PRF heads to Mexico for first time on 18 & 19 March 2027 with record roaster attendance

Key takeaways

• Producer & Roaster Forum (PRF) hosts industry-leading events in coffee-producing countries every year, connecting producers with international roasters.
• The 12th edition will take place on 18 & 19 March 2027 at Polyforum Chiapas in Tuxtla, Chiapas – the first time the event will take place in Mexico.
• PRF Mexico will host the sixth Global Roasting Contest, the eighth Cold Brew Coffee Championship, the third Global Cupping Championship, the third Soil of Excellence Coffee competition, and Producer-Roaster Matchmaking.
• Speaker applications for PRF Voices are open now.
• The event will also coincide with the 2026 Global Coffee Awards World Championship, where the world’s best roasters will be announced.

On 18 & 19 March 2027, the 12th edition of Producer & Roaster Forum, the largest and most prestigious coffee event in Latin America, will take place at Polyforum Chiapas in Tuxtla, Chiapas, Mexico.

The two-day forum brings together a global community of producers, roasters, traders, baristas, and industry experts. Every event provides opportunities to network, exchange ideas, build lasting business relationships, and taste some of the world’s best coffees.

In addition to a specially curated PRF Voices programme, workshops, and cuppings, PRF Mexico will host the sixth Global Roasting Contest, the eighth Cold Brew Coffee Championship, the third Global Cupping Championship, the third Soil of Excellence Coffee competition, and Producer-Roaster Matchmaking.

The event will also coincide with the 2026 Global Coffee Awards World Championship, where regional Gold Champions will compete for the title of the world’s best roaster.

Read on to find out more about what’s happening at the event and how you can apply to become a speaker.

Learn more about PRF here.

PRF continues its success

For over a decade, PRF has played a leading role in connecting international buyers with some of the world’s best coffee producers. The two-day forum provides a platform to build long-lasting relationships, address key industry issues, promote innovation in the global coffee sector, and facilitate green coffee sales.

“PRF is one of the best platforms for roasters to meet producers,” says Darius Vėželis, the CEO of Vero Coffee House in Lithuania, a Gold winner at the 2025 GCA Europe. “It’s important to know the country that you’re buying coffee from, as well as operations at origin and how the supply chain works.

“At PRF, you can meet in person, and you have time to talk and exchange ideas with coffee professionals at origin, as well as roasters from other countries,” he adds. “I first attended the event in El Salvador in 2023, and have since developed relationships with Salvadoran producers and roasters from all over the world.”

Five countries have hosted the forum to date: El Salvador, Brazil, Guatemala, Honduras, and Colombia. Last year’s edition, held in El Salvador, attracted more than 4,116 people, including more than 1,146 producers. 

Over 372 green coffee buyers and roasters from the US, the UK, Greece, Georgia, Bulgaria, Austria, Belgium, Guatemala, Lithuania, Canada, Spain, France, Nicaragua, Colombia, Australia, Poland, Costa Rica, Italy, Brazil, Kenya, Ireland, Switzerland, and Romania also attended, making it one of the coffee industry’s most global events. 

With market volatility continuing to shape the coffee industry, roasters want more control over their supply chains and closer ties with producers. As a result, events like PRF have grown in prominence.

MTPak Coffee, a leading global supplier of custom-printed coffee packaging, is the PRF Diamond Sponsor. The company has partnered on a multi-year deal to sponsor future events.

“We are proud to be the Diamond Sponsor of PRF Mexico, as well as the sponsor of the Sourcing Trip Experience (STE),” says Mark Zhou, the founder of MTPak Coffee. “As long-standing supporters of the global coffee community, our partnership with PRF at this level reflects our ongoing commitment to producers, roasters, and the relationships that power the coffee supply chain.

“We back an event that puts transparency, collaboration, and meaningful connections first, and we look forward to taking part in the conversations that matter most in the years ahead.”

PRF heads to Mexico

In March 2027, the event will debut in Mexico, a country that is quickly developing a reputation for its exceptional coffee quality and a dynamic specialty coffee shop scene.

The country is one of the world’s top 11 coffee exporters. The USDA forecasts Mexico’s production volumes to increase to 4.1 million 60kg bags in the 2026/27 harvest period.

