MELBOURNE, Australia – The doors will open today to the seventh Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE) at the Melbourne Showground, taking place from 22 to 24 March.
With 9646 visitors walking through the entrance gates in 2017, event organisers are confident this year’s installation of the show 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. “It’s 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.
The running competition schedule for Thursday 22 March includes:
ASCA Main Stage
9:00am – 1:30pm: Australian Pura and Vitasoy Barista Championship Open Heats
1:30pm – 4:30pm: Australian Brewers Cup Open Heats
5:00pm: Australian Pura and Vitasoy Barista Championship semi-finalist announcement/Australian Brewers Cup finalist announcement
ASCA Roasting Zone
9:00am – 5:00pm: Australian AMC Roasting Championship
Other must-see activities at this years show includes the following:
– Coffee Supreme are giving visitors the chance to win a three-month coffee subscription and a Moccamaster Brewer. Visit 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. On-stand cupping sessions will also run daily at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. 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.
– Green Bean Buyer and World Barista Championship finalist Charlotte Malaval and the Toby’s Estate team will be running daily curated cuppings on-stand. 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 stand #213.
– Cafe de Honduras will host cupping sessions from six different regions each day from 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 4pm. Visy stand #143.
– 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 showcase the hugely anticipated Astoria Storm, which is a mix of craftsmanship and cutting edge technology. Visit the Coffee Works Express at stand #59a.
About Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE2018)
The Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE) is the largest dedicated coffee show in the Southern Hemisphere. MICE2018 will welcome more than 120 exhibitors, featuring the latest in espresso equipment, coffee brewing devices, exotic and expensive coffee beans, roasting equipment, and more. For more information visit www.internationalcoffeeexpo.com
Follow MICE on Twitter @MelbCoffeeExpo #MICE2018, on Facebook or Instagram.
