PRODUCER ROASTER FORUM HEADS TO MEXICO FOR 2027
World — 9 August 2026
The Producer & Roaster Forum (PRF) will host its 2027 edition in Chiapas, Mexico, highlighting the growing importance of Latin American specialty coffee origins.
The architecture of the global specialty coffee trade is changing. It is no longer enough for roasters to simply purchase green beans through intermediaries; the modern industry demands direct connection, shared knowledge and mutual investment. This shift is the driving force behind the Producer & Roaster Forum (PRF), which has just announced it will host its 2027 edition in Mexico for the first time, marking a significant expansion of the forum's geographic reach.
Scheduled for 18 and 19 March 2027, the two-day forum will take place in Tuxtla, Chiapas—a region central to Mexico's coffee heritage and home to some of the country's most distinctive growing microclimates. PRF Mexico is expected to draw roasters from over 35 countries, offering an immersive look into a producing nation that boasts both a rich agricultural history and a rapidly evolving domestic specialty café scene. The announcement follows the 2026 edition in El Salvador, which set a record for roaster attendance with more than 4,200 visitors.
The decision to host the forum in Chiapas underscores a critical industry trend: the decentralisation of coffee knowledge. By bringing international buyers directly to the source, PRF collapses the distance between the farm and the final cup. This proximity fosters a deeper understanding of the agronomic challenges producers face, from climate volatility to processing innovations, while allowing roasters to secure high-quality, traceable lots that tell a coherent story to their customers.
In addition to the core forum, PRF Mexico will host the finals of the Global Coffee Awards World Championship, crowning the world's best roasters following regional competitions across Asia, MENA, Europe and the Americas. Winning roasters from each regional edition will compete at the world finals in Chiapas. This integration of a global roasting competition within a producing country highlights the symbiotic relationship at the heart of specialty coffee: the best roasters are those who understand their origins most deeply.
For brands operating across multiple markets, the move to Mexico is a signal worth noting. The C market remains volatile, and investing in direct producer relationships has never been more strategically important. Chiapas is one of Mexico's most productive coffee-growing states, accounting for a significant share of the country's total output, and its diverse altitude bands produce coffees that range from clean, citrus-forward washed lots to rich, complex naturals. The opportunity to taste and evaluate these coffees in situ, alongside the producers who grew them, is precisely the kind of experience that shapes a roaster's sourcing philosophy for years to come.
As the industry prepares for Chiapas, the focus remains clear: the best coffee is the result of genuine collaboration between the people who grow it and the people who roast it. PRF Mexico will be a defining moment in that ongoing conversation, and a compelling reason for the global specialty community to look south.