EVENT MICE
Worth the wait THE MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COFFEE EXPO AND WORLD BARISTA CHAMPIONSHIP WILL HAVE ITS TIME IN THE SPOTLIGHT IN NOVEMBER 2020, UNITING THE INDUSTRY AND SHOWCASING THE BEST COFFEE TALENT TO THE WORLD.
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t’s been said that good things come to those who wait. It could be Christmas, a birthday, home ownership, a luxury holiday, or in the case of coffee lovers, the 2020 Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE). In early March, MICE organisers were forced to move the dates of the dedicated coffee expo from May to 3 to 6 November at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. The decision was made following the announcements from Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews regarding the measures taken by the federal and state governments to mitigate the risk of COVID-19. “The decision was one we could never have predicted but the right decision from government directives,” says Show Director Lauren Winterbottom. “We take the safety of all our attendees, exhibitors, competitors, judges, volunteers and staff very seriously. We had no choice but to reschedule MICE2020. We also want to ensure we deliver the best possible event experience for all attendees, exhibitors, and competitors. We want to welcome thousands of visitors to our show. We want to hear the cries of supporters in packed grandstands cheering for their national barista champion, and we want to watch large gatherings from the world over join in the fun and celebrations that this event stands for. So if that meant waiting a few extra months, than that’s what we were prepared to do.” Established in 2012, MICE has become a must-attend event for everyone in the coffee community. Attracting almost 12,000 attendees in 2019, MICE connects café owners, roasters, equipment manufacturers, service suppliers, and more to facilitate real business opportunities. The expo provides a wealth of networking opportunities alongside Melbourne Coffee Week and plans to showcase more than 25 local and international roasters, and producers from across the globe. Once social distancing requirements and travel bans are lifted, the MICE team hopes to host one of the most rewarding industry events of the year.
MICE features several of the roasters that make the Australian industry as prestigious as it is.
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“We know the worldwide coffee industry is suffering. Hospitality has taken a real hit under the strict regulations underpinning service protocols. We hope the industry remains strong and resilient to withstand the economic pressures ahead and come out stronger. What’s waiting for them on the other side will no doubt be one of the industry’s largest reunions,” Global Coffee Report Editor Sarah Baker says. MICE is ‘the industry’s event’. It has and always will be the coffee expo dedicated to doing business and having the entire supply
