The 44th edition of Host Milano has come and gone, but it’s the products and industry connections that will leave a lasting impact. Global Coffee Report details its first-hand experience of a show that has set a benchmark for what’s to come.
Attending Host Milano is the equivalent to visiting Disneyland theme park for coffee professionals, only this destination features a parade of manufacturers, industry icons, and the pinnacle of coffee competitions. Arriving at the magical coffee land in Rho Fiera elicits a mixed feeling of excitement, anxiousness and eagerness to dive straight in and get acquainted with the 2050 exhibitors at the biggest Hospitality Restaurant and Catering expo in the world. First, it’s a matter of finding your feet, getting through security, and using the travellators and gigantic hall numbers to take your feet where they need to go.
For Global Coffee Report, our playground was halls 8, 12, 16, 18, 22 and 24 – home to every inch of equipment a coffee business needs to take their business from conceptual to reality, medium to large.
Our first stop on the five-day marathon was Brambati’s 80th anniversary exhibition. The Italian roaster manufacturer invited customers and friends to celebrate its evolution through imagery and artifacts, complete with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and replica BR 4800 cake to mark the occasion.
“Our grandfather started Brambati in 1945 from a small garage. It was the most difficult of times, after the war, with no logistics, no raw materials. Everything was complicated. But it shows that his spirit was there because nowadays we sell [coffee roasting] plants all over the world,” Brambati Owner Fabrizio Brambati told the crowd.
He added seeing Brambati’s history displayed so beautifully, and sharing that legacy with visitors from all the world over filled him with pride.
“It was not just a celebration of eight decades of innovation, but a reminder of the passion and dedication that brought us here. The atmosphere was vibrant, and it was rewarding to see how much interest there was in our technology and heritage,” Brambati says.
That interest was replicated at Brambati’s stand where its most recent model, the BR 4800 roaster, was on display, as was the company’s modernised logo, BR 60 and BR 5 fully automatic roasters, laboratory sample roaster, KL3-150 and KL3-250 capsule grinders, and KL3-600 roller grinder.
Today, Fabrizio says roasters are increasingly looking for solutions that combine quality with environmental responsibility, and Brambati is committed to supporting this vision with its new range of electric roasters (see page 42).
Electric roasters had the audience’s attention, with processing plant and roaster manufacturer Neuhaus Neotec also launching its NeoRoast 60E roaster for 20- to 60-kilogram batches and 250kw e-power.
“We saw great interest in these roasters, which uses a hot-air circulation system instead of mechanical agitators.
The result is gentler roast, precise control over roasting profiles, and an energy-efficient operation,” says Lars Henkel, Area Sales Director at Neuhaus Neotec.
Over to hall 18, IMA showcased a comprehensive lineup of coffee processing and packaging solutions with its commitment to environmental stewardship, digital transformation, and production excellence.
Chiara Gasparini, Marketing Coordinator at IMA Coffee Hub, says visitors were impressed by the XTREME Grind’s manufacturing precision and digital control, and TTR25 Evo’s recirculating roasting technology, which improves energy efficiency and roasting uniformity.
“Together, they represented a clear example of how we combine process innovation with sustainability,” Gasparini says.
“We believe that these two machines meet the industry’s growing need for consistency, efficiency and reduced environmental impact. The XTREME Grind ensures highly stable grinding profiles, while the TTR25 Evo offers reliable, energy-efficient roasting. Both provide roasters with greater process control, lower operating costs and the confidence of achieving reproducible, high-quality results.”
Gasparini adds that the push toward smarter, more transparent and eco-efficient processes is opening new opportunities for innovation and collaboration, and IMA is eager to contribute to this evolution with its partners and customers.
In the capsule space in hall 18, Rychiger shared its paper pod solutions, coffee sphere production, and even fired up its FS150 capsule filling and sealing machine to demonstrate its high-accuracy, and format change flexibility to the watchful eyes of roaster customers.
“There’s a FS 300 version of this machine on its way, which includes Rychiger’s much-loved technology and all its processes. It’s easy to handle and features changes from aluminium to biodegradable capsules, all-in-one,” says Peter Kathriner, Rychiger Senior Sales Manager Food & Beverage.
Capsule manufacturer Menshen also demonstrated its commitment to ease-of-use and reduced environmental impact, displaying its Barista Alu 4.0 aluminium capsules, Barista 2.0 compost range, and new Matryoshka thin wall mono-material capsule that reduces plastic usage by around 30 per cent.
Where tradition meets innovation
For many exhibitors, Host was about breaking the mould and giving historic and loved products a modern glow-up. For Franke, the new A Line marked a major evolution of its globally successful classic A Line. The company introduced the next-generation A600 and A800 models, built on a unified platform with significant technical upgrades.
