On Friday, November 22, 2024, at the IMA Coffee Lab – a training space entirely dedicated to coffee technologies and innovations at the IMA Petroncini production plant in Sant’Agostino (Ferrara) – the official presentation of the third edition of the Guide to Italian Coffees and Roasteries 2024-25 and the awarding of the Roastery and Product Awards 2024-2025 took place. These awards celebrate Italian coffees and roasteries that have excelled in quality, sustainability and innovation.
The event brought together roasteries from across Italy honored by the Guide and served as a unique occasion to celebrate the excellence of Italian coffee. The event was attended by the Presidents of trade associations, industry experts, and Ambassadors, with activities dedicated to tasting, innovation, and coffee sustainability.
IMA’s commitment to supporting the coffee supply chain was underscored during this event by organizing a conference aimed at providing participating roasteries with an updated overview of the sector, addressing highly relevant and current topics.
The sustainability of coffee
The conference, titled “The Sustainability of coffee: challenges and opportunities for roasteries within ethics, regulations, and innovation incentives,” was moderated by Nicola Panzani, CEO of IMA Petroncini and Sales Director of IMA Coffee Hub, alongside Andrej Godina and Mauro Illiano, curators of the Guide of Italian Coffees and Roasteries. It provided an important platform for dialogue within the coffee industry.
The speakers:
- Emanuele Musini, Coffee Market Expert
- Marina De Cristofaro, Account Manager at Value Target
- Eleonora Gelmini, Technical Consultant at Value Target
- Michelangelo Parro, Head of Product Management at IMA Petroncini
- Manuel Marcelli, Managing Director at ReiCat Solutions Italia
- Emanuele Simonini, Packaging Materials Technologist at IMA OPENLab
The global coffee trends
The conference opened with an analysis of the coffee market by Emanuele Musini, providing a comprehensive overview of global coffee trends, including economic and cultural aspects. Musini particularly focused on data regarding the transition to sustainable systems and strategies targeting the high-quality coffee market. He presented compelling case studies to illustrate the challenges and opportunities facing roasters as they strive to balance economic growth with sustainable practices in a market where alternative financing models are becoming crucial tools for growth and innovation.
Regulations and fiscal benefits for the innovation
A particularly anticipated session was the focus on facilitated financing for Italian companies, led by Marina De Cristofaro and Eleonora Gelmini of Value Target. They offered valuable insights on accessing financial support to invest in innovation and sustainability-oriented projects. Value Target introduced tools to identify and manage fiscal incentives provided by current regulations (automatic or competitive tax benefits). By employing technical analysis and effective reporting processes, these incentives generate fiscal benefits for companies and contribute to the development of valuable projects aligned with their corporate strategy. Value Target provides comprehensive consulting services to national industrial associations and consortia across various sectors, including mechanical, automotive, hi-tech, agri-food, ceramics, textiles and fashion, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, logistics, and retail.
IMA’s commitment to decarbonization has been a cornerstone of its operational and communication strategy for years, reflecting the company’s dedication to environmental responsibility and innovation. In the development of new automatic packaging machines and processing equipment, IMA has not only emphasized corporate environmental responsibility but has also sought to raise awareness among customers about the environmental benefits of adopting low-impact technologies.
Innovative and green roasting facilities
Michelangelo Parro, Head of Product Management at IMA Petroncini and Sales Area Manager at IMA Coffee Hub, detailed the key elements in building innovative and green roasting facilities. He highlighted the latest technological advancements in processing and packaging, as well as digital tools for roasteries designed to make coffee production less environmentally impactful, reducing material and energy waste while optimizing production cycles. For example, Petroncini’s TMR coffee roasting machines feature heat recovery systems that enable up to 40% energy savings compared to traditional roasters while significantly reducing emissions, well below international legislative limits. Other innovations include degassing systems with nitrogen recovery.
Regulations and technologies for air purification
The topic of emissions reduction was further explored by Manuel Marcelli, Managing Director of ReiCat Solutions Italia. ReiCat Solutions, a German company specializing in the design, production, and installation of systems for the purification and recycling of gas, air, and exhaust gases, operates in sectors such as food, chemical, plastics, and natural gas. Its products include systems for gas purification, hydrogen recycling, and exhaust and air purification. ReiCat’s commitment to sustainable solutions includes technologies for air purification at lower temperatures than traditional burners, reducing energy consumption and improving environmental efficiency.
Sustainable packaging materials – the IMA Packaging Observatory
Regarding coffee packaging, today’s technologies for filling and sealing single-dose packages must be as flexible as possible to adapt not only to varying production speeds but also to different primary and secondary packaging materials. The market demand for compostable packaging materials is growing. There is an increasing percentage of aluminum capsules adhering to the principle of recyclability, and most European coffee consumers express a preference for products packaged in eco-sustainable materials over plastic.
