Melbourne International Coffee Expo 2027

4–6 March 2027 | Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE) is a coffee-industry trade expo for café owners and operators, roasters, baristas, producers and suppliers. Its exhibition floor, education sessions, Roasters Playground, demonstrations, cuppings and tastings create several ways to explore the coffee supply chain and compare ideas for a coffee business. The GCR Leadership Symposium adds a leadership-focused programme for the sector.

Melbourne International Coffee Expo at a glance

The 2027 date and venue are confirmed. The event website’s exhibitor directory currently identifies its listing as the 2026 edition; check the organiser’s site for the 2027 exhibitor list and final programme as they are released.

Why Melbourne International Coffee Expo matters

Explore the coffee value chain

MICE brings together café owners, roasters, baristas, producers and suppliers. For visitors, that mix supports conversations that connect product choices with the realities of sourcing, preparation and service. Exhibitors can present products and services to an audience active in coffee businesses and hospitality.

Compare equipment and ideas in person

The organiser describes an exhibition floor with exhibitors across the coffee supply chain, alongside live demonstrations, cuppings and tastings. These activities give visitors a chance to look closely at equipment and coffee products, ask practical questions and compare options against their own workflow rather than relying only on catalogue descriptions.

Learn from the programme

The Café Owners Education Series, Roasters Playground and GCR Leadership Symposium offer distinct ways to engage: education for café businesses, a space for roaster-focused activity, and a leadership-oriented discussion programme. The next edition’s session details should be checked as the organiser publishes them.

Scale for purposeful meetings

The 2025 edition drew 31,000 attendees and more than 130 exhibitors, figures reported by the organiser. That scale suggests a broad professional gathering; visitors may benefit from setting priorities in advance so that time is reserved for the suppliers, equipment and sessions most relevant to their work.

Coffee product groups to explore at Melbourne International Coffee Expo

The organiser describes exhibitors representing all segments of the coffee supply chain, but the 2027 exhibitor directory is not yet available in the pages reviewed. Use these functional groups as a planning lens for conversations and product comparisons, not as a confirmed list of 2027 stands.

Coffee beans and origin sourcing

• Green coffee and origin-specific lots
• Roasted coffee for café and hospitality service
• Bean characteristics, consistency and intended brewing use
• Sourcing, product range and supply arrangements to discuss with suppliers

Roasting and production equipment

• Commercial coffee roasting equipment
• Roast profiling and batch consistency tools
• Production workflow and capacity considerations
• Cleaning, maintenance and technical support questions

Espresso equipment

• Commercial espresso machines
• Temperature and extraction controls
• Machine configuration for different service volumes
• Installation, servicing and parts support to evaluate

Grinding and brewing systems

• Commercial grinders and grind adjustment
• Batch and manual brewing equipment
• Brewing controls and repeatability
• Equipment layouts for different preparation workflows

Café tools and service operations

• Barista tools and coffee preparation accessories
• Workflow considerations for café counters
• Equipment combinations for service and menu requirements
• Operational questions to compare with suppliers and peers

Coffee education, tasting and demonstration

• Cupping and tasting activity
• Live demonstrations listed as part of visitor experience
• Café Owners Education Series sessions
• Roasters Playground activities

Who should visit Melbourne International Coffee Expo?

Café owners and hospitality operators

MICE is relevant if you are reviewing how coffee is sourced, prepared or served in your business. Use the expo to compare equipment and product options and to identify questions for your next purchasing or operational decision.

Useful if you are looking for:

• Espresso and brewing equipment that fits your service needs
• Roasted coffee or supply options to assess
• Ideas for workflow, preparation and staff practice
• Education through the Café Owners Education Series
• Industry conversations that help frame a business decision

Roasters and coffee producers

Roasters and producers can use the event to present their work, explore equipment and talk with café operators, buyers and other coffee professionals. The audience includes participants from several points in the coffee chain.

Useful if you are looking for:

• Conversations with café owners and hospitality buyers
• Ways to explain your product range and sourcing proposition
• Roasting or production equipment to evaluate
• Feedback on product fit and service requirements
• Professional exchange through demonstrations and tastings

Baristas and coffee professionals

Baristas and working coffee professionals may find value in hands-on demonstrations, cuppings, tastings and product exploration. Define which techniques, equipment or coffee styles you want to understand before you arrive.

