MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL

COFFEE EXPO

4-6 March 2027

Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre

GET TICKETS

Day Pass

A one stop shop experience!

$ 54.95

On a day of your choosing, your Day Pass includes:

- Access to the exhibition floor with exhibitors representing all segments of the supply chain

- Entry to the Café Owners Education Series

- Experience the Roasters Playground

- Participate in live demonstrations, cuppings, tastings and more


3-Day Pass

For the ultimate MICE experience!

$ 99.95

Your 3-Day Pass includes:

- Access to the exhibition floor with exhibitors representing all segments of the supply chain

- Entry to the comprehensive Café Owners Education Series program

- Experience all Roasters Playground sessions

-Participate in live demonstratinos, cuppings, tastings and more

- Entry to MICE at Night on Friday 5th March 2027

*Friday 5th March Day Pass holders have access to MICE at Night included in their ticket.

Welcome

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THE WORLD’S DESTINATION FOR COFFEE

Platinum Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

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CAFÉ EDUCATION
8:25am - 9:10am

Beyond the Café

We explore the expansion of quality coffee in the wider hospitality industry, learning from leaders in the premium events, petroleum and airport space on how they've embraced quality coffee at scale with speed and consistency to meet global customer demands.

Kate Langford

Mark McKenzie

Martin Nguyen

9:10am - 9:40am

Keynote with the Starbucks Australia CEO, Braeden Lord

Examine the lessons of Starbucks Australia’s past, the realities behind its current resurgence, and the future of the brand as it looks to grow sustainably within Australia’s world-leading coffee culture. 

Braeden Lord

10:00am - 10:45am

How to scale smart

Leading Australian roasters will detail how they have carved their path to success, whether size really does matter, and the key learnings of how to scale and grow in an evolving market. Learn about how to balance quality with volume, brand identity with point of difference, changing consumer preference and pricing margins, and how to become a profitable business among market volatility and a competitive landscape.

Craig Dickson

Mik Di Pacci

Andrew Low

Lachlan Ward

10:45am - 11:30am

Global influence in the Australian coffee market

Discover how a new era of international coffee chains are making their presence felt in the Australian coffee market, the challenges and opportunities of starting a global roastery, and the pricing impact of geopolitical, economic, and climate pressures. 

Winnie Nawei

Sonja Needs

Sasa Sestic

Louis-Philippe Boucher

10:00 - 10:45 AM

The Real Cost of a Café Owner’s Dream

What does it take to start a café from scratch? A practical breakdown of the true costs of opening a café, from leases and fit outs to staffing and working capital, designed to help new operators avoid expensive early mistakes.

11:00 - 11:45 AM

Surviving Year One of Café Operation

How not to fail in your first year of business. Discover the most dangerous phase of café ownership unpacked, exploring risk versus reward, common mistakes, and what operators must prioritise to survive the first 12 months.

12:00 - 12:45 PM

The $7 Flat White Dilemma

How can cafés stay profitable without losing customers? A practical guide to pricing coffee in a high cost environment while protecting margins, customer trust and perceived value. This session will break down the financial levers that actually drive profitability and prove why being profitable isn’t an accident.

1:00 - 1:45 PM

Meet the Producers

Hear from international and Australian producers about the reality of life on the farm, the obstacles, the opportunities and how café operators can embrace meaningful provenance stories with their customers.

2:00 - 2:45 PM

Drinks that Break the Internet

From cold foam and pistachio milk to coffee mocktails, learn how to create viral beverages that also make commercial sense, and discover how the addition of a signature Drinks Menus can be a profitable addition.

3:00 - 3:45 PM

The Coffee Pricing Conundrum

What do green bean prices really mean for café owners? Explore the impact of climate change, sourcing decisions, and whether the industry is any closer to closing the coffee value gap. What’s more, discover how to educate your customers on the price per cup.

4:00 - 4:45 PM

Sustainability that Actually Pays Off

What does sustainability really mean for cafés today? Explore how operators can implement environmentally responsible practices (packaging, waste reduction, energy, sourcing) without eroding margins, and where sustainability can actively drive customer loyalty and revenue.

12:00 - 12:45 PM

What Gen Z Customers Really Want

Understand what Gen Z values from a café menu; their expectations and spending habits, and how cafés can deliver relevance and connection without blindly chasing trends.

1:00 - 1:45 PM

The Reality of Being a Café Operator

An honest look at workload, people management, visas, wages, overtime and compliance, and how to move from constant survival to sustainable success.

2:00 - 2:45 PM

Small vs Big Café Menus - You Be the Judge!

Explore how menu size impacts speed, margins and staffing, how cafés can strike the right balance without adding labour pressure, and what are the must-have considerations to a strong menu that makes ordering easy and supports the venue’s bottom line.

3:00 - 3:45 PM

AI and Automation in the Workplace

An exploration of how AI and automation are changing productivity, staffing and operations in the café market –and where the human touch still matters most.

4:00 - 4:45 PM

How Coffee Chains Are Reshaping the Australian Café Landscape

An insight into how large operators are influencing customer expectations and what independent businesses can learn from scale and systems.

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