Mexico Coffee: Production, Taste, and Buying Guide

Mexico is a North American country bordering the US, Belize, and Guatemala. Mexican coffee is 96% Arabica, with types like Typica, Bourbon, and Caturra. The country has 49 coffee regions in 15 states. Chiapas, Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Puebla grow 90% of coffee. Mexico is the 10th largest coffee producer in the world, producing 3.87 million bags in 2023. The country faces challenges like climate change, deforestation, child labor, poverty, and low prices. Mexican coffee is generally mild and light with nutty, chocolatey flavors, but quality depends on altitude, bean size, and defects. To choose the best Mexican coffee, consider the roast level, flavor profile, brewing method, price, and freshness, and prioritize brands like Colipse that source beans directly from farmers. Besides drinks, Mexican coffee beans can be used in treats like bread, cookies, ice cream, candy, and desserts.

What is Mexico Coffee?

Mexico coffee refers to coffee beans grown in Mexico, a North American country bordering the United States, Belize, and Guatemala. Mexican coffee beans are grow in 14 to 16 states, mainly in the south. Key coffee-producing states include Chiapas, Veracruz, Oaxaca, and Puebla. Chiapas is Mexico's largest coffee producer, responsible for 40% of the nation's coffee yield. Mexico is the 10th largest coffee producer globally in 2023 and ranks fifth in Arabica coffee production, according to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service.

Mexican coffee beans consist of 96% Arabica varieties, including Typica, Bourbon, Caturra, Mundo Novo, Maragogype, Catimor, Catuai, Garnica, and Marsellesa. Most are shade-grown. Peaberry and Geisha, less common Mexican coffee beans, are primarily grown by specialty coffee farms such as Finca Santa Cruz near the Triunfo Biosphere Reserve in La Concordia and El Cuervo Coffee Farm in Nuevo San Luis, Ocozocoautla de Espinosa municipality. Mexico is a top organic coffee producer, exporting 28,000 tons annually, primarily to Europe, according to the Instituto del Café de Chiapas (INCAFECH).

The terms "Mexican coffee beans," "Mexican blend coffee," and "Mexican coffee" are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings. "Mexican coffee beans" refers to single-origin coffee grown exclusively in Mexico. "Mexican blend coffee" combines Mexican beans with those from other countries to create a unique flavor. Finally, "Mexican coffee" often refers to "café de olla," a traditional Mexican beverage made with cinnamon, piloncillo (unrefined cane sugar), and sometimes alcohol like Kahlúa or tequila.

Is Mexico Known for Coffee?

Yes, Mexico is know for being a leading producer of specialty coffee and a top exporter of certified organic and fair-trade coffee. For example, Finca Irlanda coffee produced by Alex Peters from Finca Irlanda farm in Chiapas is famous for producing 100% organic and biodynamic coffee. It became the first farm globally to receive Demeter certification for biodynamic agriculture in 1967.

Mexico has been known for coffee since the late 1700s when Spanish settlers brought plants from Cuba and the Dominican Republic. The first coffee tree was planted in Veracruz. Although the Spanish initially focused on mining, individuals like Father Andres Dominguez and Don Juan Antonio Gomez began cultivating coffee in Mexico.

Mexico is known for torrefacto, a coffee roasting method that adds sugar during roasting, glazing the beans and creating a unique flavor. This method is common in Mexico and Spanish-speaking countries. Mexico is also famous for developing the Mountain Water Process, a chemical-free method that decaffeinates coffee beans with glacier water from Pico de Orizaba while preserving their flavor.

What are the Coffee Growing Regions in Mexico?

Mexico has 49 distinct coffee-growing regions across 15 states. The four main coffee-growing regions are Chiapas, Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Puebla. These regions produce 90% of Mexico's coffee. Other states, including Guerrero, San Luis Potosí, Colima, Jalisco, Nayarit, and Hidalgo, contribute to the remaining 10%. Coffee cultivation in Mexico thrives at 300 to 2,000 meters, with the most productive range being 600-1,200 meters, according to Víctor M. Toledo of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. The following list shows four main coffee growing regions in Mexico.