Useful if you are looking for:

• New equipment and brewing approaches to compare
• Opportunities to taste coffee from producing countries
• Ideas to improve consistency and preparation practice
• Industry education and professional connection
• Relevant tools to discuss with employers or purchasing teams

Coffee suppliers, brands and exhibitors

Companies serving the coffee supply chain can consider exhibiting to put products and services in front of café owners, buyers, roasters, baristas and wider industry professionals. The organiser’s 2027 prospectus is the route to check stand options, participation details and commercial terms.

Useful if you are looking for:

• Visibility among coffee and hospitality professionals
• Product conversations with relevant business audiences
• Feedback on equipment, coffee or service propositions
• Potential distributor or business relationships to qualify
• A focused setting for product demonstrations and discussions

Why visit Melbourne International Coffee Expo?

1. Compare equipment for your operation. Review espresso, grinding and brewing solutions against your service model, expected workload, available space and support requirements.
2. Assess coffee and sourcing options. Taste and discuss coffee products with producers and suppliers, then record origin, product fit and supply questions for follow-up.
3. Improve café practice. Use the Café Owners Education Series and demonstrations to identify ideas relevant to your team, then decide what could be tested in your own operation.
4. Explore roasting and production choices. Roasters and producers can use product displays and professional conversations to compare equipment and consider production requirements.
5. Build a better supplier shortlist. Compare a small set of relevant companies using the same questions about specifications, service, parts, training and delivery.
6. Understand perspectives across the chain. Conversations among café operators, baristas, roasters, producers and suppliers can help clarify how a product choice affects other parts of the coffee business.

Why exhibit at Melbourne International Coffee Expo?

Exhibiting may suit coffee producers, roasters, equipment manufacturers, technology providers and service businesses whose offer is relevant to café owners, buyers, baristas and other coffee professionals. The organiser states that exhibitors represent all segments of the supply chain and invites prospective companies to register interest for the 2027 prospectus.

• Present coffee, equipment or services to an audience with professional coffee interests.
• Demonstrate how a product works and discuss its intended business use.
• Hear questions from café operators, roasters and other industry participants.
• Explore whether distributors, partners or new customer segments may be relevant to your offer.
• Use the event to strengthen existing industry relationships and develop a follow-up list.

Before committing, review stand costs, inclusion, visitor profile and participation terms in the official prospectus. International suppliers should also check Australian import, product and biosecurity conditions for the products they plan to promote or supply. Exhibiting creates opportunities for discussion; it does not guarantee sales, buyers or partnerships.

What makes Melbourne International Coffee Expo distinctive?

MICE combines a coffee trade floor with tasting, demonstration and education experiences. The official visitor information lists the exhibition floor, Café Owners Education Series, Roasters Playground, live demonstrations, cuppings and tastings. A 3-Day Pass includes access across the three-day event and the listed programme elements; the GCR Leadership Symposium is also offered as a ticket option. Check the current details before selecting a pass, as inclusions and session schedules may vary.

This mix is relevant to both product decisions and professional learning: visitors can connect equipment and sourcing conversations with the practical skills and business questions that shape coffee service.

Set clear objectives for Melbourne International Coffee Expo

If you operate a café

Example objective: shortlist three equipment or coffee options and define the questions needed to compare them after the expo. Adapt the number to your project and record service requirements, budget range and installation constraints before the visit.

If you roast or produce coffee

Example objective: identify the buyer types most relevant to your product and leave with a prioritised follow-up list. Prepare a concise explanation of origin, roast profile, intended use and supply capability.

If you supply equipment or services

Example objective: test whether your product proposition is clear to café owners, roasters and buyers. Prepare a demonstration and a consistent way to record each conversation and agreed next step.

How to prepare before Melbourne International Coffee Expo

1. Define the decision

Decide whether you are attending to source coffee, review equipment, improve café practice, learn about roasting or present a product. Write down the decision you want to make after the event.

