IMA Coffee Lab sets the stage for the Italian Roasting Championship 2027 Qualifiers

IMA Coffee Hub strengthens its collaboration with SCA Italy, with IMA Petroncini serving as Technical Partner for roasting equipment and hosting three qualifying rounds at the IMA Coffee Lab in Sant’Agostino, Italy. During the competition, the IMA Coffee Lab will also open its doors to visitors through dedicated Open Days.

Sant’Agostino, Italy – October 2026 – IMA Coffee Hub is proud to renew its commitment to the coffee roasting community by supporting the Italian Roasting Championship 2027, organized by SCA Italy. Through IMA Petroncini, IMA Coffee Hub will provide its roasting technologies and welcome competitors to the IMA Coffee Lab for three qualifying rounds dedicated to technical expertise, precision and sensory evaluation.

Taking place between October and November 2026, the qualifiers will bring together roasting professionals competing for a place in the national finals at SIGEP World 2027.

The qualifying rounds will take place at the IMA Petroncini headquarters in Sant’Agostino, Ferrara, on the following dates:

• October 14–16, 2026
• November 4–6, 2026
• November 25–27, 2026

Advanced roasting technology at the service of competitors

As part of the technical partnership with SCA Italy, IMA Petroncini will provide its Specialty TT12 coffee roasters, giving competitors the opportunity to put their skills to the test on high-performance equipment designed to ensure precision, consistency and advanced control throughout the roasting process.

A key technological highlight will be MAESTRO PRO, IMA Petroncini’s new intuitive and innovative Human-Machine Interface (HMI), installed on the Specialty roasting machines.

Designed for both roasting competitions and small-scale production, MAESTRO PRO offers coffee roasters an intuitive user experience and a high level of process control, supporting precise management of roasting operations.

A shared commitment to roasting excellence

The Italian Roasting Championship challenges participants to demonstrate their ability to analyze green coffee, develop roasting profiles and evaluate the sensory characteristics of the final product. The competition highlights the technical knowledge, methodology and expertise required to bring out the best qualities of each coffee.

Hosting the qualifiers at the IMA Coffee Lab reflects IMA’s commitment to creating opportunities for knowledge sharing and professional development, strengthening the connection between technological innovation and the roasting community.

“We are particularly proud to host the Italian Roasting Championship qualifiers at our IMA Coffee Lab, a space designed to encourage dialogue between technology, research and professional expertise. It is the ideal environment to put our technology and experience at the service of roasting talent. With the Specialty TT12 and MAESTRO PRO, developed for both roasting competitions and small-scale production, we are pleased to offer competitors the opportunity to experience our latest technological developments in a professional setting,” says Nicola Panzani, CEO of IMA Petroncini and Sales Director of IMA Coffee Hub.

The qualifying rounds will be supported by IMA Petroncini as technical sponsor for roasting equipment and host venue, alongside DM Italia as technical sponsor and Spiga Trading as green coffee supplier.

The road to SIGEP World 2027

Nine competitors selected across the three qualifying rounds will advance to the national final of the Italian Roasting Championship 2027, taking place during SIGEP World, from January 23 to 27, 2027, at Rimini Expo Centre.

The winner will earn the title of Italian Roasting Champion 2027 and the opportunity to represent Italy at the World Coffee Roasting Championship, scheduled for April 9–11, 2027, during World of Coffee in New Orleans, USA.

Through its continued collaboration with SCA Italy, IMA Coffee Hub reaffirms its commitment to supporting professional excellence, technological innovation and the ongoing development of the coffee roasting industry.

IMA Coffee Lab Open Days – Experience the competition live

The Open Days will take place during all three qualifying rounds, providing a unique opportunity to experience the atmosphere of the Italian Roasting Championship first-hand.

Interested in attending? Register your visit by contacting coffeelab@ima.it.

Location: IMA Petroncini – Via del Fantino 2/A, 44047 Sant’Agostino (FE), Italy.

For further information about the competition and official regulations, visit www.scaitaly.coffee.