In a bustling exhibition in Melbourne, Australian coffee aficionados got a taste of Indonesian coffee, which quickly became the talk of the town at the Melbourne International Coffee Expo 2024 (MICE 2024). Hosted at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center, the event kicked off on Sunday, May 12, 2024, drawing attention to Indonesia’s rich coffee tradition right from the get-go.
Christhophorus Barutu, the head of the Sydney Trade Promotion Center (ITPC), conveyed the buzz surrounding Indonesian coffee. On just the expo’s first day, potential deals worth US$102,000, approximately Rp1.63 billion, were on the horizon, highlighting the global appeal of Indonesia’s coffee offerings.
The event wasn’t just about showcasing coffee; it was a full-on celebration of coffee culture. Attendees experienced everything from barista battles to coffee roasting demos, and even latte art workshops. The Indonesian Pavilion pulled out all the stops, inviting visitors to indulge in coffee cupping and sampling that showcased the country’s diverse coffee flavors.
Siswo Pramono, Indonesia’s Ambassador to Australia, pointed out that this year marked Indonesia’s ninth year participating in the coffee expo. The aim? To carve out more opportunities for business collaborations centered around coffee between Indonesia and Australia. The ambassador stressed that the expo wasn’t just an opportunity to display Indonesia’s coffee prowess but also an avenue to foster broader business ties with Australia’s coffee community.
With support from the Ministry of Trade, ITPC Sydney, and the Canberra Trade Attaché, in collaboration with Bank Indonesia Beijing, the Indonesian Pavilion featured four exhibitors: Aslan Coffee Roaster, Opal Coffee Roaster, PT Ijonesia, and PT Expindo. These exhibitors brought to the table an array of roasted beans from Aceh, North Sumatra, East Java, and West Java, showcasing the rich diversity of Indonesian coffee.
Additionally, the Consulate General of Indonesia in Melbourne introduced coffee expo goers to five Indonesian participants: Kancil Global, Ariga Coffee, Anhar Coffee, Papua Black Gold Coffee, and Baliem Blue. Their offerings included beans from regions like East Nusa Tenggara, West Sumatra, Central Java, Bali, South Sulawesi, and Papua, further highlighting the vast variety of Indonesian coffee.
The pavilion also featured innovative environmentally friendly packaging by PT Ijonesia, including seaweed-based drinking straws that decompose in the sea, showcasing Indonesia’s commitment to sustainability alongside its coffee culture.