MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL

COFFEE EXPO

26-28 March 2026

Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre

GET YOUR TICKETS

MICE Day Pass

For the ultimate MICE experience on a day of your choosing

$ 54.95

Access to the exhibition floor and education series on a day of your choosing

Demonstration stages and interactive experiences

Melbourne Coffee Festival




MICE Access All Areas

For the ultimate MICE experience throughout the entire event

$ 104.95

Access to the exhibition floor and education series across all three days

Demonstration stages and interactive experiences

Priority entry to the MICE after party

Exclusive VIP perks tied to MICE at Night

Melbourne Coffee Festival

MICE Day Pass + GCR Leaders Symposium

Exclusive industry knowledge + MICE experience on day 2

$ 163.90

Access to the exclusive three-hour GCR Leaders Symposium

A two-course sit-down breakfast, complete with barista-made coffee

Inspiring international keynote speakers and expert panellists

Entry and access to MICE on that event day

Early bird pricing available now!

Coffee Industry Heroes Awards + MICE After Party

Enjoy the ultimate awards night + after party

$ 64.90

Access to the Coffee Industry Heroes Awards + MICE After Party

Join us for a fun and memorable night celebrating the coffee industry’s top professionals—recognising excellence, passion and the people shaping the future of coffee.

Welcome

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THE WORLD’S DESTINATION FOR COFFEE

Platinum Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Association Partners

Media Partners

Charity Partners

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CAFÉ EDUCATION
10:05am - 10:10am

Opening Remarks

Join us for the official opening of MICE2026

10:15am - 11:00am

Café Management 101 - What Every Café Owner Needs to Know

Are you across commercial leases, legal rights, permits, retail laws, P&Ls, employee VISAs and the importance of a good lawyer? There's more to being a successful coffee shop than serving good coffee. Let's deep dive into the key requirements of business management.

Amelia Hicks

Nathan Toleman

11:00am - 11:45am

The Wellness Era of Coffee

What do shifting consumer preferences, the impact of weight-loss drugs, protein coffee, functional coffee and reduced restaurant portions have in common? Hear from brands that have entered the wellness space and joined the health-conscious movement.

11:45am - 12:30pm

The Coffee Value Gap

What's changed in a year? How are we balancing rising costs and café consumer expectations? Do cafés still need to raise their prices? What are customers willing to pay? Learn about the Australian Coffee Value gap, the power of collective movement, and how to communicate price increases with customers.

Abdullah Ramay

Lucy Ward

12:30pm - 1:15pm

The Future of Australian-Grown Coffee

Can Australia become a serious contender to support the global supply shortage? Hear about results from multi-varietal trials, new hybrids in the spotlight, the future of the Aussie-farming community, and why Australian-grown coffee has a market advantage.

Kelly Kornacki

Tobias Kretzschmar

1:15pm - 2:00pm

How Can Automation Deliver A Premium Experience?

The best example of automation in the café market is when it's invisible to the customer. Learn how far the industry has advanced with automated tools, and where it's headed with workflow, speed and consistency.

Chris Maybury

2:00pm - 2:45pm

Curating the Ultimate Café Menu

Do cafés really need a chef to 'up' the food quality? Discover food trends for the year, ways to set your menu a part, how many items is too many, and how to manage rising food costs and pricing your menu.

2:45pm - 3:30pm

Sustainable Coffee Solutions

Learn how sustainability is embraced at each stage of the coffee value chain, from regenerative agriculture at origin, to smarter roasting techniques, at the café level, and into the hands of consumers.

Tom Hobbs

11:05am - 11:10am

Day 2 Opening Remarks

Join us for the welcoming of day 2 at MICE2026.

11:15am - 12:00pm

Cold Coffee Revolution

Has Australia finally caught onto the chilled beverage boom? Let's talk cold brew, canned coffee, iced coffee, matcha, sodas, and sparkling tonics - and learn why embracing drink diversity is key to your café.

speaker-1

Abigail Forsyth

speaker-2

Brett Bolwell

12:00pm - 12:45pm

What Does It Take to Become the World’s Best Coffee Shop?

Discover how to bring attention to your café on a local/national and international stage, and sustain attention with high standards and consistency beyond being a social media haven and influencer paradise.

speaker-1

Nolan Hirte

speaker-2

Jody Leslie

12:45pm - 1:30pm

AI in the Café Space

How can AI be used in cafés to aid workflow efficiency? What will the future of hospitality be with AI in it? How can the emergence of AI be used to enhance the cafe dining experience? Come and find out!

