For over a decade, Producer & Roaster Discussion board (PRF) has hosted occasions at origin that facilitate long-term connections between worldwide producers, roasters, exporters, importers, and baristas.
On 27 & 28 March 2025, the tenth version of PRF was held on the Copantl Resort & Conference Centre in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, marking its largest and most impactful occasion thus far.
Along with the PRF Voices programme, which featured lectures from main {industry} figures, the milestone occasion hosted panels, workshops, and cuppings. It additionally included the fourth World Roasting Contest, the sixth Chilly Brew Espresso Championship, the second Cacao Masters Cup, the primary World Cupping Championship, the third World Espresso Awards, the second PRF Seed scholarship initiative, and an all-new Producer-Roaster Matchmaking programme.
Learn on to search out out extra about what occurred on the two-day discussion board.
Study extra about PRF right here.
PRF hosts its largest occasion but
During the last ten years, PRF has grow to be some of the distinguished and influential occasions within the espresso sector. Every two-day discussion board brings main {industry} professionals and consultants from world wide collectively in a significant coffee-producing nation.
At these occasions, hundreds of producers, roasters, exporters, importers, and baristas have the chance to community, share concepts, construct long-term relationships, and focus on a number of the {industry}’s most urgent subjects.
“The success of PRF Honduras was ten years within the making,” says Henry Wilson, the founding father of PRF. “Yr after 12 months, the occasion has continued to develop, so we needed to construct on this momentum and put money into our largest and most fun version but.”
Greater than 2,638 individuals attended the discussion board, together with 1,244 producers, providing roasters a possibility to attach with and be taught from farmers firsthand. Greater than 194 exporters and importers and over 245 inexperienced espresso consumers and roasters from the US, Australia, the UK, Greece, Austria, Saudi Arabia, Guatemala, China, Lithuania, Canada, Spain, United Arab Emirates, Costa Rica, Thailand, South Korea, Indonesia, France, Nicaragua, Slovenia, and Italy had been in attendance, making it one of many espresso {industry}’s most international occasions. These roasters included Joel Castellanos of Café Zun Zun in Texas, US; Konstantinos Vallianos of Kafe Terra in Greece; Darius Vezelis of Vero Espresso Home in Lithuania; and Karthikeyan Rajendran of Three Espresso within the UAE.
The occasion included 176 volunteers from 15 completely different international locations, organised in partnership with Copan Commerce, and in addition hosted 444 Mayorga Becado scholarship recipients – Mayorga Espresso’s scholarship programme, which sponsors round 500 smallholder farmers to attend the discussion board.
Why Honduras?
PRF Honduras generated US $1.8 million for the native economic system, supporting considered one of Latin America’s main espresso origins. This has by no means been extra necessary; in accordance with the most recent USDA figures, Honduras will produce 5.5 million 60kg baggage in 2023/24, representing a 24% lower from the earlier 12 months.
Incidences of espresso leaf rust, an ongoing labour scarcity, and falling home market costs have posed challenges for producers – 95% of that are smallholders who usually battle with market entry.
“For my part, roasters who don’t personally know their producers and declare to care about their livelihoods don’t actually care concerning the long-term well being of the availability chain and the individuals impacted by it,” says Martin Mayorga, the founder and CEO of Mayorga Espresso and the Diamond Sponsor of PRF Honduras. “PRF serves as a necessary occasion for roasters to speak straight with espresso producers.”
By facilitating connections between native and worldwide producers and roasters, PRF helps generate long-term, mutually helpful working relationships.
With the C worth nonetheless close to file highs after reaching US $4.41/lb in early February 2025, it’s by no means been extra urgent for roasters to supply from cost-effective origins. Sourcing from Honduras, identified for its numerous cup profiles, high-quality micro heaps, and concentrate on natural practices, permits roasters to handle their margins whereas nonetheless providing distinctive espresso.
