Another year, another Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE) done and dusted! Held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre across three days, good coffee was free flowing, exciting new products and tech were showcased including La Marzocco’s new KB90, and of course amazing performances took centre stage. The competition just seems to get tougher every single year. It’s not an easy thing getting up on stage and keeping your head in front of hoards of people, but our amazing team did just that. Special mention to Mike Wells and Alex Borg who placed 5th and 7th respectively in the Brewers Cup – such awesome efforts and we’re so proud!
The Veneziano stand took a slightly new look from previous years, stripping back the greenery and taking cues from the design of Veneziano Coffee Richmond. Think sleek black powder coated steel with some curves thrown in there. This was complimented by our brand-new Linea PB, custom designed by the awesomely talented guys at Specht who do an amazing job every year. If you’re keen to check it out in the flesh, it’s taken up residence in our café at Richmond.
There was plenty happening at the stand this year, particularly in the way of cold drinks. We were super excited to launch our new range Cold Brew range, and we were blown away by the response. Available in three flavours (Hibiscus / Blood Orange / Apple, Ginger & Rosella), as well as a straight version using seasonal microlots, these went down a treat and we can’t get them to market sooner – please stay tuned and patient as we do this!
To complement our Cold Brew, we teamed up with Billson’s Brewery to offer two, deliciously refreshing signature drinks – a Bond St Americano and Costa Rica Tonic. The tonic was particularly popular, showcasing our Costa Rica Finca Chispita in filter form with Billson’s small batch tonic, pickled white peach syrup and a grapefruit twist to finish. Both drinks were welcoming refreshments as the effects of too much coffee and resulting dry mouths took place.
Away from the crazy scenes at MICE, we were lucky enough to host coffee expert and author, Scott Rao at Veneziano Coffee Richmond. With over two decades of experience as a barista, coffee roaster, and consultant, Scott shared his insights into the methodologies he has collected over many years consulting in an intimate three-hour roasting masterclass.
We also played host to a big breakfast at our Richmond Headquarters on Friday. This was a great opportunity to check out our all-encompassing specialty coffee experience from our roastery operations to training studios, all whilst trying delicious breakfast and enjoying a brew at the bar.
A crazy few days consuming way too much coffee, but we’re looking forward to being back again in May next year as MICE plays host to the 2020 World Barista and Brews Cup Championships!
