Coffee Future Lab
Presented by
The Coffee Future Lab presented by Coffee Commune at Food & Hospitality Queensland is a bold dive into what’s next for coffee, from how it’s brewed to how it’s bought, sold, and served.
From cutting-edge automation and the booming flavoured coffee market to controversial supply chain debates and wild new brews, each session dives deep into the trends reshaping the café world. Whether you’re a café owner, roaster, or just coffee-curious, this is your chance to experience the future of coffee – up close, unfiltered, and full of flavour.
The Brains Behind the Beans: Speaker Lineup
Chris Bowe
General Manager, Learning and Customer Experience / Coffee Commune
Raihaan Esat
General Manager / International Coffee Traders
Tim Sweet
Sales / Bombora Supplies
Jason Long
Commercial & Industrial Services / Coffee Commune
Sergio Londono
Head of Coffee / Jack Murat
Michael Bishop
Founder, Flavour Hunter, Storyteller / Alchemy Cordial Company
Understanding the Forces Reshaping Café Drinks
Sunday 12 October
9:00 am - 9:45 am
Coffee Future Lab
From Local Loaf to Iconic Status: How to Bake for—and Win—Your Market
Sunday 12 October
9:30 am - 10:15 am
Café Success Stage
Beyond the Smash: Mastering Sauces & Dressings with Australian Avocados
Sunday 12 October
9:30 am - 10:15 am
Chef's Table
Session sponsor
Cafe Strategy: Building a Profitable Business Model That Lasts
Sunday 12 October
10:30 am - 11:15 am
Café Success Stage
Queensland Growth Surge: Where Are The Smart Hospitality Operators Heading?
Sunday 12 October
10:30 am - 11:15 am
The Business Stage
Steven Minnikin
Minister for Customer Services and Open Data and Minister for Small and Family Business
Queensland Government
Andrew Baturo
Restaurateur
Dap & Co. Hospitality Group
Bernie Hogan
CEO
Queensland Hotels Association (QHA)
Rob Comiskey
Co-founder & Director
Comiskey Group
Clare Riley
Managing Editor
Restaurant Business
Session sponsor
Sustainability, Beyond The Buzz Words And Green Washing - The Circular Kitchen
Sunday 12 October
11:30 am - 12:15 pm
Chef's Table
Session sponsor
Bringing Your Breakfast A-Game: Menu Innovation That Drives Morning Revenue
Sunday 12 October
12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
Café Success Stage
How To Solve The Staffing Crisis Without Breaking The Bank
Sunday 12 October
12:15 pm - 1:00 pm
The Business Stage
Robert Smithson
Head of Culinary
dnata Catering & Retail
Isaac Gorton
Hospitality Recruitment Specialist
Frontline Hospitality Queensland
Laura Goldberg
Owner / Marketing Director
Hurricane's Grill
Clare Riley
Managing Editor
Restaurant Business
Kirsty Leigh
Operations Manager
Nundah Community Enterprises Cooperative
Session sponsor
Between Two Slices: Mastering the Art of Profitable Sandwich Operations
Sunday 12 October
1:00 pm - 1:45 pm
Café Success Stage
What does it take to scale your venue without losing your soul?
Sunday 12 October
1:15 pm - 2:00 pm
The Business Stage
Session sponsor
Nose to Tail: Maximising Profit and Sustainability Through Whole Animal Cooking
Sunday 12 October
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
Chef's Table
The $50,000 Mistake: How To Avoid Expensive Tech Failures
Sunday 12 October
2:15 pm - 3:00 pm
The Business Stage
Session sponsor
Disruptive Dialogues: Why Women Should Be Leading Hospitality's Future
Sunday 12 October
3:15 pm - 4:00 pm
The Business Stage
Session sponsor
Elevating Your Menu with Authentic Flatbreads: Techniques, Toppings & Profitability
Sunday 12 October
3:15 pm - 4:00 pm
Café Success Stage
Rewriting the Recipe – Aged Care Catering Under Reform
Monday 13 October
9:15 am
Aged Care Catering Summit (Separate Ticket Required)
The Sweet Spot - Insights Shaping The Future Of Desserts
Monday 13 October
9:30 am - 10:15 am
Café Success Stage
Navigating Nutrition – Managing Risk, Choice & Compliance
Monday 13 October
9:45 am
Aged Care Catering Summit (Separate Ticket Required)
Disrupted Dialogues: Behind The Pass
Monday 13 October
10:00 am - 10:45 am
Menu Engineering: How To Turn Every Dish Into Profit
Monday 13 October
10:30 am - 11:15 am
The Business Stage
Session sponsor
Playing to Your Strengths: Meeting Standard 6 with Smart Menu Design
Monday 13 October
11:00 am
Aged Care Catering Summit (Separate Ticket Required)
Fixing the Kitchen: Design, Equipment & Efficiency
Monday 13 October
11:15 am
Aged Care Catering Summit (Separate Ticket Required)
Traditional Roots, Modern Flame: Native Flavours Reimagined
Monday 13 October
11:30 am - 12:15 pm
Chef's Table
Too Good in Toowoomba: A Case Study For Local Community Success
Monday 13 October
11:30 am - 12:15 pm
The Business Stage
Session sponsor
Food Allergen Risk Management for Aged Care Caterers
Monday 13 October
11:45 am
Aged Care Catering Summit (Separate Ticket Required)
Disrupted Dialogues: Breadlines & Battle Cries - The Sandwich Uprising
Monday 13 October
12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
Café Success Stage
Session sponsor
"If I Had $100k..." Strategic Investment Planning
Monday 13 October
12:15 pm
Aged Care Catering Summit (Separate Ticket Required)
Green and Profitable: Restaurant Sustainability That Pays
Monday 13 October
12:30 pm - 1:15 pm
The Business Stage
Session sponsor
Coffee-nomics – What Every Café Owner Needs to Know
Monday 13 October
1:00 pm - 1:45 pm
Coffee Future Lab
Marketing that Works: The No-Bullsh*t Tactics Your Venue Needs
Monday 13 October
1:30 pm - 2:15 pm
The Business Stage
Session sponsor
Cafe Crowd Pleasers: Menu Items That Keep Customers Coming Back
Monday 13 October
1:30 pm - 2:15 pm
Café Success Stage
Session sponsor
The Fat Equation: The Science Behind Irresistible Burgers
Monday 13 October
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
Chef's Table
Ingredients with Impact: Smarter Sourcing for Better Results
Monday 13 October
2:15 pm
Aged Care Catering Summit (Separate Ticket Required)
From Invisible to Unmissable Venues: Is Digital Dominance Possible?
Monday 13 October
2:30 pm - 3:00 pm
The Business Stage
Session sponsor
The Mealtime Experience: From Kitchen to Table
Monday 13 October
2:45 pm
Aged Care Catering Summit (Separate Ticket Required)
Inside the Winning Slice: Emanuele Malara’s Signature Pizza
Monday 13 October
3:00 pm - 3:45 pm
Pizza Demos
Future-Proofing Your Business: What's coming next in hospitality?
Monday 13 October
3:15 pm - 4:00 pm
The Business Stage
Session sponsor