River Roast is a boutique, hands on coffee roastery located near Newcastle, NSW, Australia. James Carter is the Master Roaster who founded the business in 2008 in Maitland. Soon after, in 2009, River Roast's Paterson Blend won the most prestigious coffee award in Australia. Champion (Gold) Espresso at the Sydney Royal Fine Food Show. Barrington Blend won Bronze for plunger also. In 2010 Paterson Blend achieved a first in the history of Sydney Royal Competition. Back to back Gold medals! Hawkesbury Blend won Silver for Cappuccino and Barrington again won Bronze for Plunger. Success has continued with Silver in 2012 and 2013 for Paterson (Espresso). James has been involved in the coffee industry for over 20 years, starting by sweeping floors in a boutique roastery in Sydney then moving on the Byron Bay to consult and continue sweeping. River Roast was a natural progression from James' retail/training business Real Coffee founded in Lake Macquarie, NSW in 2000.