A Journey Through Host Milan 2025: Celebrating 80 Years of Brambati
October 2025, Milan, Italy
After more than two decades in the coffee industry, I thought I'd seen it all. But stepping into Host Milan 2025 reminded me why this business never gets old. There's always something new to discover, always another innovation waiting around the corner, and always meaningful connections to be made with the people who share this passion.
This year's visit held special significance. I was there primarily to celebrate a remarkable milestone: the 80th anniversary of Brambati, the legendary Italian manufacturer behind our coffee roaster.
Walking through their exhibition space and standing before the largest coffee roaster on display was a moment of pure awe. This magnificent machine wasn't just a piece of equipment, it was a testament to eight decades of Italian craftsmanship, engineering excellence, and an unwavering commitment to the art of roasting. Seeing it there, gleaming under the exhibition lights, I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of pride in being part of the Brambati family. Their legacy has shaped countless roasters like myself, and this anniversary celebration was a beautiful reminder of the traditions we carry forward.
This biannual expo is genuinely enormous, with multiple pavilions sprawling across several levels. Unlike the more intimate, community focused atmosphere of events like MICE (Melbourne International Coffee EXPO), Host Milan is focused on business, production, and service professionals. It's a trade show in the truest sense, serious, comprehensive, and massive.
This is a complete hospitality showcase featuring everything from pizza ovens to gelato machines, bakery equipment to furniture, décor to cutting-edge technology, I made time for the gelato section too. The breadth of innovation on display was staggering.
Innovation Everywhere You Look
Walking those halls felt like stepping into the future of coffee. The diversity of technology and solutions was remarkable:
The Zeus Grinder by Eureka caught my attention immediately. After decades of working with grinders, I can appreciate true innovation when I see it, and Eureka has delivered something special here. The precision, the design, the thoughtful engineering. It's exactly the kind of advancement that elevates the entire craft.
Meeting the Kaphitech Team was another highlight. These founders have developed a compact pod machine that addresses real market needs. Pod machines have exploded in popularity across Europe, and speaking with the young minds behind Kaphitech gave me fresh insights into where this segment is heading. Their passion for creating accessible, quality coffee solutions was infectious.
Beyond these standout moments, the exhibition floor revealed fascinating trends: drip bag machines gaining traction, electric and hydrogen-powered coffee roasters (genuinely promising progress for sustainability), innovative new materials and packaging formats, advanced water filtration systems, and perhaps most significantly, the surge in robotics and automation.
Old Friends and New Connections
One of the greatest joys of events like Host Milan is the people. After twenty-plus years in this industry, wandering through those halls meant countless reunions with old friends, fellow roasters, coffee consultant, coffee importers, equipment specialists, café owners. There's something special about catching up in person, sharing stories, and comparing notes on where we've been and where we're going.
But equally valuable were the new connections. Fresh faces with fresh ideas, young entrepreneurs bringing different perspectives, innovators challenging established ways of thinking. These conversations energise me and remind me why I fell in love with coffee in the first place.
Beyond the Exhibition Halls
No visit to Milan would be complete without exploring its specialty coffee scene, and I made sure to carve out time for a couple of exceptional cafés. The city's coffee culture is slowly evolving over the years, honouring tradition while embracing innovation.
The absolute bonus of this trip was joining a cupping and tasting session at Cafezal Specialty Coffee Roasters featuring the Best of Brazil from Daterra Coffee. For someone who's cupped thousands of coffees over the years, this was still a revelation. The complexity, the clarity, the sheer quality, and innovative processing of what Daterra is producing. Standing around that cupping table, slurping alongside other professionals, discussing flavour notes and processing methods, I was reminded of the fundamental pleasure of this work, the coffee itself.
A Missed Moment
Australian barista Jack Simpson was making history by winning the World Barista Champion 2025 title. Congratulations to Jack, though I'm disappointed to have missed witnessing that moment! It's a reminder that Host Milan offers so much happening simultaneously that even a full day barely scratches the surface.
Reflections from Two Decades in Coffee
Standing in those massive halls, celebrating Brambati's 80th anniversary, testing new equipment, reconnecting with old colleagues, and discovering what's next in our industry.
All of it reinforced something I've learned over twenty years: the coffee business rewards those who remain curious, who stay connected to their community, and who never stop learning.
Host Milan 2025 delivered on all fronts. It showcased where we've been, where we are, and most excitingly, where we're headed. For any serious coffee professional, this biannual pilgrimage to Milan isn't optional, it's essential.
Until next time, Milan. Gina Di Brita