1. Chiapas
2. Veracruz
3. Oaxaca
4. Puebla

1. Chiapas

Chiapas is Mexico’s largest coffee-producing state, located in southern Mexico and bordering Guatemala. Chiapas coffee accounts for 40% of Mexico's coffee production. In 2023, the region produced approximately 391,000 metric tons of coffee cherries, as reported by Statista. Chiapas produces mainly Arabica coffee in subregions like Soconusco, Sierra Mariscal, Frailesca, Tapachula, and Cacahoatán, each offering unique characteristics.

Many coffee farms in Chiapas are organic. For example, Finca Hamburgo, founded in 1888, generates 100% of its energy from hydroelectric turbines and employs eco-friendly practices such as water recycling and biological pest control. Argovia coffee produced by Bruno Giesemann from Finca Argovia located in the Soconusco region of Chiapas, Mexico, near Tapachula in the Sierra Madre mountains in organic certified. Finca Santa Teresa coffee by Jorge Estevez is grown in La Concordia, within El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve, using sustainable C.A.F.E. Practices.

2. Veracruz

Veracruz, Mexico's second-largest coffee-producing state, is located on the Gulf coast along the Gulf of Mexico. Veracruz is predicted to produce 27.8% of Mexico's coffee in the 2024/25 marketing year, according to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. Veracruz coffee is produced in ten diverse regions, including Coatepec, Huayacocotla, Papantla, Atzalan, Misantla, Huatusco, Córdoba, Zongolica, Tezonapa, and Los Tuxtlas.

The Central Zone of Veracruz, including Coatepec region, is often referred to as the "Coffee Capital of Mexico." Coatepec coffee is often called 'Altura Coatepec' because it's grown high up in the mountains. In the Spanish language, 'Altura' translates to 'heights,' and Mexican Altura coffee refers to high-altitude Arabica beans grown at elevations of 900 meters or higher.

Veracruz is famous for its excellent Mexican specialty coffee. El Equimite coffee, produced by Gibrán Cervantes at Finca Cafetal El Equimite, a rare biodynamic coffee farm in Coatepec, ranked 7th in the 2022 Cup of Excellence with its Gesha variety. Finca El Estribo, located in Zongolica at elevations of 1,250–1,500 meters, achieved 8th place in the Cup of Excellence with a Bourbon and Gesha blend.

3. Oaxaca

Oaxaca is among the largest coffee-producing states in Mexico located in the south. Oaxaca ranks third in planted coffee area but fourth in coffee production by tons. Oaxaca produced 348,000 60-kilogram coffee bags in the 2022/23 marketing year, according to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service's May 2023 Coffee Annual Report. There are approximately 104,000 coffee producers in Oaxaca, with 98% of them being smallholders, as reported by Mexican Journal of Agricultural Sciences.

The Pluma region is the most famous for coffee production in Oaxaca. Pluma coffee, made from the Pluma Hidalgo variety of the Typica lineage, received Denomination of Origin status in 2020 to protect its name and production methods. Other coffee-growing regions in Oaxaca include Costa, Cañada, Sierra Norte, Istmo, Mazateca, Mixteca, Papaloapan, and Sierra Sur. Oaxaca coffee consistently ranks among the top 10 in the Cup of Excellence competition. Finca Las Nieves coffee, produced by Gustavo Boltjes Rising, achieved first place in the 2024 Cup of Excellence Mexico Traditional Honey and Natural category. Finca Sinai, owned by Alfredo Fernando Woolrich Ramirez, achieved sixth place.

4. Puebla

Puebla is the third-largest coffee-producing state in Mexico, located southeast of Mexico City, the country’s capital. Puebla belongs to Mexico's eastern region, which includes Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, and Veracruz. Puebla's coffee features high-quality Arabica beans, many of which are organic. Finca La Puebla, in the state's northeast, holds certifications from Rainforest Alliance (RA), UTZ, and 4C. The Sierra Norte region dominates coffee production in Puebla state, especially in Hueytamalco, Huauchinango, Xicotepec de Juárez, Cuetzalan, and Teziutlán. Puebla's specialty coffee production is improving. Finca Los Pinos, located in Zihuateutla, is Mexico's first coffee farm to achieve Carbon Neutral certification. Their Los Pinos coffee, produced by Julia Ortega Carballo, placed 9th in the 2024 Mexico Cup of Excellence.

