MEDELLÍN, Colombia – Producer Roaster Forum – the world’s largest producer-focused event – returned to the Plaza Mayor venue in Medellín, Colombia on 14 & 15 September 2023. PRF Colombia generated business of more than US $12.5 million, with additional tourism spending of at least US $1.5 million
In addition to a trade show exhibition, PRF hosted an extensive range of expert speakers and panellists, as well as workshops, cupping sessions, and competitions.
Competitions at PRF Colombia
This year, PRF Colombia hosted three coffee championships, as well as the winner announcement for a fourth contest:
- Global Roasting Contest – with a unique judging format unlike any other in the coffee industry, the Global Coffee Roasting Contest includes a final assessment round where all PRF Colombia attendees have the chance to vote for their favourite coffee, as well as a panel of judges who select a technical winner
- The winner is Alejandro Macías of Lusitania Coffee Co. in Colombia, who received a ROEST sample roaster. Alejandro Gonzales was also voted the people’s choice winner for the competition, and received a voucher for the SCA Coffee Skills Program
- Cold Brew Championship – sixteen competitors went head-to-head to prepare two cold brew-based beverages for a panel of judges
- In first place was Jean Pierre Acero Cechetti of Fecve Lab, Venezuela. Nicolás Gonzales of Nebraska Café, Colombia placed second, and Yeison Leandro Buitrago of Desarrolladores de Café, Colombia came third
- Olla Coffee Championship – an event which celebrates and honours the traditional Latin American Olla coffee pot
- David Alejandro Galeano Díaz of Col-Spirit in Colombia placed first, with Fernando Pedroza and Nicolás Tovar coming in second and third place, respectively
- Fibtex Championship – green coffee samples were assessed before PRF Colombia
- The winner is Zurcos Historia de Café in Colombia, while Erick Bravou of Finca El Chaferote in Colombia placed second
Lectures, panels, workshops & cupping sessions
PRF Colombia hosted a series of speeches, lectures, and panels led by some of the industry’s leading experts – including 30 international and ten Colombian speakers.
The two-day forum also included the first-ever No Filter Panel Series: a groundbreaking discussion platform for industry experts to have difficult and challenging – but also necessary – discussions.
Several companies and organisations led workshops at PRF Colombia, including Toddy, Mayorga Coffee, StoneX, Rainforest Alliance, and TechnoServe.
Numerous cupping sessions took place across both days, led by companies such as Ally Coffee, !Fest Coffee Mission, Those Coffee People, Jaguara Coffee, and Lohas Beans.
In 2024, PRF will return to Guatemala on 7 & 8 March. The two-day forum was previously held there in 2019, and is once again expected to draw in thousands of attendees.
Guatemalan Coffees will be the Official Host Country Sponsor for the event, which will take place at the Anacafé venue. More details about PRF Guatemala will be announced soon.