2. Check the current programme and exhibitor information

The event website lists its current exhibitor directory as the 2026 edition and advertises the 2027 event. Recheck the organiser’s site for the 2027 directory, session schedule, ticket inclusions and any updates before finalising your plan.

3. Prioritise companies and sessions

Divide targets into A — essential, B — useful and C — explore if time allows. Include the reason for each priority: a product specification, coffee style, service issue, business question or potential partnership.

4. Prepare questions for coffee suppliers

• Which product types, origins or roast profiles are available?
• What is the recommended use and brewing method?
• How do you maintain consistency between batches or deliveries?
• What equipment specifications and capacity should I compare?
• What servicing, parts, training or technical support is available?
• What are the lead times, minimum quantities and supply arrangements?
• Which product, import or biosecurity conditions apply to my business?
• What information should I request after the event to complete a comparison?

5. Prepare a concise business introduction

For buyers, explain your business, customer base and purchasing needs. For exhibitors, state the products you offer, the types of businesses they suit and the next step you want to agree. Keep notes so follow-up is specific.

How to make the most of the exhibition

Use a simple record for each useful conversation:

Company → product or coffee → why it is relevant → specification or question → contact → next action.

For equipment, note capacity, workflow fit, installation needs, servicing and parts questions. For coffee, record product details, intended brewing use and the supply information still needed. For education or demonstrations, capture one idea to test and the conditions required to apply it. This makes it easier to compare options after several days of conversations.

When you are comparing several espresso machines, for example, use the same criteria for each discussion: drinks and service volume, footprint, workflow, technical support and the needs of the people who will use it. Treat demonstrations as a way to form better questions, not as a substitute for checking specifications and commercial terms.

Beyond the exhibition floor

The official visitor information lists the Café Owners Education Series, Roasters Playground, live demonstrations, cuppings and tastings among the experiences included with visitor passes. A separate GCR Leadership Symposium ticket is also offered. These formats may suit different goals: café operators can prioritise business education, baristas may focus on practical demonstrations and tasting, while roasters and producers can use specialist activity to exchange knowledge.

Session titles, speakers and times should be confirmed in the 2027 programme when published. Use the event schedule to avoid booking overlapping sessions and allow time for priority exhibitor conversations.

Melbourne International Coffee Expo visitor profile and business opportunities

These are planning priorities rather than guaranteed meetings or outcomes. Use your own business requirements to decide which conversations deserve follow-up.

One day or three days at Melbourne International Coffee Expo?

A one-day visit

A Day Pass may suit visitors with a defined shortlist who want to focus on the exhibition floor and selected sessions. Check the published programme first, then schedule your highest-priority supplier conversations and leave time for demonstrations or tasting experiences that serve your objective.

A three-day visit

A 3-Day Pass may be more useful if you want to explore across the supply chain, attend the Café Owners Education Series and Roasters Playground sessions, take part in demonstrations and tastings, and revisit suppliers after an initial comparison. The organiser’s ticket information also lists MICE at Night for Friday 5 March 2027 as part of the 3-Day Pass; verify the latest ticket inclusions before purchase.

Bring a project to Melbourne International Coffee Expo

If you are choosing equipment or changing a coffee offer, bring the practical details that suppliers need to answer accurately: expected service volume, current workflow, available counter or installation space, power and water requirements, staff experience, product specifications and timing. For a sourcing project, define preferred coffee types, intended customer, consistency requirements and likely order size. Share only the information needed for a useful discussion and record the details you must verify later.

After Melbourne International Coffee Expo: turn conversations into decisions

Within a few days, sort notes into three groups:

• A — immediate: products or suppliers connected to an active purchasing or operating decision.
• B — potential: relevant options that need more information or a future review.
• C — market intelligence: conversations that improved your understanding but do not yet support a purchase.

For shortlisted equipment, request specifications, service conditions, parts availability, installation requirements and a written quotation where relevant. For coffee products, clarify availability, product details, order terms and delivery arrangements. For potential business relationships, agree one concrete follow-up action and a date rather than relying on a general promise to reconnect.