How Much Coffee Does Mexico Produce?

Mexico produced 3.87 million 60-kilogram bags of coffee during the 2023 marketing year (October to September), according to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. Mexico ranks as the 10th largest coffee producer globally, contributing more than 2.3% to global production. The country ranks ninth worldwide in land dedicated to coffee cultivation. Mexico’s coffee production contributes 0.66% to its national agricultural GDP.

Mexico produced 3.54 million 60-kilogram bags of Arabica coffee, and around 545,000 bags of Robusta, accoridng to USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). Mexico is the second-largest producer of organic coffee and the first country to export it. Many Mexican coffee farms are organic by default using natural fertilizers and avoiding harmful chemicals like pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. Organic coffee represents about one-fifth of Mexico’s total coffee exports.

How is Coffee Produced in Mexico?

Most Mexican coffee beans are shade-grown under native trees to protect them from the sun, preserve soil fertility, and enhance cherry maturation. In Mexico, smallholder farmers harvest coffee mainly by hand to ensure only ripe cherries are picked. The harvest season usually spans from September to March or November to March, varying by region.

After harvesting, coffee cherries are processed to extract beans. In Mexico, wet processing is the most common method. It involves removing the outer cherry layers, fermenting the beans in water, washing them, and drying them. However, some Mexican farmers use alternative methods like honey processing, where coffee beans dry with fruit pulp still on them. For example, Mexico La Laja coffee from Hacienda La Minita in Tlaltetela, Veracruz, undergoes a honey process and dries on covered raised beds for 20 days.

What are the Challenges in Mexican Coffee Production?

The main challenges in Mexican coffee production include climate change, deforestation, child labor, poverty, and low coffee prices, all of which impact sustainability and profitability for farmers.

• Climate Change in Mexico: Climate change in Mexico causes long-term shifts in temperature and weather, significantly disrupting coffee production. Coffee thrives at 18.7°C with 1700 mm of rainfall annually, according to a 2024 study by Loarry Gabriel-Hernández of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. This study indicates that deviations from these conditions negatively affect coffee production. For example, a 1°C temperature rise in 2012 caused a severe coffee leaf rust outbreak, destroying half of Mexico's coffee production.
• Deforestation in Mexico: Deforestation in Mexico clears forests for agriculture and urbanization, reducing shade cover essential for coffee plants and causing habitat loss. Coffee fields have displaced forests in the nine Mexican states where coffee is grown. Research titled Biodiversity Conservation in Traditional Coffee Systems of Mexico reveals that in Veracruz alone, coffee fields have replaced 68.5% of rainforests, 18.5% of dry forests, 7% of cloud forests, and 6% of pine-oak forests. The impact is even more pronounced in Nayarit and Colima, where coffee cultivation has displaced 82.5% and 83% of dry forests, respectively.
• Child Labor in Mexico: Child labor is a serious problem in Mexico's coffee industry and agriculture in general. Child labor in Mexico employs children in work that denies them their childhood, disrupts their education, or harms their physical or mental health. A year-long investigation by "Impact x Nightline" found children as young as six working on Rainforest Alliance-certified coffee farms in Chiapas during the 2021 harvest. A 12-year-old boy reported working two months without school access. The Rainforest Alliance denied child labor initially but later acknowledged the problem and revoked certification from three farms. Graciela Márquez, former Secretary of Economy of Mexico, presented the National Survey of Child Labor (ENTI) and reported that 3.7 million Mexican children aged 5 to 14 are employed.
• Poverty in Mexico: Poverty in Mexico deprives coffee producers of essential resources and creates major problems. A 2005 study by Jessa M. Lewis from the University of California's Center for Comparative Immigration Studies found that 84% of Mexico’s coffee-growing communities experienced high or very high poverty levels. Poverty persists in these areas, especially in Chiapas, where half the population lives in extreme poverty. In 2022, Statista reported 36% of Mexico's population below the poverty line, with 7.1% in extreme poverty.
• Coffee Prices in Mexico: Coffee prices in Mexico significantly impact the income and livelihoods of Mexican coffee farmers. Many coffee farmers earn below the national minimum wage and cannot cover production costs. According to a 2024 study ttield Panorama of Coffee Cultivation in the Central Zone of Veracruz State, Mexico: Identification of Main Stressors and Challenges to Face, almost half of coffee producers (48%) saw decreased sales in the last two years, while slightly more (50.6%) saw sales stay the same or increase. Most producers (97.72%) believe the current price of $0.26 per kilogram is too low.