Competitions at PRF Honduras
PRF Honduras hosted 4 revolutionary competitions: the fourth World Roasting Contest, the sixth Chilly Brew Espresso Championship, the second Cacao Masters Cup, and the primary World Cupping Championship. The competitions included artistic new branding, which featured distinct mascots for every occasion that represented the variety of Honduran wildlife.
The fourth World Roasting Contest was sponsored by Giesen Espresso Roasters, Cropster, and Volcafe. Over the 2 days, 16 individuals took half within the competitors, the place they blended and roasted coffees, with the winners chosen by professional judging and a individuals’s selection vote. The technical winner was Julian Trejos of Cafeina Espresso in Colombia, whereas Chantal Demonty Cercos of Ombú Bcn Café de Especialidad in Spain was introduced the Individuals’s Selection winner.
The sixth Chilly Brew Espresso Championship, sponsored by Toddy, was held on the occasion. A complete of 9 rivals ready two distinctive chilly brew-based drinks utilizing a espresso of their selection. These included a designer drink, aiming to showcase innovation within the chilly espresso market. Julian Trejos was additionally the Chilly Brew Espresso Championship winner.
The second Cacao Masters Cup additionally passed off. Sponsored by Zucoleto, the distinctive competitors invited ten baristas and cacao lovers to arrange two distinct sizzling drinks utilizing completely different Honduran chocolate varieties with various cocoa and occasional percentages, showcasing the deep connection between the 2. In the long run, Luisa Santos of Coffeina Café in Colombia positioned third, Emeric Seguin of Fantome Café in Canada got here second, and Julian Trejos was introduced the winner – his third competitors win at PRF Honduras.
PRF Honduras additionally hosted the primary World Cupping Championship, sponsored by PDG Media. A complete of 16 rivals put their sensory abilities to the check in a high-stakes cupping problem, evaluating aroma, flavour, acidity, physique, and stability with precision. The winner was unbiased competitor Wendy Marcos from El Salvador, who showcased her capacity to tell apart coffees with accuracy and experience.
Which awards & initiatives passed off?
The third version of the World Espresso Awards was held at PRF Honduras. That is an revolutionary, producer-led {industry} award that recognises creatives and leaders from throughout the worldwide espresso {industry}. The intention is to centre the World Espresso Awards in Latin America in order that they are often extra inclusive and accessible.
Professional judges evaluated entries over a variety of classes and chosen a winner for every:
After its profitable debut at PRF Guatemala, PRF Seed returned in 2025. This scheme recognises entrepreneurs within the espresso {industry} and empowers them by funding beneficial community-focused initiatives. This version of the programme invited again earlier Seed recipients to showcase and rejoice their achievements over the previous 12 months.
The PRF Seed recipients in Honduras had been:
- Iliana Castillo of Honduras: US $4,300
- Scarlette Zeron of Honduras: US $3,200
- Luisa López of Colombia: US $1,500
- Andres Olarte of Colombia: US $1,000
- Klever Torres of Ecuador: fashioned a strategic partnership with PRF
Dedicating the time and discovering the area to community at commerce exhibits could be difficult, which is why PRF launched the all-new Producer-Roaster Matchmaking programme in Honduras.
The occasion exercise is designed particularly to attach producers and roasters. Contributors had the chance to community on the devoted Matchmaking Zone: an area designated for significant conversations and new relationships between roasters and producers, proper on the coronary heart of the exhibition.
What else occurred on the occasion?