Melbourne International Coffee Expo visitor checklist

Before

• ☐ Define your business goal and the decision you need to make.
• ☐ Check the 2027 exhibitor information, programme and ticket inclusions.
• ☐ Prepare supplier questions and a prioritised target list.
• ☐ Confirm your registration and travel arrangements.

During

• ☐ Record company, product, relevance, specification and next action.
• ☐ Compare equipment using consistent criteria.
• ☐ Attend the sessions and demonstrations that match your objectives.
• ☐ Keep time for priority meetings, tasting and follow-up questions.

After

• ☐ Sort contacts into immediate, potential and market-intelligence groups.
• ☐ Request the missing specifications, product details and terms.
• ☐ Compare options against your business requirements before committing.
• ☐ Schedule specific follow-up with suppliers and professional contacts.

Is Melbourne International Coffee Expo worth visiting?

MICE is most useful for people actively working in coffee production, roasting, hospitality, café operations, barista practice or coffee supply. Its combination of exhibition, education, demonstrations, cuppings and tastings can support product comparison and professional learning. The best fit depends on whether the current exhibitor and programme information matches your goals. A focused shortlist and clear follow-up plan will make the visit more useful than trying to see everything without a decision in mind.

Make your Melbourne International Coffee Expo visit purposeful

What do you want to decide, compare or learn at MICE that you cannot resolve through routine supplier research? Set that goal before you arrive, then leave with product details, qualified contacts and specific next actions. Discover. Compare. Taste. Learn. Follow up.

Coffee opportunities in Australia

Market size and demand

The Observatory of Economic Complexity reports that Australia imported US? million of coffee in 2024. This is a customs-trade value for coffee products, not a measure of the whole Australian coffee market, café sales or domestic consumption. It indicates a material import channel that coffee suppliers and buyers may want to investigate alongside product fit, sourcing and distribution.

• Coffee imports (trade value, not total market size): US? million in 2024, Australia; reported by the Observatory of Economic Complexity.

Commercial opportunities and market-entry conditions

• Origin and coffee-product sourcing: import trade provides a reason for producers, exporters, roasters and buyers to assess product fit and distribution possibilities. Verify product form, origin, commercial terms and supply capacity; import value alone does not establish demand for a specific product or supplier.
• Equipment and café supply: MICE connects the coffee supply chain with café owners and operators. Equipment suppliers and hospitality buyers may use conversations to investigate service needs and solutions, while testing market fit against local business requirements.

Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry directs importers to BICON for product-specific biosecurity conditions covering coffee. Before shipping or exhibiting coffee products, check the current conditions for the exact product form and country of origin; requirements may differ between green and processed products.

What this means for exhibitors

International coffee suppliers may use MICE to explore whether Australian café, roasting and distribution businesses fit their offer. Treat the import figure as context for further qualification, not evidence of an easy market entry. Check biosecurity conditions and distribution, servicing and supply arrangements before making commitments.

What this means for visitors

Buyers and café operators may use the expo to compare coffee products, equipment and supplier options, then check product details and import requirements before purchase. Conversations can help identify questions and possible partners, but commercial terms and product eligibility need independent confirmation.

How ilikevents can help you at Melbourne International Coffee Expo

Turning MICE’s coffee-product, equipment and professional-learning opportunities into a useful visit or exhibition plan takes preparation. ilikevents can assist visitors and exhibitors with participation planning and the practical arrangements that fit their goals.

For visitors

• Exhibition visit planning around coffee sourcing, equipment or education goals
• Flight and hotel arrangements
• Visa application assistance
• Airport transfers and local transportation
• Interpreter and business guide services
• Exhibition ticket and registration assistance
• Business meeting coordination
• Factory visits and industrial tours where relevant to the visit plan

For exhibitors

• Exhibition registration and organiser coordination
• Stand selection and participation planning
• Booth design and construction
• Exhibition staffing and interpretation
• Promotional materials and advertising
• Business meeting arrangements
• Local market research and distributor identification
• Accommodation, flights and transportation

Explore Event Opportunities

Explore how Melbourne International Coffee Expo could support your coffee business goals, from planning a focused visit to preparing an exhibition participation strategy, with practical assistance from ilikevents.

Get Expert Assistance from ilikevents to plan your visit or exhibition participation.