Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE2025) is gearing up to be the best yet. We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 things to see and do at this year’s unmissable coffee event, taking place at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 20 to 22 March.
Roasters Playground
The inaugural Roasters Playground is the centrepiece of the show, and is welcoming the largest lineup of roasters to date. Sponsored by La Marzocco, the Playground will see a roster of 36 roasters showcase their blends over the course of the three-day event – get ready to sip and slurp some amazing coffees.
Masterclasses with Breville
Breville is running 12 masterclasses across the three-day expo designed for both home enthusiasts and professionals. The masterclasses will cover all manner of topics – from tutorials on steaming non-dairy milks to how to become a world-class barista. The best bit? Attendees can catch a glimpse behind the espresso machines thanks to a mirrored stage which provides a bird’s eye view.
Sign up for the masterclasses here.
Win an espresso machine every hour, on the hour
Attendees can showcase their skills for a chance to enter a draw to win one of 15 machines that Breville is giving away throughout the event, every hour between 11am and 4pm. Head to the Melbourne Coffee Festival for deets on how to enter.
Cocktails with The Bean Cartel
Alongside the demo stage at Melbourne Coffee Festival will be the Espresso Bar, sponsored by specialty roaster The Bean Cartel. In the mornings, the team will serve their award-winning coffees, while in the afternoon the baristas will shake up espresso martinis and other coffee-infused drinks – as well as what they’re tipping to be ‘the next big thing’ in signature drinks.
Café Owners Education Series and GCR Leaders Symposium
Event organisers are brewing up an educational storm. The free-to-attend Café Owners Education Series, held across all three days, will return with an extended program, covering essential topics such as coffee pricing, staff shortages, menu curation, and navigating social media.
Meanwhile, the Global Coffee Report Breakfast Symposium, scheduled from 20 to 21 March in the mornings before MICE, features a lineup of international speakers covering topics such as global expansion and pricing and supply chain challenges.
La Marzocco’s exclusive screening of The Rise of the Espresso
Directed by Enrico Ventrice and promoted by Accademia del Caffe Espresso, this documentary celebrates the rapid and widespread appreciation for espresso.
The Rise of Espresso explores the personal stories of Italian immigrants who rebuilt their lives from scratch while simultaneously writing a new chapter in history.
Screenings will take place on 20 and 21 March at 10.30am.
HARIO Games
Brewing equipment manufacturer HARIO is launching the inaugural Australian HARIO Games, a hands-on brewing competition that debuted at World of Coffee 2024 in Copenhagen.
The competition will unfold across three intense rounds, with the playoffs and semifinals held on 21 March, and finals on 22 March.
Milklab Barista Battle
For MICE2025, Milklab is bringing back the International Barista Battle, a knock-out style and online-based latte art competition.
Baristas from all over Australia have showcased their skills and creativity in an online latte art forum hosted on Instagram. The entrants with the best pour will represent their state in the national finals at MICE2025 on 21 March.
The grand champion will pick up a $3000 prize and be invited to become a Milklab Master Barista.
Milklab Roaster Royale
Milklab’s Roaster Royale is returning for its second year at MICE. As part of the competition, roasters compete to create their own coffee roast using supplied green beans from InterAmerican Coffee that best pair with Milklab Oat.
The top prize includes a trip to Brazil, $10,000 in cash, and a Milklab Roaster Partnership, while the runner-up will receive $5000. Additionally, the MICE favourite – a new category where attendees will blind taste the top five roasts to decide the winner – will receive $1000.
The Milkbar by Riverina Fresh
Attendees can find the Australian dairy icon nestled within the Roasters Playground with the brand’s full product range on display – café owners and roasters who attend are sure to find the perfect flavour pairing.
Visitors can also enjoy crema caffe – a deliciously whipped coffee dessert.
Don’t want to miss out on the fun? Secure your ticket for MICE here.