To address this demand, the IMA Group has established the IMA OPENLab network of technological laboratories and experimental areas dedicated to researching materials, technologies, and processes for sustainable production optimization. The focus on sustainable packaging materials spotlighted the latest innovations in coffee packaging. Emanuele Simonini of IMA OPENLab showcased new eco-friendly material solutions that are redefining coffee packaging standards, highlighting successful case studies. He delved into IMA’s commitment to developing machinery capable of processing sustainable and cutting-edge materials, alongside projects developed in collaboration with material producers – critical partnerships for the future of green packaging and a more conscious and responsible coffee supply chain.
The event on November 22, combining the presentation of the Guide of Italian Coffees and Roasteries 2024-25 with the conference titled “The Sustainability of coffee: challenges and opportunities for roasteries within ethics, regulations, and innovation incentives,” featuring prominent institutions and industry Ambassadors, was a unique opportunity to conclude the year by celebrating Italian roasteries and fostering discussion on innovations and sustainability strategies shaping the future of coffee.
Info about IMA Coffee Lab
IMA Coffee Lab is an IMA initiative launched in 2021 at the IMA Petroncini production site with the ambitious goal of creating a unique space to consolidate all knowledge on coffee and its processing, available to all stakeholders in the supply chain. The Lab houses a pilot plant, a fully operational small-scale roasting facility covering green coffee reception, cleaning, storage, roasting, grinding, degassing, and various vertical and single-dose packaging solutions.
The Lab also includes spaces for espresso and single-dose tastings, an analysis laboratory, and an auditorium for training and conferences. It allows experimentation, analysis, and knowledge expansion on coffee products, redefining production goals and achieving them. Collaborative development of the ideal product configuration enables IMA to tailor functionalities to specific needs, providing turnkey plant solutions customized for each client.
At the heart of the Coffee Lab is the Academy, offering a variety of courses throughout the year:
- Roasting Academy provides theoretical and practical knowledge to become a professional roaster, covering green coffee varieties, specific skills in roasting, blending, and grinding, as well as sensory abilities.
- Coffee Maestro Training – Target Your Coffee Idea involves one or more days with Coffee Lab technologists to analyze green coffee, develop new blends, perform targeted roasting tests to achieve new profiles, test degassing and packaging processes, and conduct cupping, espresso, and single-dose tasting sessions.
- Academy Days are events dedicated to the coffee community, featuring training and research sessions with industry experts, roasters, and international producers. These events provide a unique opportunity to gather the supply chain and share projects and experiences on coffee trends and best practices for achieving high-quality beverages while making production more efficient and sustainable from farms to the final consumer.
Info about IMA Coffee Hub
IMA Coffee Hub is the IMA Group’s cluster offering integrated solutions for coffee processing and packaging. Comprising the brands IMA Petroncini – Processing Solutions, IMA Coffee – Packaging Solutions, and IMA EOL – End-of-Line Solutions, the Coffee Hub provides a comprehensive response to small and large coffee producers worldwide, guaranteeing expertise, industry experience, and know-how for all stages of coffee production and packaging. The Hub brings together expertise in every phase of coffee production, from roasting to packaging, with a strong focus on innovation, sustainability, and production efficiency.
IMA Petroncini provides product consulting, full-scale plant engineering, and tailored solutions aligned with Industry 4.0 to enhance system efficiency and improve the sustainability of the production process. From standard to customized solutions, it caters to both small and large coffee roasters. With over 100 years in the industry, IMA Petroncini supplies complete coffee production plants for any production capacity, from green coffee handling and storage systems to next-generation degassing systems. The Petroncini roasting range includes traditional solutions from 5 to 400 kg and modular solutions with external heat generation units for roasting air recovery, available for up to 720 kg per batch. A series of flexible degassing systems for small or large production volumes ensures consistent and reproducible ground coffee quality, preserving its aroma.
IMA Coffee provides comprehensive solutions for packaging capsules, pods, cartons, vertical bags, and end-of-line packaging. Capsules are at the heart of IMA Coffee’s offerings, with a complete range of machines delivering high, medium, and low-speed solutions to meet 100% of market demands. The portfolio also includes cutting-edge solutions for secondary packaging. Pod packaging machines, both soft and compact, are also part of IMA Coffee’s lineup. Additionally, the brand offers a full range of machines for packaging vertical bags in various formats and sizes. Thanks to the specialized expertise of the IMA EOL Hub, end-of-line packaging completes the IMA Coffee Hub offering with wrapping, boxing, and palletizing solutions.
With an increasing focus on sustainability, IMA Coffee Hub promotes the use of eco-friendly materials and solutions designed to reduce waste and optimize energy consumption. These features align with the global coffee market’s needs and the focus on new international environmental standards.
