MELBOURNE, Australia — After a successful launch day, the 2019 Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE) will see latte artists battle it out in an array of competitions. “We’re entering our second day and the caffeine is kicking in. The companies exhibiting at MICE this year are really putting out all the stops to show what Australia’s coffee industry is capable of,” Show Director Simon Coburn says.
“Australia is known around the world for its vibrant café scene, and MICE presents an opportunity for the companies working behind the scenes to step into the limelight.”
From 1pm to 4:30pm, the Australian Specialty Coffee Association (ASCA) 2019 Australian Pauls Professional Latte Art Championship Semi-Finals will be held on the ASCA Main Stage.
Twelve of ASCA’s top-ranked latte artists will compete for the right to enter the final round, alongside regional champions Zhao Ting Wu, Jibbi Little, Andy Tseng, and Kyujong Han.
If you want to see the level of talent required to make the finals, drop by stand #107 where Milklab will be running its Barista Battle Series. Jibbi and Andy will compete alongside finalists Roberth Villanueva and Corey Williams in the competition, which tests the baristas’ skills with alternative milk and coffee.
Also heating up the ASCA Main Stage will be the Australian Vitasoy Barista Championship Semi-Finals, where Australia’s top eight baristas will display their coffee making credentials from 9am to 12:30pm.
In the afternoon, Open Heats for the ASCA 2019 Australian TCX Cup Tasters Championship will provide coffee professionals with the opportunity to illustrate their coffee knowledge as well as their talent. Competitors are given eight sets of three coffees, and must discern which of the three is different to the others in the fastest time. Last year, Australian Cup Tasters Champion Yama Kim went on to win the 2018 World Championship title.
If you want to try some tasting yourself, you are in luck. Various exhibitors including Cofinet, Café de Honduras, Vertue Coffee Roasters, Southland Merchants, and Roasters with Altitude will be taking advantage of MICE2019’s Cupping Room to host public cupping sessions.
At stand #81, Axil Coffee Roasters will host an Africa-centric cupping with Café Imports, where attendees can hear directly from the importer about how, what, and why they select what they do.
For more information on events and times, pick up a copy of the MICE2019 Showguide: A Coffee Lover’s Guidebook at the event, or cafés around Melbourne.
About Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE2019)
The Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE) is the largest dedicated coffee show in the Southern Hemisphere. MICE launched in 2012 with the purpose of bringing the global coffee community together and showcasing Australia’s contribution. In 2018, MICE welcomed more than 120 exhibitors, featuring the latest in espresso equipment, coffee brewing devices, exotic and expensive coffee beans, roasting equipment, and more. In 2019, MICE will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. For more information visit www.internationalcoffeeexpo.com