Like different PRF occasions, the tenth version in Honduras featured a tailor-made PRF Voices programme that included a number of the {industry}’s foremost figures and consultants. This 12 months, lectures and panels targeted on a variety of subjects, comparable to:
- From Farm to Cup: Leveraging Social Media to Construct Producer-Roaster Relationships (Elton Guillen – Emense Espresso, Nicaragua)
- Navigating the US Espresso Market: Insights for Producers and Roasters (Andrew Delgado – Dynamic Espresso Roasters, US)
- Espresso Fundamentals and Worth Threat Administration: Navigating Market Volatility (Tomás Araujo – StoneX, US)
- Fluctuating Pricing and Shifting Sourcing Methods: An Importer’s Perspective (Abraham Castro – Ally Espresso, US)
- Progressive Composting Methods for Espresso Producers (William Amaya – Finca Terrerito, Honduras)
The occasion additionally included panels and cuppings. Sponsored by BWT water+extra, the cuppings featured a few of Latin America’s greatest producers and merchants. These included PRF Producer Associate CRS, Optimum Espresso in El Salvador, Cima Café, Comical in Honduras, Ally Espresso, Almendros Espresso Co. in Honduras, Conatradec in Nicaragua, Cafés Finos de Honduras in Honduras, Chantuc in El Salvador, Finca La Estrella in Panama, Five04 in Honduras, and Alfacomer Caramba Café in El Salvador, underscoring the variety of coffees on supply.
This 12 months, workshops at PRF Honduras had been led by Zamorano College (Pan-American Agricultural Faculty), considered one of Latin America’s most prestigious universities, which presents undergraduate and postgraduate programs in espresso manufacturing and advertising. All workshop attendees acquired a certificates issued by Zamorano to recognise their participation formally.
Lastly, there was additionally an Espresso, a Brew, and a Chilly Brew Bar for attendees to attempt distinctive coffees from Honduras and past.
Why PRF issues
To acknowledge and rejoice ten years of PRF, the milestone two-day discussion board in Honduras highlighted how the occasion has served as an integral platform for roasters and producers to attach for nearly a decade.
“PRF has proved to be probably the most beneficial device in our toolbox for figuring out producers and farmers from origin to incorporate in our Farm-Direct programme,” says Bob Fish, the co-CEO and founding father of PRF Gold Sponsor One Bigg Island in Area (OBIIS).
“This 12 months, we had been capable of showcase our Farm-Direct associate Al Lopez and Finca Terrerito. They shined like a beacon for treating individuals and the planet proper and lifting communities in Honduras,” he provides.
“We’re proud PRF Gold and Sourcing Journey Expertise Sponsors,” says Mark Zhou, the founding father of MTPak Espresso. “It was an honour to convey everybody collectively to discover Honduras’ vibrant espresso scene, join with worldwide roasters and producers, and dive into significant conversations with {industry} professionals.”
The Sourcing Journey Expertise is created particularly for roasters and inexperienced consumers who wish to acquire direct and immersive perception into espresso manufacturing. Visitors stick with native hosts on espresso farms all through Honduras, the place they’ve the chance to watch farming practices, participate in cuppings and roundtable discussions, and journey to native mills.
“PRF Honduras was a pivotal occasion for the worldwide espresso {industry}. It offered a novel platform for producers, roasters, and {industry} leaders to attach, alternate data, and discover new alternatives for collaboration,” says Ricardo Pereira, the Chief Enterprise Improvement Officer at PRF Bronze Sponsor Purity Espresso.
“Occasions like these are important in strengthening the espresso provide chain, fostering innovation, and guaranteeing a extra sustainable and affluent future for everybody concerned – from farm to cup,” he provides.
Nidia Manzanares is the Company Advertising and marketing and Communications Supervisor at PRF Silver Sponsor Banpaís. “At Banpaís, we provide the monetary instruments needed for day by day operations and enterprise development within the Honduran espresso sector to allow them to concentrate on what they do greatest: producing the most effective espresso on the earth,” she says.
PRF Honduras signifies over a decade of pioneering espresso occasions at origin, bringing producers and roasters collectively to forge significant and lasting working relationships.
“Honduras was our largest version up to now, including much more worth to attendees’ experiences,” Henry says. “Following our final ten years of industry-leading occasions, we are going to proceed to construct on this success and set PRF up for much more accomplishments sooner or later.”
The situation and dates of the subsequent PRF two-day discussion board can be introduced within the coming weeks.
You may keep updated with all bulletins for PRF right here, or by subscribing to the e-newsletter right here.
Picture credit: Producer & Roaster Discussion board
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