Large buyers like Nestlé worsen the situation for Mexican coffee farmers. In early 2024, farmers in Chiapas protested low prices by burning coffee sacks marked "Nescafé Plan." They earn 26 pesos per kilo for Robusta coffee, which costs 35 pesos per kilo to produce. Researcher Florian Blumer from Public Eye states Nestlé pushed farmers to switch from Arabica to cheaper Robusta, further straining their income. While global coffee prices rose 50% in 2023, Nestlé did not raise payments, deepening farmer poverty. In response, the Mexican government’s Sembrando Vida program provides up to 6,000 pesos ($333 USD) monthly, encouraging shade-grown coffee and diversified farming for sustainability.

What Does Mexican Coffee Taste Like?

Mexican coffee is mild and light-bodied, with nutty and chocolatey flavors. Its sweetness often features fruity characteristics or brown sugar and caramel notes, accompanied by a dry, acidic snap. Some beans, however, can be dry and acidic, and others can have a more moderate acidity. Organic Mexico Altura Tollan coffee from high altitude Chiapas region has a smooth, mild flavor with high acidity. Mexican Turquesa coffee has a balanced, smooth, naturally sweet flavor with hints of chocolate, grape, and subtle citrus undertones.

Common flavor notes in Mexican coffee beans include chocolate, nuts, spices, floral elements, citrus, and aromatic bitters. Fruity flavors span tropical, stone, berry, and orchard fruits. The Mexican coffee flavor profiles can vary by roast, region and varietal. Mexican dark roast coffee has a bold, rich flavor with dark chocolate notes, smokiness, and a slightly nutty, earthy undertone. Huatusco coffee is a medium-bodied coffee with bright acidity, fruity hints like red apple or citrus, and subtle spice and lemon notes. Atzalan coffee from Mexico has fruity, nutty, and mild cocoa notes.

Is Mexican Coffee Strong?

No, Mexican coffee isn't necessarily strong in terms of flavor or caffeine. Its strength can vary depending on the roast level and brewing method. Light roasts have a lighter body and more acidity, while dark roasts have a stronger, bolder flavor. While some Mexican coffees have a strong taste, they often also possess bright acidity and complex flavors like chocolate or spice. This complexity elevates them beyond simply being "strong."

What is the Quality of Mexican Coffee Beans?

The quality of Mexican coffee depends on factors like altitude, bean size, and defects. Higher altitudes, especially above 4,000 feet, usually mean better quality. "Altura" means high-grown or mountain-grown beans. Strictly High Grown (SHG) coffee is grown above 1200 meters, while Hard Bean (HB) coffee is grown between 800-1200 meters. Larger coffee beans are better.

Mexican Specialty coffee is often labeled "Strictly High Grown (SHG) European Preparation (EP)." This means the beans are larger than 15 on a screen size and have no more than 8 defects in a 300-gram sample.

The Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) defines specialty coffees as those scoring 80 points or more on a 100-point quality scale. Mexican coffee is graded for quality. Premium coffee scores 80-84 points, while specialty coffee scores over 85. The best Mexican coffee beans are expected to have no primary defects and a maximum of five secondary defects. Defects can include broken, black, or sour beans, as well as foreign materials such as stones or sticks. Fewer defects indicate higher quality.

