The biggest dedicated coffee event in the Southern Hemisphere will return to the Melbourne Showground from 22 to 24 March in 2018.
With 9646 visitors walking through the entrance gates in 2017, event organisers are confident the seventh installation of the Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE) will continue the tradeshow’s success as one of the most-loved on the coffee industry calendar.
“Melbourne is known as a coffee destination around the world. We’re excited to celebrate our growing culture and the people and products that bring it to life,” MICE Show Director Simon Coburn says.
Last year, MICE welcomed visitors from 41 countries, an increase of 14 per cent on 2016’s event, with guests from as far as Nepal, Namibia, Guam, France, Myanmar, and Mexico.
“MICE is as a must-attend event on the global expo circuit. We might be a small industry in comparison to others, but our impact is huge,” says Simon. “International travellers see the event as one of the most important in the Australasia market, a place to do business, network, and become educated on our unique Australian coffee culture.”
MICE2018 will once again host all five Australian Specialty Coffee Association (ASCA) National Coffee Championship events, including the Australian Barista, Latte Art, Brewers Cup, Cup Tasters, and Coffee Roasting Championships.
Other must-see events at this year’s show include the following:
- Coffee Supreme are giving visitors the chance to win a three-month coffee subscription and a Moccamaster Brewer. Visit Coffee Supreme at stand #R3 in Roasters Alley to enter.
- Veneziano wants to test your tastebuds. Sample a range of regional coffee including beans from La Palma, Colombia, Gesha Village and Ethiopia. Guess the coffees correctly to go in the running to win a Moccamaster. Cupping sessions on-stand will also run daily at 11am, 1pm and 3pm, with special guest Adam from Gesha Village Coffee Estate taking part in the 1pm session. Visit Veneziano Coffee Roasters on stand #187.
- Byron Bay Cookies is teaming up with Zest Specialty Coffee Roasters to run a coffee and cookie pairing challenge. To take part in this challenge head to stand #209.
- Satake Australia are offering a lucky draw competition to all MICE2018 attendees.To enter, simply go online to the Satake website and follow the links to enter in the lucky draw.
- Green Bean Buyer and World Barista Championship finalist Charlotte Malaval and the Toby’s Estate team will be running daily curated cuppings on-stand. Experience coffees from some of the world’s leading and emerging origins including Mexico, Myanmar and Kenya (just to name a few). The cuppings will be held each day on the Toby’s stand #213 at 11am and 2pm. Acaia Founder Rex Tseng will also join the Toby’s team to showcase the latest Acaia offering, the Orion. Visit Toby’s Estate at stand #213.
- Each day Café de Honduras will offer coffee tastings from six different regions. Cupping sessions will be held each day from 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 4pm. To register your interest to take part contact: rreyes@ihcafe.hn or kcalidonio@ihcafe.hn. Café de Honduras will be located at stand #143 at MICE2018.
- Win a La Marzocco Linea Mini, a six month’s supply of your favourite Veneziano coffee, a barista training session, and a Chemex Lovers Pack. To win, visit #187.
- Coffee Works Express will be showcasing the hugely anticipated Astoria Storm, which is a mix of craftsmanship and cutting edge technology. With the Storm, barista’s are able to freely express themselves and their experimental skills through simple and comfortable actions. To find out more visit the Coffee Works Express at stand #59a.
- Moda Sparkling and the Bucha of Byron have combined for a showcase of the latest on-tap trends, styles and technologies at MICE, including kombucha on tap. Try it for yourself at stand #273.
- Mocopan Coffee will be giving you the chance to take home your very own Victoria Arduino White Eagle. The White Eagle retails at $12,690 and is the biggest prize an exhibitor has ever offered at MICE. To win, enter the Mocopan BeanQuest competition and visit stand #92.
- Coffee Machine Technologies are offering the chance to win cash in their search for the fastest barista competition. First prize in its on-stand competition will win $2000, second place will win $1000 and third prize $500. To enter call (03) 9681 8115 or email info@coffeemachinetechnologies.com.au CMT will be located at stand #18.
- Distributed exclusively in Australia by Service Sphere, the Cameo by Eversys takes a step forward from other automated coffee machines on the market. Cameo embraces the new demands for super automatic coffee machines by integrating new innovations and technologies with the already proven Eversys features. Visit Service Sphere at stand #139 to see this machine for yourself.
- The MICE2018 Cupping Room is set to be the best yet. Companies including Square One Coffee Roasters, Ona Coffee and their Project Origin team, Five Senses Coffee, Minas Hill, 3Brothers and Sithar Coffee Company, Myanmar will be showcasing their best brews to expo attendees. The Cupping Room presents a fantastic educational opportunity for coffee experts and novices alike, with attendees taken on a sensory journey. From coffee connoisseurs to rookies, everyone is welcome to take part in the complimentary one hour sessions.
- Get a front row seat at the ASCA Australian Coffee Championships on the main stage, including the Australian Barista Championship, Australian Latte Art Championship, Australian Cup Tasting Championship, Australian Brewers Cup, and Australian Amc Roasting Championship.
For more information and tickets, visit www.internationalcoffeeexpo