PRF Guatemala to host three competitions on 7 & 8 March 2024

At any coffee industry event, competitions can be some of the most exciting and engaging activities taking place – showcasing skills and expertise in new and creative ways.

With PRF set to return to Guatemala on 7 & 8 March 2024, the two-day forum will once again host the third unique and innovative Global Coffee Roasting Contest, the fourth Cold Brew Coffee Championship, and the all-new French Press Championship. With a specific focus on accessibility and lower barriers to entry, PRF aims to encourage Latin American coffee professionals to take part in these competitions.

Read on to find out more about all three coffee competitions, their respective rules, and how you can apply.

Learn more about PRF Guatemala here.

PRF to return to Guatemala

At every event, PRF hosts thousands of attendees from around the world at a two-day forum held in a coffee-producing country. On 7 & 8 March 2024, the forum will return to Guatemala.

Luisa Fernanda Correa is the General Manager at Anacafé – an association which represents more than 125,000 families working in the country’s coffee industry.

Guatemalan Coffees is the Host Country Sponsor for PRF Guatemala, and will hold the event at its headquarters in Guatemala City.

“For Anacafé and Guatemalan Coffees, it is very exciting to once again host PRF,” Luisa says. In 2019, the forum took place in Guatemala for the first time, bringing together hundreds of roasters and producers.

“The event will offer some amazing opportunities to our coffee producers, and will be the perfect platform for international buyers to get to know our spectacular country and discover the amazing coffee that we produce,” Luisa adds.

Which competitions will take place this year?

Every PRF event hosts a diverse range of competitions that aim to encourage local industry professionals to take part. This year, three competitions will take place at PRF Guatemala: the Global Coffee Roasting Contest, the Cold Brew Coffee Championship, and the French Press Championship.

Global Roasting Contest

The first-ever Global Coffee Roasting Contest took place at PRF El Salvador in March 2023 – and featured an unprecedented collaborative judging format unlike any other coffee competition. The winner of the first competition was Shaun Aupiais of Red Band Academy from South Africa, and at PRF Colombia that same year, the title went to Alejandro Macias of Lusitania Coffee Co. from Colombia.

Unlike other roasting competitions, the Global Coffee Roasting Contest is designed to be inclusive and accessible for local attendees. It aims to highlight and celebrate the work of roasters from around the world, with low barriers to entry which make competing more democratic – especially for coffee professionals who may not have the resources or means to participate in bigger events.

Moreover, its unique format mitigates judging fatigue and encourages all event attendees to take part – with finalists’ coffees served at the Brew Bar for PRF visitors to vote for their favourite and decide on a people’s choice winner. The judges will also announce a technical winner.

The event will bring together coffee professionals from around the world to showcase their expertise, talent, and pure roasting skills – with machines provided to all participants. The competition will take place on 7 and 8 March 2024, with all coffees roasted on day one and judged on day two.

Who can take part?

At least eight coffee professionals can take part in the Global Coffee Roasting Contest, which is open to international applicants. All prospective competitors need to apply in advance and have at least two years of roasting experience, as well as experience working with a wide range of roast profiles.

Additionally, applicants should be able to cope well under pressure and in a competitive environment, and must have a PRF ticket to apply.

The registration deadline for the Global Coffee Roasting Contest is 20 February 2024, and you can apply by filling out this form. The rules for the championship can also be found here.

Cold Brew Coffee Championship

The first edition of the Cold Brew Coffee Championship was held at PRF Colombia in 2022, and the competition has grown ever since. On 7 & 8 March 2024, PRF Guatemala will host the fourth edition – with competitors going head-to-head to prepare two cold brew-based beverages for a panel of judges.

The winner of the first competition was Mauricio Romero from Colombia. In the edition held at PRF El Salvador, the winners were Juan Aristizabal from Colombia and Julia Dziadevych from Hungary. Finally, at the most recent championship held in Colombia, the winner was Jean Pierre Acero Cechetti of Fecve Lab from Venezuela.

With the explosive growth of the cold brew market in recent years, the Cold Brew Coffee Championship aims to encourage coffee professionals to experiment with and elevate cold coffee beverages. Moreover, its designer drink round encourages competitors to be creative and innovative.

Thanks to the format of the championship, it is also accessible and inclusive for attendees from all across the supply chain – not just experienced coffee competitors and baristas.

Toddy is the Official Cold Brew Sponsor for PRF, and will supply the competition equipment.

Jean Pierre Acero Cechetti, the reigning Cold Brew Coffee Champion, explains how important this opportunity was for him: “I am very happy to represent my country, to use a Venezuelan coffee and to have won the competition with it. Thanks to PRF for giving me this award.”

Competitors should be engaging and professional, and each presentation should draw in elements of a real-world coffee service experience. Prospective competitors must apply in advance and have a PRF Guatemala ticket to take part.

The registration deadline for the Cold Brew Coffee Championship is 16 February 2024, and you can apply by filling out this form. The competition rules are available here.

French Press Championship

As one of the most popular brewing methods in the world, the French press is one of the most iconic and beloved ways to prepare coffee.

For the first time, PRF Guatemala will host the French Press Championship in partnership with coffee and tea appliances brand Bodum, which will provide the equipment for the competition and is also the Official Barista Sponsor.

The French Press Championship is another accessible brewing competition which aims to make competing more inclusive for all attendees. Once more, it allows coffee professionals and enthusiasts from across the supply chain to participate – and competitors will have 15 minutes to prepare a minimum of 200ml of brewed coffee using a maximum 35g dose.

The competition will take place over three stages, with prizes for the top three highest-scoring competitors. All French Press Championship participants will also receive a gift.

The judges will blindly evaluate each coffee and make a private assessment to decide on their favourite. At the count of three, all judges will simultaneously point to their preferred coffee – taking a much more informal approach to competitions.

The championship will take place on 7 & 8 March 2024 at the two-day forum. Prospective competitors must apply in advance and have a PRF Guatemala ticket to take part.

The registration deadline for the French Press Championship is 16 February 2024, and you can apply by filling out this form. The rules can be found here.

What else is happening at PRF Guatemala?

Alongside the three competitions at PRF Guatemala, there will be an extensive trade show featuring exhibitors from across the global coffee supply chain.

The two-day forum will also host PRF Voices: a series of lectures, presentations, and speeches in both English and Spanish, led by some of the foremost experts in the global coffee industry. Some of these include:

Eduardo Choza of PRF Diamond Sponsor Mayorga Coffee

Bob Fish of PRF Gold Sponsor One BIGG Island in Space

Gabriel Restrepo of PRF Bronze Sponsor Ally Coffee

MTPak Coffee is the PRF Gold and STE Roasters Sponsor and Banco Industrial is the PRF Silver Sponsor.

Additionally, there will be PRF Coffee Cupping sessions organised in partnership with Official Cupping and Water Sponsor BWT water+more. Guatemalan Coffees will also lead a series of PRF Workshops at the event.

The two-day forum also includes an Espresso Bar in partnership with Official Espresso Bar Sponsor I Coffee Solutions and a Brew Bar hosted by Official Brew Bar Sponsor TONE.

PRF’s return to Guatemala on 7 & 8 March – including the Global Coffee Roasting Contest and Cold Brew Coffee and French Press Championships – is set to be one of the biggest events so far. The two-day forum will take place at the Anacafé venue in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

To find out more about tickets for the Sourcing Trip Experience Guatemala, a separate package which also includes a ticket to the two-day PRF event, you can find more information here.

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

Please note: PRF does not cover any travel, accommodation, or other costs for competitors.

Photo credits: Producer & Roaster Forum

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