How to Choose the Best Mexican Coffee?

The following five steps shows how to choose the best Mexican coffee.

1. Determine Roast Level: Mexican light roasts highlight acidity and floral notes. Medium roasts, ideal for Mexican coffee, balance spices and sweetness with balanced acidity, body, and chocolatey sweetness. Dark roasts emphasize body and bold flavors but risk losing acidity.
2. Evaluate Flavor Profile: Look for Mexican coffees featuring chocolate, nutty flavors, and subtle sweetness, often with fruity or caramel-like notes. Mexican Oaxaca coffee is light to medium-bodied with bright acidity and citrusy, floral flavors. Chiapas coffee has a medium body, balanced acidity, and chocolate and nut notes. Veracruz coffee is medium to full-bodied with hints of caramel and malt.
3. Consider Brewing Method: Brew Mexican coffee using steeping, drip brewing, boiling, or pressurized methods. For Mexican espresso, grind whole beans just before brewing. For Mexican cold brew, use coarse pre-ground coffee for the best results.
4. Check Price and Value: Choose quality Mexican single-origin coffee, like Colipse, for its specialty grade, though it costs more than brands like Nescafe or Cafe Bustelo. Affordable options exist. On a budget, replicate Mexican coffee's flavor by adding cinnamon-sugar syrup to a medium roast.
5. Assess Freshness and Origin: Freshly roasted Mexican coffee retains its complex flavors, aromatic oils, and vibrant acidity, which diminish as beans stale and lose freshness. The best time to enjoy it is 3 to 7 days after roasting, when the beans have degassed sufficiently but still retain their peak flavor and aroma.

What is the Best Mexican Coffee?

The best Mexican coffee is typically made with 100% Arabica beans grown at high altitudes in regions like Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Veracruz. These beans are known for their rich, complex flavors with hints of chocolate, nuts, and spices. Many coffee experts consider these some of the best coffees in the world because of their unique flavor profiles and high quality. Look for "Strictly High Grown" (SHG) coffees because these denser beans produce a more flavorful and aromatic cup.

Where to Buy Mexican Coffee Beans?

You can buy Mexican coffee beans from a variety of sources, including specialty coffee roasters, online retailers like Costco or Amazon, and directly from Mexican producers. One example of a specialty brand is Colipse Coffee, which offers freshly roasted single-origin Mexican coffee from the El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve. This coffee is Fairtrade and Organic, produced by 83 small farms, mainly indigenous groups. It's best brewed using methods like drip, pour-over, Moka pot, cold brew, or Turkish.

What are the Best Mexican Coffee Brands?

The following list shows five of the best Mexican coffee brands.

• BUNA Coffee: BUNA, a Mexican coffee brand, promotes sustainability and ecosystem regeneration. BUNA sells organic coffee blends with flavors like piloncillo, cacao, caramel, and nuts for $20.99 USD per 340g. They support ecosystems through purchases and provide fresh coffee via subscriptions while hosting workshops and talks to engage communities.
• Marino Coffee: Marino Coffee is a Mexican gourmet brand offering 100% Arabica coffee, hand-roasted and sourced from Chiapas, Veracruz, and Oaxaca. Marino coffee is known for sustainability, ethical sourcing, and citrus and chocolate flavors. They sell some of Mexico's best roasted and ground coffee in 250g, 454g, and 908g bags, starting at $10.00 USD.
• La Gloria Coffee: La Gloria is a premium Mexican coffee brand offering high-altitude Arabica beans from Oaxaca. Their coffee features a distinct floral, fruity, and nutty flavor profile. La Gloria's medium-roast Arabica coffee uses award-winning beans from Gloria Carrizosa's farm. This coffee has notes of cacao, plum, and hazelnut and costs $30.00 USD per pound.
• Xula Coffee: Xula is one of the most popular coffee brands in Mexico. It grows Arabica Typica beans sustainably at 1,000–1,350 meters. Their beans feature fruity, citrusy, and creamy flavors. Xula is known for sustainability and unique cold brew and Café de Olla. They sell medium and dark roast coffee starting at $14.25.
• Café Bustelo: Café Bustelo is not a Mexican coffee brand but is recognized for its México Latin American Blend Instant Coffee in a yellow can. It offers a strong flavor and low cost but lacks the quality of Mexican specialty coffee brands.