“It’s a very exciting moment for us. The classic A Line has been a proven and trusted solution around the world for more than 10 years. With the New A Line, we took everything that made it successful and elevated it with a strong technical upgrade and a contemporary design,” says Marco Zancolò, Franke Coffee Systems CEO.
“Customer expectations are rising, and the industry is facing higher operating costs and staff shortages. Our goal is to offer solutions that make daily operations easier, more consistent, and more efficient.”
The new A Line delivers easy personalisation, lower operating costs, and a reduced environmental impact. Updates include an improved user interface, enhanced energy efficiency, and a simplified cleaning concept to reduce daily workload.
Zancolò highlights that Franke’s in-cup quality and consistency are driven by iQFlow, extracting flavour precisely for every beverage. The new FoamMaster system delivers excellent milk foam even at higher temperatures. With PrecisionTemp, operators can set the ideal brew temperature for every recipe.
“If you use, for example, three bean hoppers with three different bean types, you can program the recipes depending on the respective bean profile and with different temperatures to basically set the best temperature for that specific coffee. The same applies to tea, where you can pre-set different water temperatures,” Zancolò says.
In the Super Traditional space, the most significant release for Eversys was the new Legacy+ and future technology it’s developing around this model.
Miranda Caldwell, Eversys Director of Marketing, says the plan is for multiple product extensions over the coming years to ensure Eversys is serving relevant needs.
“We’re showing the market that you can have the best quality espresso and milk everywhere, even in environments that are low on space and high on expectations. Great coffee at a petrol station is no longer a myth,” she says.
Caldwell adds that she’s excited to see how diverse the coffee drinking world is becoming, and the cultural cross-over in flavour, beverage preferences and drink trends. “It’s an exciting time to be a part of [the global coffee industry] and to create solutions for a changing environment,” she says.
Simonelli Group’s presence at Host recognised its history and evolution into the future. Victoria Arduino celebrated its 120th anniversary with the unveiling of its limited-edition Record 120.
“It’s a momentous occasion. We wanted to design a machine that honours the shared experience between barista and customer. This machine celebrates our heritage as a brand, but also innovative design and what’s to come for Victoria Arduino’s future,” says Simonelli Group’s Media and Communication’s Coordinator Sara Gagliesi.
Craftsmanship and customisation was also on display thanks to L’Atelier and its hand-crafted back panels on the Eagle One and E1 Prima machines thanks to the work of artisans.
Under the Nuova Simonelli umbrella, Appia Vivia was unveiled – a new coffee machine designed to enhance cup quality, simplify operations, and optimise workflow for medium-volume venues. And from the latest acquisition from Simonelli Group, 3Temp, visitors got excited about brewing extraction possibilities. Lots of attention was also on the glass house at Host, with five days’ worth of podcasts diving deep into industry topics with a range of international guests on rotation.
Cimbali Group exhibited its new LaCimbali SUPERA, a modular platform of fully automatic machines that combines versatility and the brand’s Milanese heritage, which dates back more than a century. Thanks to its customised design, every element of the SUPERA has been considered to deliver high-quality results and operational simplicity, from its heated metal coffee group and Dynamic Thermodrive system, to its dual-circuit HQM milk module and automatic washing system.
Cimbali Group also launched a renewed LaCimbali M40 with energy-saving features and next-generation thermal systems to deliver “outstanding performance with minimal environmental impact”. In addition, Cimbali Group introduced the Tech Mate AI concept, a platform providing real-time guidance with videos, diagrams, and best aftersales practice information. Think of it as a ChatGPT to troubleshoot your Cimbali machine needs, 24/7.
“We are very excited about this launch. We are starting with a selection of models and will gradually extend the tool across the entire range, making it available to our global sales and service network. It will be a truly advanced support system for our customers,” says Jacopo Bambini, Group Marketing Director at Cimbali Group.
Beyond coffee
For Swiss manufacturer Thermoplan, its stand embraced the entire coffee value chain thanks to its now ownership of the Makafi roasting brand, and range of fully automatic coffee machines with in-built grinders and simplified screens, including Black&White4 compact, Black&White4 Family live neo, and the Black&White4, which also has capacity to alternate the brewing of coffee to blooming of tea leaves. This machine was a crowd favourite, but equally was the Black&White Competizione model, which in 2024, became the first super-automatic espresso machine to be selected as the official qualified machine for the World Latte Art Championship. According to Gareth Davies, Head of Coffee Development at Thermoplan, it’s the machine’s espresso consistency that really stands out, on and off, the world stage.
“It doesn’t matter how good your milk is. If your [espresso] shot isn’t good, you can’t make latte art, and the Black&White4 Competizione guarantees that espresso consistency,” Davies says. “The thing that makes it most special, is its diversification to be used for commercial outcomes and everyday users.
