Mosaic is not just the name of Lavazza Australia’s new range—it also describes their approach to combining quality elements to create a unified and authentic reflection of contemporary coffee culture. It started with the goal of distilling the nation’s rich coffee story into an exceptional flavour experience. It came to fruition through the collaboration of inspired artists and coffee experts who know Australian tastes.

Coffee specialists at Lavazza have been crafting this inventive collection of blends for the past two years, drawing on distinguishing local influences to deliver a result that reflects Australia’s world-renowned coffee reputation.

“Lavazza has been in Australia for 50 years, and our coffee is roasted right here in Melbourne, so to celebrate we are releasing a new line that embraces the country’s contemporary coffee community,” says Nick Ferrara, Lavazza Trainer and Ambassador.

“We approached the Mosaic range very differently than any other coffee we’ve launched here previously. We wanted to show that we understand the market and are part of the market, so this line is quintessentially Australian.”

Fittingly, this range has been developed exclusively for cafés and restaurants in Australia, catering to local tastes. To find what ‘the perfect cup’ means to locals, Lavazza undertook a meticulous research process.

The search for bliss in a cup

To capture a 360-degree view of the nation’s preferences, the team conducted a careful audit of almost 100 coffees on the market. This audit included interviews with premium café customers to learn their perceptions of Lavazza, mapping the local coffee market by conducting a series of tastings over 12 months, and inviting consumers to in-depth tastings of existing products.

 

“We wanted to comprehend what consumers look for in a great coffee, so we invited 100 people, both external and internal, to blind taste our existing blends and competitors’ roasts. We asked them to grade each coffee on strength, bitterness, and sweetness,” says Nick.

 

“We plotted the results on a graph with Earthy/Chocolaty on one end of the scale, Fruity/Acidic on the other, and Body/Strength as a vertical axis. What we noticed from the results was that, surprisingly, most people only really care about the levels of bitterness and sweetness, and that strength isn’t an important factor.

 

“As we wanted to cover the whole spectrum of tastes in the Australian market, we used the graph to plot where our three new blends should sit among the most popular parameters. We decided on one at the chocolaty end of the scale, one in the middle, and another towards the fruitier side.”

 

Once the taste profiles of the new coffees had been selected, it was time to find the blend combination that would produce the desired finish. The testing started with cupping eight individual origins to understand their characteristics and flavours, then sampling 22 different combinations of the coffees to find the perfect blends.

 

“We created a spider chart with markers of Fruity, Floral, Sweet, Nutty, Cocoa, and Biscuit for each blend we wanted to create. We then tried each proposed blend black, with dairy milk, and with a range of alternative milks,” says Nick.

 

The blends performed beautifully, combining smoothly with different milks while providing appealing options for busy cafés and their varied clientele.

 

This impressive milestone had been achieved through a commitment to respecting diverse elements of the coffee taste mosaic. However, it was not yet done – there were additional pieces needed to complete the full picture.

 

A harmony of artistic input

While the Lavazza team assembled the puzzle of the country’s ideal cuppa, they also drew on the expertise of three of Australia’s most skilled makers and artists. Each contributed unique insights into Australian appetites, elevating the Mosaic experience.

 

Chocolatier and founder of Pana Organic, Pana Barbounis, expanded the flavour options on the table, adding notes of chocolate, biscuits and nuts. Distiller at Starward Whisky, Carlie Dyer, imparted her blending and flavour acumen to the process, honed at the proudly Melbourne-based distillery. Mosaic’s bold packaging and branding are the creation of artist Daimon Downey, providing a vibrant portrait of the Australian coffee scene.

 

“Working alongside Daimon, we approached the artistic concept of mosaic through a contemporary Australian lens, while also ensuring we stayed true to Lavazza’s heritage,” says Peter Dorkota, Lavazza Trainer and Ambassador.

