For practically a decade, Producer & Roaster Discussion board has been internet hosting pioneering {industry} occasions that permit espresso professionals from all around the world to attach and be taught. On 27 & 28 March 2025, the tenth version of PRF will happen on the Copantl Lodge & Conference Centre in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

This milestone occasion is about to be the largest and most partaking one but. Bringing collectively 1000’s of worldwide producers, roasters, merchants, baristas, and different {industry} professionals in a key coffee-producing nation, PRF Honduras will present extra alternatives than ever earlier than to community, trade concepts, and construct lasting enterprise relationships.

Along with a specifically curated programme of lectures, panels, workshops, and cuppings, the tenth version will host the fourth International Roasting Contest, the sixth Chilly Brew Espresso Championship, a barista competitors, and a cupping championship, the third International Espresso Awards, and the second PRF Seed scholarship initiative.

Learn on to search out out extra about what’s taking place on the occasion and how one can attend.

Be taught extra about PRF right here.

Celebrating ten years of PRF

Over the past ten years, PRF has grow to be one of the necessary occasions within the espresso sector. Every version brings collectively main worldwide professionals and consultants in a outstanding coffee-producing nation. The 2-day discussion board serves as a platform for producers and roasters to forge mutually useful partnerships, share concepts, and focus on among the {industry}’s most urgent matters.

Henry Wilson is the founding father of PRF. “To have fun our tenth anniversary, we’re investing within the largest and most fun occasion but in Honduras,” he says. “Yr after 12 months, PRF has continued to develop, and we are going to preserve constructing on this momentum.”

Greater than 4,000 persons are anticipated to attend, together with over 400 worldwide and 80 nationwide espresso consumers, making it one of many {industry}’s most world occasions. Round 500 small producers may even be in attendance, providing roasters a chance to attach with and be taught from farmers firsthand. The occasion is projected to generate US $14.5 million for the native financial system, supporting one in every of Latin America’s most necessary espresso origins.

Martin Mayorga is the founder and CEO of Mayorga Espresso and is the Diamond Sponsor of PRF Honduras.

“Understanding your suppliers ensures higher high quality and consistency and provides you a deeper understanding of the realities of coffee-producing communities,” he says. “In my view, roasters who don’t personally know their producers and declare to care about their livelihoods don’t really care concerning the long-term well being of the provision chain and the folks impacted by it. PRF serves as a necessary platform for roasters to instantly talk with producers.”

Why Honduras?

The earlier 9 editions of PRF have been held in El Salvador, Brazil, Guatemala, and Colombia. In the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, a digital version targeted on the Honduran espresso market came about, however the occasion has but to be held in individual within the nation.

“Honduras is such a preferred espresso origin, so PRF attendees and roasters have demanded that we host a discussion board there for a while,” Henry says. 

Identified for its excellent and various cup profiles, high-quality micro tons, and concentrate on natural practices, Honduras is a staple of many roasters’ single origin choices. Furthermore, as market costs have steadily climbed lately, demand for cheaper origins like Honduras has elevated, permitting roasters to handle their margins whereas nonetheless providing distinctive espresso.

“At earlier occasions in nations like Colombia, Guatemala, and El Salvador, the presence of Honduran espresso professionals was unbelievable,” Henry says. “At PRF Guatemala in March 2024, nearly 40% of holiday makers have been Honduran, so it’s with nice pleasure that we’ll host an occasion to symbolize such devoted PRF attendees.”

Karina Kafati is the Advertising Supervisor at Espresso Americano in Honduras.

“PRF Honduras guarantees to be a precious alternative for {industry} professionals in one of the important coffee-producing areas on the earth,” she says. “Internet hosting a world occasion like this places Honduras on the map and provides native espresso producers publicity by offering them with a platform to showcase their coffees and be taught extra from main consultants.”

The primary-ever PRF: Farm Summit held in Colombia

Along with the two-day boards held in main cities throughout Latin American producing nations, the all-new PRF: Farm Summit introduced collectively 1,387 attendees over the 2 days in a extra intimate setting much like the Sourcing Journey Expertise. This included 404 farmers and 96 roasters.

The inaugural Farm Summit, which targeted particularly on regenerative and natural farming practices, was held solely on a espresso farm on 17 and 18 October 2024 at Hacienda Cafetera La Pradera in Santander, Colombia. The farm was handpicked to host the occasion given its sturdy concentrate on natural farming practices, together with producing shade-grown espresso, producing its personal photo voltaic power, and manufacturing its personal biochar fertiliser.