“There was such strong demand from international roasters for PRF to take place in Mexico,” says Andrea Melo, the COO of PRF. “Many roasters specifically requested the opportunity to build new sourcing relationships here and discover what Mexican producers have to offer.”

Mexico grows mostly shade-grown arabica, including high-quality varieties like Typica, Maragogype, Catimor, and Catuai, as well as more unique coffees like Garnica and Marsellesa.

The USDA also predicts that the country’s domestic coffee consumption will increase throughout 2026/27, supported by its fast-growing specialty coffee scene.

“In Mexico City and beyond, cafés serve exceptional coffee and offer stellar hospitality,” Andrea says. “The country’s barista scene is competitive; many are taking part in national and regional competitions to constantly push themselves to improve.”

A burgeoning specialty coffee culture and high-quality coffee production position PRF Mexico as a major international meeting point. Over 4,500 Mexican and international coffee professionals are expected to attend, including roasters from more than 45 countries, making PRF Mexico the largest edition to date.

Supporting Mexico’s coffee sector

PRF Mexico is expected to generate more than US$15.5m in business opportunities, with at least US$1.82m expected to be retained in Chiapas to support the local coffee sector. The event will also create over 300 direct and indirect jobs.

OBIIS (One Big Island in Space), a farm-direct model that buys coffee from producers, is a PRF Gold Sponsor and a long-time partner. OBIIS works with producers in Chiapas and screened the La Fortaleza documentary at PRF El Salvador, spotlighting the success and challenges of the region’s coffee producers.

The Instituto del Café de Chiapas (INCAFECH), part of the State Government of Chiapas, Mexico, fosters, develops, and promotes the region’s coffee industry. INCAFECH is a PRF Gold Sponsor and the Host Country Partner.

“Today, in Chiapas’ coffee sector, there is greater interest in quality, traceability, sustainability, processing and, above all, generating greater added value within the region itself,” says Carolina Espinosa, Project Management and Marketing at INCAFECH. “We have also seen greater involvement from producers and organisations seeking to improve their processes, differentiate their coffees and access markets that recognise not only the quality of the product, but also its origin and the story behind it.

“PRF Mexico allows us to showcase not only our coffee, but also our regions, our diversity, our processes and the work of our coffee-growing families to an international audience,” she adds. “This will be the first time that PRF has been held in Mexico, and Chiapas will be the host. This gives us the opportunity to put the state on the international coffee map and to welcome buyers, roasters, and professionals from different markets.”

Functional specialty coffee brand Purity Coffee is a long-term partner and the PRF Bronze Sponsor.

Volunteer Sponsor and specialty coffee importer Copan Trade will host a cupping session and exclusive networking activities for volunteers.

Which competitions will take place?

Building on over a decade of success, PRF will debut in Mexico with an event line-up that promises value for all attendees.

Competitions have become a staple of every edition, showcasing the latest innovations and trends from across the supply chain. The championships that will take place are:

• The sixth Global Roasting Contest, sponsored by Cropster – top international roasters showcase pure roasting skills and expertise to compete for the technical and people’s choice top spots.
• The eighth Cold Brew Coffee Championship – a select group of competitors demonstrate their expertise in crafting exceptional cold brews and signature drinks.
• The third Global Cupping Championship, sponsored by PDG Media – competitors put their sensory skills to the test in a high-stakes cupping challenge, evaluating aroma, flavour, acidity, body, and balance with precision and speed.
• Soil of Excellence Coffee by Belco – the competition highlights the importance of soil health and regenerative agriculture in producing exceptional coffee.

More information on how to apply to compete will be announced in the coming weeks.

Global Coffee Awards World Championship 2026

The 2026 Global Coffee Awards (GCA) World Championship, a competition recognising the world’s best roasters and the producers who grow their coffees, will take place at PRF Mexico.

Throughout 2026, GCA has hosted several regional editions, including:

• MENA on 15 June
• Africa on 16 June
• Asia on 17 June
• US & Canada on 10 & 11 August
• Latin America on 12 August

The European edition will take place in October. The entry kit is here, and all samples must be received by 21 October 2026.

