, Anna Bay.
    Meet the ocean’s friendliest faces at Irukandji. (Image: Destination NSW)

    7. Fish the estuaries

    Fishing fanatics will fall for Port Stephens hook, line and sinker. Here, one of the largest estuary systems in the whole state sees tidal rivers and mangrove ecosystems. Waterfronts are thick with oysters, and residential fish that might include anything from bream, whiting and flathead, to blue swimmer crabs, kingfish and longtail tuna.

    If you prefer to choose your own adventure and fish offshore, you can hire a boat from one of the marinas and set your own course.

    three men fishing on a boat in port stephens
    Join a tour or chart your own fishing trip. (Image: Destination NSW)

    8. Taste new Port Stephens flavours

    With plenty of activity to fill your days, refuelling on delectable cuisine becomes equally important. And Port Stephens answers the call.

    Pop into Holbert’s Oyster Farm for fresh-farmed Port Stephens rock oysters and Pacific oysters, Australian king and tiger prawns, as well as a variety of tasty sauces to try them with.

    Take a group to Atmos for an authentic Greek experience over large shared dishes and Greek-inspired cocktails. Or feast on sea-to-plate, modern Australian dishes at the pet-friendly Restaurant 2317.

    A plate of fresh oysters.
    Slurp your way through the region’s best oysters. (Image: Destination NSW)

    Start planning your Port Stephens getaway at portstephens.org.au .