Australian International Coffee Awards — Melbourne Royal
149 medallists tracked · 2022
The Australian International Coffee Awards (AICA) is run by Melbourne Royal — the same organisation behind the Royal Melbourne Show. Held annually at Melbourne Showgrounds, it draws entries from across Australia and internationally, with roasters from Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia, and New Zealand competing alongside Australian entrants.
Categories span five brew methods: Espresso, Milk Coffee, Pour Over, Immersion, and Cold Brew. Each is split into Blend and Single Origin sub-categories. The 2022 edition received 709 entries from 174 exhibitors across 11 countries.
Below is every medallist we've imported. Where the roaster has a current deal, it's one click to their store.
About the award
The AICA started in 2013 as part of Melbourne Royal's broader agricultural and fine food awards program. Unlike the Golden Bean — which is primarily an AU/NZ competition — the AICA is explicitly international. Entries from Southeast Asia, East Asia, and the Pacific are common, and the Champion International Roaster trophy exists alongside the Champion Australian Roaster.
Judging takes place over three days at Melbourne Showgrounds with a panel of 20+ judges, led by a Head Judge from the industry advisory group. Entries are scored blind using SCA-aligned cupping protocols. The awards are announced at the Melbourne Royal Show, typically in late September or early October.
In 2022, Campos Coffee took the Champion Australian Roaster trophy. White Horse Coffee won Best Cold Brew. Latitude Coffee Roasters won Best Pour Over Single Origin. Names familiar from the Golden Bean results — suggesting the top-tier Australian roasters compete seriously across multiple programs.
How it's judged
Entries are brewed by a dedicated team of baristas under the direction of the Head Judge, ensuring consistent preparation across all entries. Judges score each cup independently on a 100-point scale covering aroma, flavour, acidity, body, balance, and aftertaste.
The panel includes working roasters, baristas, and coffee professionals drawn from the Australian and international industry. All identifying information is removed from entries before judging.
Browse the winners
Top placings
10 cups the panel kept coming back to.
| Year | Category | Roaster | Coffee | Medal | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | matiere | Fruity rich | Gold | Source ↗ | |
| 2022 | FiORi Coffee | Holy Roller | Gold | Source ↗ | |
| 2022 | E ROASTERS | Drunken Warrior | Gold | Source ↗ | |
| 2022 | Campos Coffee | Colombia Santa Monica | Gold | Source ↗ | |
| 2022 | Coffee Mentality | Olfactory Blend | Gold | Source ↗ | |
| 2022 | Danes | Ascension | Gold | Source ↗ | |
| 2022 | White Horse Coffee | White Horse Coffee – Cold Brew | Gold | Source ↗ | |
| 2022 | E ROASTERS | Colombia Cerro Azul | Gold | Source ↗ | |
| 2022 | Campos Coffee | Colombia Santa Monica | Gold | Source ↗ | |
| 2022 | ARTIGIANO COFFEE | Angel Fruit House Blend | Gold | Source ↗ |