Celebrate International Coffee Day this October

September 28, 2021

October 1^st is International Coffee Day and the Melbourne Convention Bureau are here to talk all things coffee.

When people think of Australia, they imagine sweeping landscapes, picturesque beaches, quality coffee, and dangerous wildlife. While the latter is highly overdramatised, the rest of the stereotypes are true, particularly its thriving coffee culture.

Melbourne’s rich and diverse coffee culture dates back to the 1930s when the city first got its hands on an espresso machine. Since then, the industry has grown in leaps and bounds to become the coffee capital of Australia. Known globally for its coffee obsession and sophisticated café culture, Melbourne is home to more than 2,000 cafés as well as some of the world's best baristas.

The eyes of the coffee world will once again be on Melbourne when it hosts the World Barista Championship (WBC) and World Brewers Cup (WBrC) from 27-30 September 2022 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Australia is the first country outside the US to host WBrC, cementing Melbourne as an iconic and respected coffee nation. The WBC competition focuses on promoting excellence in coffee, advancing the barista profession, and engaging a worldwide audience with an annual championship event that serves as the culmination of local and regional events around the globe.

Melbourne International Coffee Expo is known throughout the Asia Pacific as the largest and most exciting dedicated coffee event that highlights the craft of filter coffee brewing by hand, promoting manual coffee brewing and service excellence. It has become a haven for baristas to explore trends and for international roasters, manufacturers and traders to showcase their brand to what many argue is a leading coffee market - so it’s rather fitting that Melbourne will host this esteemed event.

When walking through the city, you’ll notice that the cobblestoned laneways are filled with the aroma of espresso, wafting from the many cafes, as they serve a busy line of loyal customers. Its baristas are some of the most accomplished, inventive and technical in the world so ahead of the WBrC or your next business event in Melbourne, brush up on your coffee knowledge and start your list of must-visit cafes.

No matter how busy a workday is, universally, everyone makes time to grab a coffee. With a café culture like Melbourne’s – cafes come and go, but there are some that stand the test of time.

St Ali: When it comes to specialty coffee ST. ALi was one of the first, one of the pioneers; the ones who defined specialty coffee in Melbourne; and the ones who continue to push boundaries forward. Found down a back alley you have to know where to go to get to, since inception ST. ALi has been an industry leader in direct relationships with farmers, in-house roasting, expert coffee brewing, with a best-in-category food offering. 12 - 18 Yarra Place, South Melbourne, 3205

Market Lane Coffee: Sit yourself streetside or inside the chic cafe, where cool greens and blues, geometric tiles and timber touches give a subtle nod to the building's Victorian roots. Refuel with exquisite coffee and pastries and grab beans, tips, and brewing equipment for unbeatable home coffees, too. 8 Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000, alongside various other locations across Melbourne.

Sensory Lab Collins: These coffee professionals eat, sleep and make coffee, so you can expect the best from their single origins and specialty blends. They have specialty tea, toast, and tartines too, plus counter-top iPads for browsing the news, just you and your brew. 310 Collins Street, Melbourne alongside several other central business district locations.

Dukes at Ross House: With sustainability at the heart of Dukes, it stands to reason that the coffee roasters would set up in Ross House to bring coffee to the masses. An important social justice hotspot, Ross House also boasts a prime Flinders Lane address. A percentage of sales go back to the Ross House community, so it makes sense to get your morning coffee and fine pastries from Dukes. 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, 3000.

Any organisations with a bit of time up its sleeves should get under the skin of this incredible city and soak up the knowledge and expertise of the city’s dedicated and passionate coffee experts. There are coffee roasting, tasting, blending, brewing and filtering masterclasses offered by some of Melbourne’s internationally recognised roasters: St Ali, Proud Mary, and Market Lane.

Contact MCB today to find out how the team can support you in creating a caffeine-fuelled experience that leaves lasting impressions.