 

Daimon was commissioned by Lavazza to design original artwork for Mosaic that told a distinctly Australian narrative by highlighting our country’s contrasting landscapes. Each of the three new blends in the Mosaic collection is adorned with its own print, evoking a mosaic pattern:

 

Tidal – reflects Australia’s coastline and sparkling blue hues. Ochre – inspired by the outback’s red and orange warm tones. Retreat – cool green tones pay homage to lush rainforests.

 

Rule of three

 

The flavour profiles of the three winning blends are as distinctive as their appearance.

 

Nick and Peter believe Tidal is the fruitiest of the collection. It boasts 100 percent Arabica from South America and Papua New Guinea, medium roasted to accentuate its sweetness and fragrant notes of plum and green apple.

 

Described as the ultimate crowd-pleaser, Ochre provides a superb balance between chocolatey and fruity. It is a blend of Brazilian, Ethiopian, and Colombian beans, satisfying lovers of fruity notes without the acidity. The Lavazza team define it as “smooth yet robust, with notes of Pink Lady apples and nuts, with a chocolate aftertaste”.

 

Retreat is the go-to blend in the collection for those who prefer a full-bodied taste on a milk base. Selected Arabica and Robusta beans deliver low acidity and notes of chocolate, nuts, toffee, and malt.

 

Though all the coffees are roasted and packed at the roastery in Melbourne, to ensure standards remain high, Lavazza Australia follows the European Union’s strict protocols and requirements.

 

“These protocols aren’t mandatory in Australia, but we have chosen to continue with the same high standards upheld in Europe. Each product, therefore, goes through 11 quality assurance steps,” says Nick.

 

In addition to providing a striking look, Lavazza’s packaging also preserves the taste of its contents. Before the beans are packaged, they are flushed with nitrogen to remove oxygen (which can cause coffee to go stale) and carbon dioxide from the silos in which they are stored to help extend the shelf life of the beans. To keep the coffee tasting as fresh as possible for as long as possible, the bags feature a one-way valve to ensure carbon dioxide can escape without oxygen getting in. In this way, the team upholds the highest of standards in every component that makes up the finished product.

 

 

A timeless mosaic

 

The time has now come for Nick, Peter, and the Lavazza team to share Mosaic with Australia, and they’re thrilled to enter this next stage. No longer individual parts, it is now a cohesive and exciting new range that is sure to delight coffee fans, no matter their brew preference. The Mosaic coffees are now available following their unveiling in August at an industry launch party at Starward Distillery in Melbourne. In addition, the three blends will be joined by a rotating seasonal single origin, adding to the options in the collection.

 

“We were determined to bring something fresh and innovative to the industry, and that required almost two years of research and development to deliver this new portfolio that truly delivers to the Australian coffee palate,” says Peter.

 

“We want to ensure this brand comes alive and we can’t wait to see people enjoy it. There’s an authentic story behind each coffee that captures the personality of Australia.”

 

To celebrate the launch of the Mosaic range, Lavazza is offering something special for attendees of the Fine Food Australia 2024 event. There are three fantastic prizes up for grabs:

 

Major Prize Includes:

• Limited Edition Mosaic-themed drip setup. MoccaMaster wrapped in Mosaic theme Plus Fellow Ode Brew Coffee Grinder Gen 2.
• 1-year supply of locally roasted Mosaic Lavazza Single Origin coffee (1 box per quarter)
• Ultimate Mosaic Lavazza merch pack to celebrate this exciting new locally roasted range
• $3K cash to spend on your café or yourself!

 

Two Runners-Up Prizes of:

• Limited Edition Mosaic-themed drip setup.  MoccaMaster wrapped in Mosaic theme Plus Fellow Ode Brew Coffee Grinder Gen 2.
• 1-year supply of locally roasted Mosaic Lavazza Single Origin coffee (1 box per quarter)
• Ultimate Mosaic Lavazza merch pack to celebrate this exciting new locally roasted range

 

 

Enter the competition here!