“PRF is so necessary for the {industry} as a result of it’s truly held at origin,” Ricardo Pereira, Chief Enterprise Growth Officer of Purity Espresso, stated. “We want extra occasions at origin; it is a platform for producers in coffee-producing nations. All of the innovation, the talks, the topics they cowl… they’re wonderful. Individuals who got here right here acquired data, and we all know how highly effective that’s.”

The relevance of the controversy about regenerative farming

Even with the C worth not too long ago reaching a 13-year excessive, many producers nonetheless aren’t receiving extra money for his or her espresso. This places them below extra stress to attempt new fashions to enhance their financial stability. 

In direct response to those points, Farm Summit explored how holistic farming practices may also help producers decrease manufacturing prices, adapt to the local weather disaster, maximise yields, enhance profitability in the long run, and differentiate themselves out there.

Over 75 roasters and merchants from the USA, Canada, the UK, Chile, Nigeria, Spain, Eire, Germany, the UAE, Indonesia, Hungary, Switzerland, Japan, Australia, Netherlands, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, and France attended to interact with producers.

Internet hosting the occasion on a espresso farm allowed roasters to be taught extra about regenerative and natural farming from the producers themselves, bridging the data hole within the provide chain and inserting farmers on the forefront of necessary conversations.

Attendees additionally noticed the varied phases of espresso manufacturing firsthand – from seed nurseries to moist milling to fertiliser manufacturing – and met producers who’re driving innovation in espresso farming.

Competitions at Farm Summit

PRF Farm Summit’s groundbreaking format introduced three competitions to a espresso farm.

The fifth Chilly Brew Espresso Championship, sponsored by Toddy, was held on the occasion. A complete of 16 rivals (together with 2022 and 2023 finalists, together with 2024 winner Giovanni Sagustame from Guatemala) ready two chilly brew-based drinks. These included a designer drink, aiming to showcase innovation within the chilly espresso market. Alongside a money prize, Giovanni obtained a Toddy To Go brewer. In addition to this, the signature drink can be served on the subsequent PRF occasion in Honduras.

The primary-ever Cacao Masters Cup additionally came about. Sponsored by Somos Cacao, the distinctive competitors invited 14 separate baristas and cacao lovers to organize two distinct sizzling drinks utilizing totally different chocolate varieties with various cocoa and occasional percentages, showcasing the deep connection between the 2. Ultimately, the winner was Fabian Zapata from Borrello Espresso Firm in Colombia, who was awarded merchandise and merchandise from Somos Cacao.

Lastly, the inaugural Soil of Excellence competitors helped redefine high quality requirements within the espresso {industry}. Sponsored by Belco, the championship highlighted how integral soil well being is to distinctive espresso manufacturing. Initially, 65 Colombian espresso producers competed to showcase the standard of their soils and occasional by means of rigorous evaluations utilizing Pfeiffer chromatography. 

Of the ten producers who made it by means of to the ultimate spherical, the winner was Elkin Moreno. He represented Finca la Bendición. The highest three farms all obtained the present market worth per bag of espresso, plus 50% for the winner. After which 40% and 30% respectively for the second and third runners-up.

What else occurred on the occasion?

Like different PRF occasions, Farm Summit featured a tailor-made PRF Voices programme together with among the {industry}’s main figures. This 12 months, lectures and panels targeted on natural and regenerative farming, corresponding to:

• Espresso for Well being: A New Class with Nice Potential (Ildi Revi, Chief Studying Officer at Purity Espresso, US)
• Progressive Fermentation: Creating Distinctive Flavour Profiles By way of Experimental Processes (Manuel Diaz, founding father of ONA consulting, Mexico)
• Certifications and Controversies: Reviewing Regenerative vs Natural Practices
  • Jeff Chean, founding father of Groundwork Espresso, US
  • Melina Devoney, espresso journalist, US
• Function & Significance of Biochar in Espresso
  • Oscar Daza, founding father of Hacienda La Pradera, Colombia
  • Mildred Muñoz, founding father of Santa Maria Venture, Colombia
  • Amelia Connell, Agricultural Engineer at Purity Espresso, France
  • Francisco Tamayo, Espresso Adviser at Purity Espresso, Colombia
• Collaborating for EUDR Compliance: Producers, Merchants & NGOs
  • Jaromir Hanzal, founding father of the Worldwide Heart for the Development of Espresso, Czech Republic
  • Rodolfo Ruffatti, founding father of Worldwide Heart for the Development of Espresso, El Salvador

The occasion additionally included collaborative workshops and focus teams. Moreover, a few of Latin America’s most interesting producers and merchants hosted cupping classes which showcased the area’s most distinctive coffees. Given its smaller dimension, Farm Summit additionally included a choose variety of cubicles for manufacturers taken with regenerative agriculture and natural espresso.

