- PRF Colombia is the world’s biggest coffee producer-focused event
- It will take place between June 30 and July 1 in Plaza Mayor, Medellín, Colombia
- Attendees will come from around the world, including Europe, South America, and the Middle East
Each year, the calendar is fit to burst with coffee events, showcasing the latest innovations, offering valuable networking opportunities, and celebrating the talents of coffee professionals from around the world.
However, despite the wide range of events on offer, very few are accessible to the most important group in the coffee industry: producers.
Paying for flights, accommodation, and meals out in a country hundreds, if not thousands, of miles away is out of the question for the majority of the world’s coffee producers. This is particularly true of Colombia, where an estimated 65% of coffee-farming families earn below the living income.
Recognising this, Producer & Roaster Forum (PRF) will this year take place in Medellín, Colombia between June 30 and July 1.
The annual two-day event brings together thousands of coffee professionals, industry leaders, and coffee producers from around the world, offering a unique opportunity to network, participate in workshops, listen to talks, and join roundtable discussions.
In addition to the forum, Origin Trip Experience ticket holders have the chance to spend four days staying with local hosts on coffee farms across Colombia. Here, they will have the chance to form direct relationships with producers and gain first-hand experience of coffee production.
“Our industry talks at producers too much and talks about producers too much,” says Martin Mayorga, who owns Mayorga Coffee. “I see it at coffee events and we talk about producers, but they’re not even there.
“The ability to have human connection is the biggest benefit of PRF. That’s the missing link in coffee. What will fix inequalities is people sitting face to face and seeing each other’s issues and exploring opportunities.”
What to look forward to
As the first in-person instalment since 2019, there is a lot to look forward to at this year’s PRF, which will be held in Plaza Mayor, Medellín.
In addition to a host of exhibitors from Amor Perfecto and Forest Coffee to Demetria and StoneX, there will be a selection of workshops where attendees have the opportunity to discuss and interact with other participants.
A diverse lineup of speakers and panellists will also give talks across the two-day forum, covering topics such as the growth of cold brew coffee, the market for exclusive lots, and a deep dive into global decaf consumption.
Freda Yuan, Pedro Echaverria, Mohamad Merhi, Ricardo Pereira, Olga Cuellar, Cleia Junqueira, Dale Harris, and Martin Mayorga will all give talks, with a number of other high-level figures on the schedule.
PRF is also pleased to announce its partnership with Pergamino for the inaugural Barista Jam – a knockout-round competition that seeks to highlight the art and craft of being a barista. Consisting of an initial 32 competitors, Barista Jam will put the latte art skills of each participant to the test, with milk, coffee, and cups all provided.
The panel of judges will assess the latte art based on three criteria, including the accuracy, consistency, and symmetry of the figure.
In the four days leading up to the forum, coffee roasters will stay on coffee farms for the Origin Trip Experience, where they will have the opportunity to better understand the needs of producers.
As well as gaining first-hand experience of the journey from planting to processing, they will be able to ask the producers questions and form meaningful relationships that last well beyond PRF.
