MICE is a place to sample, slurp and celebrate coffee, but it’s also a place where new talent is unveiled, and innovation is revealed.
In the case of MICE Platinum Sponsor MilkLab, its stand will showcase its whole product range with a special focus on its latest release of Milklab Oat. This product was designed in collaboration with baristas to ensure texture, stretch, and pour with high perform. The result, is a smooth and creamy dairy alternative, made in Australia with 100 per cent Australian oats.
“MILKLAB Oat has a mild oat flavour and natural, subtle sweetness that complements the flavour of espresso coffee,” says MilkLab Marketing Manager Natalie Latimore.
MilkLab Oat is fortified with calcium, an essential nutrient required to support healthy bones and teeth. It is Halal and Kocher certified, vegetarian and vegan suitable, and contains no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.
Visitors will be able to sample the new release which will be paired with White Horse Coffee’s flagship White Knight espresso blend throughout the four-day show.
Over at the MilkLab Barista Social Club, baristas will be invited into a social, creative space with multiple coffee machines where they can fine tune their plant-based milk texturing and latte art skills under the expert guidance of MilkLab Master Baristas who will run daily workshops at 11am and 2pm.
“The purpose of MILKLAB Barista Social Club is to provide a space for baristas to socialise, network and most of all, have some fun while building their barista skills,” says Natalie.
Things really heat up on day two of MICE, when the MilkLab stand hosts the MilkLab Barista Battle Australian Final on Wednesday 28 September from 3pm.
“After a two-year hiatus due to COVID, we wanted to celebrate baristas with in-person events and get back to what we love – working with baristas,” Natalie says.
The winners from six State heats will be flown into Melbourne to compete in the Australian Final where they will go head-to-head in a latte art smackdown using MilkLab products. At time of print, James Kim had won the Melbourne state event, Elly Jung won the Perth competition, and Anamika Dangol won the Sydney event, with Canberra, Brisbane and Adelaide to follow.
The winner of the Final round will be invited to become a MilkLab Master Barista and get the chance to represent Australia in the MilkLab Barista Battle International Final, taking place for the first time on day three of MICE, Thursday 29 September from 3pm. It is hoped the inaugural competition will become a permanent fixture in MilkLab’s Barista Battle schedule.
The Australian representative will compete against seven international MilkLab Master Baristas for the top spot.
The grand prize on offer is a trip for two people to London to attend the London Coffee Festival in 2023.
For more information, see stand #517 & #521 and visit milklabco.com
This article appears in the MICE2022 Showguide. Subscribe HERE.
