Melbourne International Coffee Expo returns in March with its largest lineup of roasters, educational content, awards, and more. Here’s what to expect from the must-attend coffee event.
Coffee is an industry like no other. There are elements of competition and business challenges, but there’s also an underlying understanding of community, collaboration, and camaraderie. At events like Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE), the global coffee industry comes together to share knowledge, discuss ideas, discover new brands, and – most importantly – catch up over a coffee.
From 20 to 22 March, MICE will welcome the international coffee community to Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre for three days of fun, education, business, and collaboration. And this year, there’s more exciting events to get stuck into than ever before.
Come to play
Fresh for MICE2025 is the Roasters Playground, which will see more than 50 roasters dishing out coffees and hosting tasting sessions across the event. Supported by La Marzocco, Riverina Fresh, and Milklab, the new area gives attendees the opportunity to discover a whole host of roasters they might not have come across and try a kaleidoscope of coffees.
Roasters Playground sponsor La Marzocco will provide all the equipment for the roasters to craft excellent coffee, while Riverina Fresh and Milklab will supply dairy and alt-milks for the baristas to rustle up delicious drinks for attendees. The roasters will change throughout the day, so attendees will have a rolling selection of beans to sample and brands to engage with.
“What you can expect from this edition of MICE is a show curated around some of Australia’s best roasters,” says La Marzocco Australia Managing Director Barry Moore.
“The diversity of the show enables coffee roasters to engage with a broader range of businesses attending than ever before. Leaders are there to learn how integrating coffee as part of the customer experience can grow their respective businesses. I truly believe the Australian coffee and hospitality industry is on its very own frontier, and we will witness this at MICE2025.”
What’s more, there’ll be even more bean action taking place at the Roasters Village, where attendees can get to know some of Australia’s best-loved roasters across the three days. Expect a full lineup of immersive events, barista showcases, interactive tastings, and more.
Come to learn
Responding to the industry’s call for more knowledge-sharing opportunities, education is a key focus for MICE2025. Building on its sold-out panel discussion sessions in 2024, the 12th edition of the event will feature even more opportunities to learn and pick up new skills.
The free-to-attend Café Owners Education Series will return with an extended program, covering essential topics such as coffee pricing, staff shortages, menu curation, and navigating social media. The Global Coffee Report Breakfast Symposium will feature international speakers, with tickets available to purchase in advance from the MICE website.
Abdullah Ramay, CEO of Pablo & Rusty’s Coffee Roasters, is one of this year’s Café Owners Education Series panellists.
“Leaders in the coffee industry have two key roles: to share an exciting vision for the future and to help others get there. The incredible coffee culture we enjoy today is thanks to the hard work of those who came before us. It’s now our turn to think differently, challenge the status quo, and shape the coffee industry for the better,” he says.
“That’s where MICE’s education series really shines. It brings people together to share ideas, learn from one another, and map out the future of both Australian and global coffee.”
While Australia might be a small market, Abdullah believes it’s a global leader when it comes to coffee culture, especially espresso-based beverages.
“MICE has the potential to be more than just an event; it could be the heartbeat of the global coffee community,” he says.
“It’s a space where we can share stories, learn from each other, and tackle the challenges we’re all facing as an industry.”
In addition to the panel discussions, a new Demo Stage will give attendees the opportunity to learn new skills firsthand. The sessions are designed for both home enthusiasts and people in the industry and will cover a wide variety of topics – from tutorials on steaming non-dairy milk to how to become a world-class barista.
Come to do business
For years, MICE has been a unique opportunity to do business face to face. To reflect its role as a facilitator of collaboration and partnerships, for the 2025 event organisers have introduced the Melbourne Coffee Festival and Espresso Bar.
The interactive new space for attendees and exhibitors to relax and connect will serve coffee in the mornings. In the afternoons, DJs and drinks will create a more lively, social vibe.
Simon Zhang, Overseas Marketing Specialist at MHW-3BOMBER, says the specialty coffee wares provider based in China sees MICE as a chance to connect with international buyers.
“Tradeshows like MICE are crucial to the coffee industry. They are not only platforms for showcasing new ideas, innovations, and technologies but also vital venues for communication and collaboration within the industry,” he says.
“MICE offers us the opportunity to connect with professional café owners, roasters, equipment manufacturers, and service providers. The reputation and influence of MICE aligns perfectly with our target market.”
Come to celebrate
MICE2025 will not only host the popular Product Innovation and Australia’s Favourite Coffee awards but also the inaugural Coffee Industry Heroes honours. The new awards recognise those in the coffee and café industry who have displayed commitment and made positive impacts towards their craft, the industry, and the people around them.
“We are so thrilled to introduce the first ever Coffee Industry Heroes awards,” says Lauren Chartres, MICE Show Director.
“There are so many unsung heroes who go above and beyond every day for their community, colleagues, and the wider Australian coffee industry. This is a unique opportunity to give them the recognition they deserve.”
Nominated by the public and decided by an independent jury, the Coffee Industry Heroes will crown three winners in Community Champion, Next-Gen Talent, and Lifetime Achievement categories. The results will be revealed at the Official MICE After-Party, held at Showtime Events on Saturday 22 March.
After the awards ceremony, which will be open to anyone in the industry, the MICE After-Party will be in full swing at the same venue. Everyone’s invited to mingle with fellow coffee folk, celebrate the winners, and raise an espresso martini to MICE2025. Tickets can be purchased in advance from the MICE website.
MICE2025 takes place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 20 to 22 March 2025. Tickets are expected to sell out, so purchase yours now from internationalcoffeeexpo.com
This article appears in the February/March 2025 edition of BeanScene. Subscribe HERE.
