Festive Aussie Blends We Can't Wait to Try

We are well into December now and signs of Christmas approaching are impossible to miss. Carols are blaring over shop intercoms and your go-to supermarket is probably already sold out of your favourite Christmas biscuits. 

To all the pre-planners, early gift shoppers, and overall “organised” individuals - we salute you, but we aren't you. 

For many of us, December means being in a state of mild panic, staring fixedly at a calendar, and wondering how we got here so quickly.

SOME of us still need to shop for our significant others, our parents, our friends...  and yes, also for our relatives who assured us we would only do “gifts for the kids” this year, because we know (as well as they), that Aunt Sue (insert your own aunt here) is going to defy that rule and make us all look bad.

Lucky for us coffee folk, finding gifts for our fellow coffee-lovers is relatively easy thanks to the many “festive” blends that have been released this year. These colourfully packaged, charmingly named blends have been all over our instagram feeds and have made the journey right onto our Christmas wish lists AND gift lists. 

Here is a list of the festive coffee blends here in Australia that have caught our eye.

- Christmas Blends to try and/or gift: -

1. Axil Coffee’s “Holiday Blend”

Obviously, Axil has been on everybody's lips since September when the talented Anthony Douglas won the World Barista Championships. Anthony works for Axil and represents the brand, and as a fellow Australian who is the first person to win on his own turf… we can’t get enough of him.

With tasting notes of  “rum & raisin, cherry and chocolate cake” this whole bean blend is sure to bring a smile to every-barista on your NICE list. 

2. Code Black Coffee Roaster’s “12 Days of Coffee”

Everyone loves an Advent Calendar. So much so, that we are seeing them pop up all over the place, featuring everything from traditional chocolates, to socks, and even puzzles. 

Santa must have read our letter this year because a coffee Advent Calendar is exactly what we wished for. This calendar features 12 days of two-person servings (40g of whole beans) of a range of coffees for you and a plus-one to try leading up to Christmas. A QR code on the box links you to information about each coffee’s “process, region, cup, and roast.”  

As many of you already know, Code Black Coffee Roasters hosted the World Espresso Championships with Dalla Corte in September, creating a special blend for the event. After an intense battle of national champions, Jr. Vargas took home the title of World Espresso Champion earning him 5,000 Euro. 

*Special Mention: Code Black Coffee’s “Happy Everything” blend: featuring notes of “Cherry, Dried Berries, Chocolate & Spice”.

3. Ona Coffee’s “Two Pudd Too Good”

Ona Coffee has a big reputation. Founded by World Barista Champion Saša Šestić, who mentored and coached three-time Australian Barista Champion Hugh Kelly, Ona was forged in a passion for coffee by someone who demands excellence and produces it. Well known for its quality and sustainability, you really can’t go wrong with Ona. 

Ona’s seasonal offering, “Two Pudd Too Good” boasts notes of: “Raisin, fruit cake, cherry glaze and chocolate liquor” and features a festive label, on which a classic Christmas pudding sits against a jolly green background. This milk-based roast comes in whole beans. 

4. 7 MILES “The Christmas Blend”

7 MILES has had a big year, joining forces with other roasteries in a large merger which saw them grow as a company exponentially. Their holiday blend, “The Christmas Blend” combines three single origins together to “bring you the taste of Christmas in a cup”. This whole bean Omni Roast has been designed to work well in both Filter and Espresso preparation and features flavour notes of: “Creamy milk chocolate with rum & raisin sweetness”.