1:30pm - 2:15pm

Beyond Coffee – How to Create the X Factor

All good cafés do more than just killer coffee. The best cafés foster a sense of community and keep customers engaged. Discover how coffee raves, wellness events, multipurpose venues, and after hours activities can foster connection with staff and help grow your customer base. Learn how to stand out when everyone is doing the same.

speaker-1

Nick Ferguson

2:15pm - 3:00pm

How to Scale Smart

Want to expand your business but don't know where to start? Questioning if it's the 'right time' despite economic challengs? Thinking a second, third or fourth venue could be a great growth opportunity? This session is designed to provide you with practical advice on scaling up, with insight on the key mistakes people make, the non-negotiables, and representation on those who have done it right, and have seen it pay off.

speaker-1

Adam Theobald

speaker-2

Sam Taylor

3:00pm - 3:45pm

How to Establish Your First Café and Be Profitable

Want to start your first café but don't know where to begin? Thinking about being an independent operator or joining a franchise? What finances do I need? How do I build a network of contacts to get the right suppliers? This panel will discuss all the things you need to do to prepare for your first café venture, and come out thriving,

speaker-1

John Hart

3:45pm - 4:30pm

Longevity in the Café Market

What does it take to become a brand icon and not a one-hit-wonder. Do you need to grow in volume and size to achieve longevity? What are the key elements to overcoming obstacles, and market shifts that have the potential to pivot your business. Discover the key non-negotiables to a long and healthy business.

4:30pm - 5:15pm

Has the Art of Customer Service Disappeared?

Australia's food and coffee standards are high, but are we living up to expectations when it comes to hospitality standards? Let's talk about customer service, how it's evolved and whether it really matters to a café's bottom line.

speaker-1

James Hennebry

speaker-2

Chris Tate

speaker-3

George Skell

10:05am - 10:10am

Opening Remarks

Day 3 begins on the Cafe Education Stage

10:15am - 11:00am

How to Turn a Hobby into a Career

Fancy yourself a master home barista? Want to take your skill to the next level? Hear from industry experts who have turned their passion into a career and why you can do it too!

speaker-1

Brian Leonard

speaker-2

Jade Jennings

11:00am - 11:45am

Learn from Australia's Best Baristas

Hear from industry-leading baristas and the key lessons they've learned beyond the coffee competition stage.

speaker-1

Pete Licata

speaker-2

Caleb Cha

speaker-3

Jack Simpson

11:45am - 12:30pm

Matcha Madness and Signature Drink Takeover

Can you be a successful café without matcha on your menu? Hear from those who have merged matcha & coffee into a thriving business, and why signature drink beverages are the secret ingredient extra café revenue.

speaker-1

Natalie Latimore

speaker-2

Brandon Jo

12:30pm - 1:15pm

Five Non-Negotiables From Leading Australian Cafés

In a fast-pace-changing landscape, what are the key café principles you should never change, and why you should 'protect the core' of your business.

1:15pm - 2:00pm

Cafés of the Future

What does the coffee industry look like in 10 years' time? Hear from industry leaders about how beverages, consumption and technology will revolutionise the market and café owners need to do to be ahead of the game.

2:00pm - 2:45pm

The Great Specialty Coffee Debate

What is specialty coffee, and do consumers really care? Let's discuss the importance of the specialty coffee category, the art of education, and whether top-priced coffees can sustain their place on café menus.

2:45pm - 3:30pm

The Power of Collaborations

What's the value of a partnership? Discover the brands that have made collaborations work in their favour and how they turned a connection into a temporary or permanent working relationship, from hospitality names to brand influences and monthly roaster rotations.

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.

speaker-1

Craig Dickson

speaker-2

Mik Di Pacci

speaker-3

Andrew Low

speaker-4

Lachlan Ward

Coffee on the move

Managing Speed, Quality and Consistency.

Beyond the Café

The expansion of quality coffee in the wider hospitality industry. ie. hotel market/wineries/ restaurants/ combination of quick service? (could merge with the above).

Coffee of the Future

Alternatives and their future role in the sector ie lab grown coffee, upcycled ingredients, 50/50 blends (Israeli company/Ross Quail).

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