Over at the SEB Professional Beverage range, five multi-brands were celebrated, each celebrating trends, services, and solutions for the coffee world, all under the one roof. At WMF, the office range saw the release of a trio of new machines – WMF Perfection Office, WMF Elevation, and the WMF Peak – for small – to medium-size venues, a sneak peak at the new Elevation 10, launching in January/February 2026 in Asia, and the value of connectivity at the Coffee Connect hub.
“Host Milano is a global stage where we share our latest technologies, strengthen partnerships, and inspire new possibilities,” said Martin Zouhar, Executive VP at SEB Professional Beverage.
The Schaerer Coffee Soul was also a visitor favourite, of which more than 100,000 units and 1500 customer-specific variants have now been produced, including its Easy Access model to improve accessibility for wheelchair users.
UNIC’s stand was a clever display that paid homage to the internal intelligence of its machines. A deconstructed Tango XP became a work of art, showcasing the engineering prowess behind this super automatic machine, ranging from 83-millimeter mega flat burrs to its patented full-metal TANGO brew group.
UNIC’s desire to be at the forefront of technology and innovation was evident in its new Tango XP Compact – big innovation in a small footprint. Built for medium-volume, quality-focused venues, this super automatic machine delivers barista-level results with minimal effort. Key features include Weight Calibration System automatic calibration, motorised grind settings, and gear pump technology for customisable pressure profiles.
UNIC also used the expo to unveil its collaboration with OhmIQ to tackle energy consumption and heater scaling.
“The fact you can reduce your energy consumption noticeably and in a very big way is directly in line with our strategy at Electrolux Professional because we want to be carbon neutral by 2030. This is definitely a big piece of the puzzle that is going to allow us to reach that objective,” says UNIC General Manager Tommaso Fontana Rava.
At the Melitta Professional Coffee Solutions’ stand, its motto ‘Explore the World of Coffee Variety’ came to life with the representation of North American convenience stores, Asian fast-food restaurants, and the warm charm of European bakeries. Each sector celebrated authentic booth designs and regionally inspired coffee creations.
“The atmosphere was excellent. The concept of the coffee journey and the wide variety of beverages were very well received by visitors and provided a great deal of inspiration,” says Melitta’s Jenna Buschmann.
A highlight was Melitta’s Espresso Sensory Lab with André Eiermann, Global Product Manager Coffee. There, curious visitors could enjoy a multisensory journey and discover the unique flavours of different espresso recipes.
Over at Rancilo’s stand, the machine manufacturer achieved a “cozy and dynamic space” featuring the RS1 specialty espresso machine with guest baristas hosting demonstrations and sensory testings with rotating guest roasters. The Classe 5 Crono got lots of attention for its new shot timer, as did the Silvia and Silvia Pro X, paired with Stile SD on-demand professional grinder, and new barista kit for the home market.
For smart business solutions, the Kitchen Connect IoT platform demonstrated how it aids Egro customers with data to make informed decisions.
Come to play
For Germany’s CUP&CINO, Host Milano was the ideal platform to launch the BaristaOne Touch Series, powered by Latte Art Factory. This machine delivers barista-style milk – cold or hot – houses three powder baskets, a dual syrup dispense system, and two screens – one dedicated just for advertising. Built for self-serve and behind-the-bar, the BaristaOne Touch Series enables operators to offer a full café menu anywhere, without relying on skilled staff or training.
Marco Beverage Systems honoured its latest release, the MilkPal automated, steamless milk solution, and new SYPP beverage dispense system. This model allows for effortless beverage creation with touchscreen activation. It’s designed to help business owners deliver consistent drinks, menu flexibility, and seamless service.
Grinder manufacturer Ceado displayed its new trio – REV Steel, REV Titan, and REV Zero grinders – and explained to visitors how each model can impact extraction, beverage selection, aroma profile and flavour outcomes for high-end specialty venues.
BibeCoffee demonstrated how its telemetry solutions drive real-time insights and full visibility into brewing parameters. For the first time in World Barista Championship (WBC) history, the on-stage and online audience could watch the live extraction data as it happened.
Over five days, WBC baristas battled-it-out for the ultimate title of World Champion. After an anxious wait, it was Australia’s Jack Simpson of Axil Coffee who reigned supreme, becoming the fourth Aussie to lift the WBC trophy.
And with this crowning and an endless stream of fans awaiting selfies with Jack, the lights dimmed on the competition stage, and Host Milano 2025.
Milan is a city of fashion, art and history. It’s home to Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper painting, the 2026 Winter Olympics and Campari, but after 44 editions, Milan really is the home of Host.
The 45th edition of Host Milano will be held from 22 to 26 October 2027. For more information, visit host.fieramilano.it/en/
This article was first published in the January/February 2026 edition of Global Coffee Report. Read more here.