The Gold winners of each category of all regional competitions will compete at the World Championship, where producers who have grown their coffees will join them. With winning roasters and producers from six regions attending, this will mark PRF’s and the GCA World Championship’s biggest editions yet.

The overall champion will be crowned during the GCA awards ceremony on the evening of 19 March. There will also be a VIP dinner on the same evening.

“For nearly 30 years, we have focused on the same question: How do we make better coffee tomorrow than we made today?” says Vytautas Kratulis, founder of Huracán Coffee, crowned the World’s Best Roaster at the 2025 GCA World Championship.

“Winning the GCA allowed us to tell that story to a much wider audience,” he adds. “The GCA award opened doors in places where our story simply hadn’t reached before.”

Tickets to the Global Coffee Awards Annual Dinner and Ceremony are open to all PRF attendees and are available now. You can buy tickets and find out more information here.

The dinner gives attendees a rare chance to network with leaders from across the specialty coffee industry, including award-winning roasters and Cup of Excellence-winning producers.

“Being part of the Global Coffee Awards as a judge was a real honour,” says Sandra Tamayo, quality assurance manager at Ambera in Colombia and a Q grader. She was a Sensory Judge at the GCA US & Canada and Latin America, and has also judged the Best New Product competition at WoC San Diego and regional competitions in Colombia. 

“I think sometimes roasters hesitate to enter competitions because they don’t know how their coffee will be received,” she adds. “The GCA includes different categories and preparation formats, so each coffee has a chance to show its strengths in the way that suits it best.”

What else is happening at PRF Mexico?

The two-day forum will include an exhibition area where attendees can network with leading Latin American and international companies and organisations, including producers, exporters, roasters, importers, and café owners.

The Producer-Roaster Matchmaking programme, sponsored by Algrano, will also return after its launch at the 2025 Honduras event. The programme is designed to connect producers and roasters in the dedicated Matchmaking Zone: a space for meaningful conversations and new relationships between roasters and producers, right at the heart of the exhibition.

Roasters, producers, and traders will have the opportunity to meet potential partners in a quick, structured speed networking format. Algrano will help guide participants throughout the process, offering supply chain expertise, logistical support, key financial information, and live translations.

Like other PRF events, the 2027 forum will include workshops and cuppings hosted by some of Latin America’s best producers and traders, showcasing the region’s coffee diversity. 

There will also be an Espresso, a Brew, and a Cold Brew Bar for attendees to try exceptional coffees from Mexico and beyond.

Speaker applications

Every PRF event hosts the PRF Voices programme: a specially curated lineup of lectures and panels led by some of the industry’s foremost and well-known experts. 

Over the last decade, speakers from 36 countries have participated, discussing various topics across the coffee supply chain. These include:

• Progressive Composting Techniques for Coffee Producers (Bob Fish and Michelle Fish – OBIIS)
• The Science of Roasting for Functional Benefits (Ildi Revi – Purity Coffee)
• Coffee Fundamentals and Price Risk Management: Navigating Market Volatility (Tomás Araujo – StoneX, US)
• Fluctuating Pricing and Shifting Sourcing Strategies: An Importer’s Perspective (Abraham Castro – Ally Coffee, US)
• Leveraging Computational Simulation to Optimise Coffee Drying, Storage, and Roasting (Jaime Daniel Bustos – Universidad Surcolombiana, Colombia)
• Understanding Green Coffee Logistics: Overcoming Challenges and Building an Efficient Supply Chain (Afshin Roshanian – Artisan Coffee Gear, Romania)

English and Spanish speakers are invited to apply for PRF Voices. Ideal candidates should have a strong background in the coffee industry, over five years of experience in their topic of interest, previous PRF participation, public speaking skills, and fresh insight into key trends and challenges in today’s coffee sector. 

More information is available here, and you can apply to be a speaker here. 

PRF’s first event in Mexico on 18 & 19 March 2027 will build on 12 years of facilitating meaningful connections between producers and roasters.

International tickets and Sourcing Trip Experience tickets, which will run from 14 to 17 March 2027, are available to buy here.

You can stay up to date with all announcements for PRF here, or by subscribing to the newsletter here.

Photo credits: Producer & Roaster Forum

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