Constructing on a decade of industry-leading occasions

To acknowledge and have fun ten years of PRF, the milestone two-day discussion board in Honduras will spotlight how the occasion has served as an integral platform for roasters and producers to attach for nearly a decade.

Bonface Mogesi is the Head of Espresso at Woods Roastery in Saudi Arabia. He has taken half in two PRF occasions and can be attending PRF Honduras. 

“Attending occasions like PRF and the STE is crucial for constructing connections within the espresso {industry},” he says. “By way of these occasions, you’ll be able to admire all the trouble behind the provision chain.”

PRF Honduras guarantees to be essentially the most profitable occasion thus far, with extra alternatives for networking, studying, and collaboration than ever earlier than. Set in San Pedro Sula, a key hub in one of the necessary coffee-producing areas in Latin America, it is going to convey collectively 1000’s of espresso professionals from world wide.

“We wished to organise one thing really particular for our tenth anniversary,” Henry says. “PRF has returned to Colombia and Guatemala earlier than. However in 2025, it’s an honour to us to lastly host our largest occasion in Honduras.”

The 2-day discussion board will embrace an exhibition space for attendees to community with main Latin American and worldwide corporations and organisations.

Customer’s say: why PRF issues?

Laura Richard is the co-founder and COO of Saltwinds Espresso within the US. She has taken half in 4 Sourcing Journey Experiences and can be attending PRF Honduras.

“As a roaster, PRF is a crucial fixture on my calendar for a number of causes,” she says. “I’ve the possibility to go to farms. And there be taught extra about how espresso is grown from the individuals who do it firsthand.

“I can join instantly with producers, huge and small, and focus on direct sourcing fashions with them,” she provides. “There’s a big number of coffees to cup, and I can meet folks throughout the {industry}.”

As with earlier editions, PRF Honduras will host the PRF Voice programme. This initiative will function lectures and panel discussions to supply invaluable {industry} perception to native and worldwide espresso professionals.

There may even be a lot of interactive workshops and roundtable discussions. Cuppings, espresso, chilly brews, and brew bars will showcase among the greatest coffees within the area as effectively.

Brian Kenny is the director of Silverskin Espresso Roasters in Dublin, Eire. He has taken half within the Sourcing Journey Expertise two occasions and can be attending PRF Honduras.

“PRF is such an necessary occasion, not simply the discussion board, but in addition the STE,” he says. “It permits producers and roasters to attach on a stage that’s unachievable wherever else. You be taught in real-time and join with colleagues within the {industry} to share concepts and construct lifelong relationships.”

Competitions and awards

PRF has grow to be identified for organising among the espresso {industry}’s most progressive competitions, and Honduras can be no exception.

Championships on the occasion will embrace:

• The fourth International Espresso Roasting Contest – which incorporates each a technical and a folks’s selection winner
• The sixth Chilly Brew Espresso Championship sponsored by Toddy. On this contest, rivals should put together two chilly brew-based drinks, together with a designer drink
• The Barista Championship to check important and high-level espresso brewing abilities, with extra particulars to be introduced quickly
• An all-new espresso tasting competitors to check {industry} professionals’ sensory evaluation abilities. We are going to share extra info on this within the coming weeks.

After its profitable debut at PRF Guatemala, PRF Seed may even return in 2025. This scheme recognises entrepreneurs within the espresso {industry} and empowers them by funding precious community-focused initiatives. This version of the programme will invite again earlier Seed recipients to showcase. And in addition have fun their achievements over the previous 12 months.

Lastly, the occasion may even host the third version of the International Espresso Awards, which have fun key innovators and leaders throughout the {industry}. 

To have fun its tenth anniversary, PRF will host a significant occasion in San Pedro Sula, Honduras on March 27 and 28, 2025. This milestone will showcase PRF’s important influence on {industry}. Over the previous decade, PRF has facilitated connections amongst espresso professionals worldwide. Attendees may count on alternatives to be taught and evolve.

Worldwide tickets can be found right here. You can even buy Sourcing Journey Expertise tickets at this hyperlink. The group will announce a whole occasion schedule within the coming weeks.

You possibly can keep updated with all bulletins for PRF right here, or by subscribing to the publication right here.

Picture credit: Producer & Roaster Discussion board

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