MICE 2019
DAY ONE
The first morning of the 2019 Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE) felt like Christmas day, with a mixture of excited energy and anticipation for one special time of the year. Only on this occasion, the gift that would keep giving for the next three days, was coffee.
Early on Thursday 7 February, an unusual sight was observed outside the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). Crowds of exhibitors stood staring up at a large digital sign welcoming them to this year’s MICE. That was new, and so was the venue behind it.
Once indoors, the MCEC presented a large floor space with airy ceilings, air conditioning and a secure roof to withstand Melbourne’s random weather.
Overhead banners pointed in the direction of feature exhibits, but all one had to do was close their eyes and listen to the sounds of Australasia’s largest dedicated coffee expo to absorb the gravity of where they were. A bellowing voice echoed through the expo hall introducing the next barista competitor in the Australian Specialty Coffee Association (ASCA) Australian Coffee Championships. Fresh beans gushed into the hoppers, coffee machines warmed up, extractions were tested for optimum output, and steam arms put their power to the test.
Over at stands like
