Fiera Milano will open its doors this weekend to welcome the international coffee community to Host Milano. From 23 – 27 October, exhibitors from around the world will meet in Milan, Italy to showcase their products in what has become one of the biggest bi-annual trade fairs on the calendar. The coffee industry will be catered to in two of Host Milano’s six divisions, with coffee-roasters, importers, producers and operators from five continents, as well as major equipment manufacturers, setting up in the stand space. Taking up just a fraction of Host’s twelve halls, The Coffee District will provide a platform for workshops and discussion on market research. Visitors to The Coffee District will have the opportunity to see a demonstration of the ISSpresso machine, a collaborative project from Lavazza and Argotec. The espresso machine received international media attention in April, when Italian Samantha Cristoforetti became the first astronaut to make an espresso in space. Three times Italian Barista Champion Fracesco Sanapo will be at host for the duration, running a brew bar in The Coffee District. Alongside Franscesco, Specialty Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE) trainer Andrej Godina will offer brew bar visitors the chance to learn through tasting. “For the first time we will be demonstrating to the general public the tasting method used by professionals known as ‘cupping’,” said Andrej. The tastings, which will be held every hour, will be devoted to a different macro-area, country or coffee-growing estate. “And to show off Italian tradition in the best light, we will also have special tasting moments devoted to espresso twice a day,” said Andrej. The SCAE will run a number of presentations, with its Barista Bonanza series running at two different locations. The SCAE’s Coffee Stage will feature coffee experts delivering 45-minute seminars on coffee business subjects. The second location will showcase local roasters using espresso machines, as well as pour-over, Cezve/Ibrik and several alternative brewing methods. World Coffee Events will bring winners of the 2015 World Coffee Championships to the stage to talk about their experiences and what it takes to be great. Host will also act as a playground for new technology launches. Some of the innovations on display will include Hemro Group's launch of the new Mahlkoenig EK43 Barista and Peak espresso grinder, Ditting's KR804 touch and EK5 grinders, and MPE's G7-T Turkish grinder and 669-CG capsule grinder. For more information on Host click here.
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