What are the Best Mexican Coffee Drinks?

The five best Mexican coffee drinks and their alternative names are listed below.

• Café de Olla: Café de Olla, or Mexican cinnamon coffee, is a traditional Mexican coffee brewed in a clay pot with spices and piloncillo. It symbolizes Mexican heritage and comfort. Its name translates to "coffee from a pot" in Spanish. Ingredients include medium or dark roast coffee, piloncillo (or brown sugar), cinnamon sticks, and optional spices like star anise or cloves.
• Mexican Chocolate Coffee: Mexican chocolate coffee is a spiced coffee drink inspired by traditional Mexican chocolate, blending coffee with cocoa, cinnamon, and sometimes chili for a warm, indulgent flavor. Common ingredients include brewed coffee, cocoa powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, milk, and sugar or piloncillo.
• Mexican-Style Coffee: Mexican-style coffee, or Mexican tequila coffee, is a cocktail combining hot coffee, tequila, and coffee liqueur, garnished with whipped cream and cinnamon. Alternative names include Mexican coffee cocktail and Tequila Coffee.
• Mexican Mocha: Mexican Mocha, also known as Mexican Hot Chocolate Coffee, is a spiced coffee drink that mixes espresso or strong coffee with cocoa, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a hint of cayenne pepper for a warm, chocolatey flavor. It can also be called Spiced Mocha or Mayan Mocha. A Mexican Mocha is made of espresso or strong coffee, cocoa powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, optional cayenne pepper, milk, and sugar or mocha sauce.
• Mexican Carajillo: Carajillo is a popular Mexican coffee cocktail made with espresso and Licor 43, a Spanish liqueur, and is often served over ice. It's named "Carajillo," meaning "little courage" in Spanish, for its energizing effect and is also called Licor 43 Coffee or Spanish Coffee. It's made of espresso, Licor 43, and optionally ice or milk.

How to Make Mexican Coffee?

To make traditional Mexican coffee follow these five steps recipe below.

1. Boil water in a pot.
2. Add ground coffee and a cinnamon stick.
3. Sweeten with piloncillo or brown sugar.
4. Simmer the mixture for 5-10 minutes.
5. Strain and serve hot, often with a splash of milk or crema.

How does Mexican Coffee Compare to Coffee from Other Countries?

Mexican coffee beans has light body, mild acidity, and chocolatey, nutty flavors. Colombian coffee has a balanced acidity and fruity notes, while Ethiopian beans have a floral aroma and bright acidity. Most Mexican coffee (90%) is washed and sun-dried, while other regions use different processing methods that affect the flavor. Although Mexico was once a major coffee exporter, its market share has decreased as other top coffee producers have increased production, even though demand for high-quality Mexican coffee has grown domestically.

What can you Make from Mexican Coffee Beans?

The following list shows examples of things you can make from Mexican coffee beans.

• Mexican Coffee Bread: A sweet, fluffy bread infused with coffee flavor, often topped with a coffee glaze or streusel. To make it, mix brewed coffee into the dough, bake, and finish with a coffee-based topping.
• Mexican Coffee Cookies: Soft or crunchy cookies made with ground coffee or brewed coffee for a rich, earthy flavor. Combine coffee with cookie dough ingredients, shape, and bake until golden.
• Mexican Coffee Ice Cream: Creamy, coffee-flavored ice cream with a hint of cinnamon or chocolate. Blend brewed coffee into a custard base, churn in an ice cream maker, and freeze.
• Mexican Coffee Candy: Sweet, chewy candies infused with coffee and often coated in chocolate. Melt sugar, cream, and coffee together, cool, and shape into bite-sized pieces.
• Mexican Coffee Dessert: A layered dessert combining coffee-soaked cake, whipped cream, and chocolate. Layer coffee-infused cake with cream and chill before serving.