From everything you need to know to establish your first café to the use of AI in the coffee industry, MICE2026’s lineup of educational panel discussions will share practical advice from some of the industry’s most experienced professionals.
Despite what some may say, ChatGPT can’t give the answer to everything. For example, it might be able to regurgitate some of the basic points needed to set up a café business in Australia, but it can’t describe from experience the unexpected obstacles it overcame, the advice passed down from hospitality pioneers, or the current windows of opportunity in a particular city.
This practical and personalised approach to advice and education is at the core of Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE). Aware of the power of knowledge sharing and off the back of the hugely successful series of panel discussions at the 2025 event, for the next edition of the international tradeshow organisers are planning their most comprehensive and useful educational program to date.
“These discussions provide a platform for global thought-leaders, local experts, and passionate coffee professionals to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and prepare the industry for the challenges and opportunities ahead,” says MICE Moderator Sarah Baker.
“MICE education inspires both business and craft. It gives professionals the tools, insights, and connections they need to thrive in a fast-changing industry.”
The Café Education Series will run throughout the duration of MICE2026 and aims to give café owners practical advice, industry insights, and a platform to discuss ideas and issues that are important to them and their business.
Sessions will cover topics such as how to establish your first coffee venue, the key to business longevity, what it takes to become one of the world’s top cafés, menu innovation and its link to profitability, and so much more.
Kirk Pearson, Founder of Project Zero Coffee, was one of the panellists to take part in 2025’s discussion on ‘Cafés of the future and market disrupters’.
“I really enjoyed being a panellist. I learnt a lot from Connor [Nestor] and Matteo [Barbarossa] who were up there with me,” he says.
“It was good to bounce ideas off them and disagree with each other a little bit as well. I found it to be a very productive discussion.”
Kirk highlights the value of attending knowledge-sharing events such as the Café Education Series.
“If you’re working in the industry or thinking of joining it, there’s so much you can learn from events like MICE – it’s free education,” he says.
“With time for questions, it’s really interactive, so there’s a lot of value if you want to learn more about the coffee industry.”
For those who want a deeper dive into the coffee market, the GCR Symposium series takes place before the doors open for general admission and explores themes such as market consolidation, emerging coffee production regions, use of AI in the industry, and the expansion of quality coffee into the wider hospitality space.
In this series, international speakers share their insights on where they think the market may go and what that means for those doing business in Australia and New Zealand.
Of course, the panel discussions aren’t the only learning opportunities at MICE2026. Throughout the three-day event, exhibitors will host a range of engaging activations, including cupping sessions, tastings, smackdowns, and more.
MICE2026 takes place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 26 to 28 March.
For more information, visit internationalcoffeeexpo.com
This article appears in the October 2025 edition of BeanScene. Subscribe HERE.
