The inaugural Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE for short) was not to be missed! The event got off to a great start with more than 100 exhibitors – the largest trade show the Australian coffee industry had ever seen. It also hosted the Australian Coffee Championships – Barista, Latte Art, Cup Tasters, Coffee in Good Spirits and Cezve/Ibrik.
Held at the Melbourne Showgrounds in Flemington, it attracted coffee folk from across the Asia Pacific area – including us. We flew down from Brisbane just for the day with our friend Summer Lewis from the USA. Paul and I were there to learn about the latest trends and developments and Summer was on the hunt for a job. Most of all, we were there to have some fun.
New brewing methods
Alternative brewing methods and glass coffee-making devices were a dominant theme. The Hario and Huhtamaki Brew Bar was showcasing new ways to make coffee using variations of old methods. Syphon, pourover and cold drip were all demonstrated using coffees from different roasters, and it was clear that the same coffee on 2 different brewing devices produced quite different results. They all produced lovely, light tea-like coffees, however. Another whole world of coffee had been opened to us!
We were to experience our first Geisha coffee from Panama. It was very light and transparent in colour, super fruity – and very delicious! Needless to say, we popped by for a couple more throughout the day.
A lover of traditional Chai tea, I also tasted what’s perhaps the best I’d ever experienced – at the Prana Chai stand. These guys are destined to do well, as there’s absolutely no compromise on quality and nothing is artificial!
As a nation of espresso drinkers, there was no shortage of new things to see and learn about espresso. Alongside emerging alternative methods, there were some new espresso brands along with old ones sporting new shapes and features, customised designs and colours. Gone are the days of the long term, free-on-loan espresso machines that larger roasting companies offer to cafes. Cafe owners are now owning their own machines and making choices based on what they aim to achieve in their cafe, rather than ‘the best deal’ they can get from a roaster.
The Kees van der Westen was ceremoniously unveiled at the Toby’s Estate stand as the media hovered around what is certainly a stunning machine. The Slayer with its paddle-like extraction controls and bottomless filter baskets was just as popular.
2012 Australian Coffee Championships
Taking centre stage at MICE were the Australian Coffee Championships, with the winners in the various categories going on to represent Australia in the World Coffee Championships. These winners are …
- Barista – Craig Simon (Veneziano Coffee)
- Latte Art – Scott Luengen (Dandelion & Driftwood)
- Brewers Cup – Matt Perger (Sensory Lab)
- Cup Tasters – Fred Lullfitz (Di Bella Coffee)
Below is a very small snapshot of Jean Paul Sutton’s and Craig Simon’s performances – including a taste of JP’s Charlie Chapman routine afterwards!
