The coffee industry is hungry for knowledge and Melbourne International Coffee Expo is dishing up a feast for those who visit the event from 20 to 22 March 2025.
Whatever the challenge thrown its way, Australia’s coffee community bands together to find a way to overcome it. Instead of dividing and conquering, the industry often unites to solve a problem and a key component of this is sharing knowledge.
Whether it’s letting peers know what’s been successful and what’s not worth spending time or money on, or exchanging information gleaned from research and contacts, knowledge is power when it comes to business. Acutely aware of the strength of collaboration and the challenges facing the hospitality industry and coffee world, the organisers of Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE) are making education a core part of its 2025 event.
“We’re imbedded in the Australian coffee community and what’s clear is that there’s a huge desire for educational content right now,” says Lauren Chartres, MICE Show Director.
“People not only want to learn from their peers but also from other players in the supply chain. They want practical advice on a whole range of subjects, from how to navigate coffee pricing to making a business go viral on social media.”
Building on the success of the tradeshow’s educational content in 2024, both the Café Owners Education Series and Global Coffee Report Breakfast Symposium are set to return with extended programs. Industry and thought leaders from across Australia and beyond will take part in the line-up of panel discussions, talks, and case studies, sharing valuable insights and real-world guidance across the three-day event.
“At MICE2024, all the Global Coffee Report Breakfast Symposium sessions sold out before the event and the Café Owners Education Series discussions were packed out each day. There’s clearly a huge appetite for these knowledge-sharing events right now and we want to add even more value for the coffee professionals, café owners, and baristas who attend the show,” says Lauren.
“We’re working with the industry to curate a schedule of topics and themes that we know café owners and roasters are hungry for more information on.”
The Café Owners Education Series is designed to give café owners practical information that will help their businesses thrive. As part of the 2025 schedule, there will be discussions on menu curation, the rise of signature drinks, how to go viral on social media, the role of automation in the café, and so much more.
In response to the recent surge in coffee prices, industry experts will also explore the issue and offer real-world tips on how cafés can raise their coffee prices and communicate with their customers.
“We know café owners are often so busy that they have little time to talk to other people in the industry and find out how they’re addressing problems such as increasing coffee prices for consumers. These sessions are designed to give café owners all the information they need from industry leaders in one 45-minute discussion,” says Lauren.
The Global Coffee Report Breakfast Symposium has an international angle and will explore themes right across the supply chain. Global speakers will share their insights on topics such as climate change, European Union Deforestation Regulation, pricing volatility, and Asia’s thriving coffee market.
“The international coffee scene is fast-paced and ever changing, so we’ll be keeping an eye on the latest trends and challenges in the run-up to the event to ensure the program of topics is relevant and dynamic,” says Lauren.
A full schedule of all the events will be published before the show. Entry to the Café Owners Education Series is free, but seats are expected to fill fast and are available on a first come first served basis. Tickets for the Global Coffee Report Breakfast Symposium can be purchased in advance from the MICE website.
For more information, visit internationalcoffeeexpo.com
