Mexican Coffee
- Mary Gartside
- Oct 13
- 4 min read
By Mary Gartside & Mario Cerda
What is Mexican Coffee?
When we talk about Mexican coffee we are not only referring to coffee that has been grown in Mexico, but also to the varietals that are unique to Mexico. Before we address that, let's have a brief look at the coffee industry as a whole. There are four types of coffee plant: Arabica is the most common and well known, followed by Robusta. Liberica & Excelsa are less common in the industry, accounting for a small percentage of coffee beans available to purchase.
Whilst Arabica is the most widely produced variety of coffee, what many coffee lovers do not realise is that there are varieties within the arabica coffee plant. When coffee was introduced to Mexico during the late 1700s, the arabica plants adapted so well to the land and were able to flourish to such an extent that they express their notes with more flavour and clarity. This means that the soil in Mexico is ideal to increase the quality of the existing coffee plants while also allowing the development of unique types of arabica plants.
The varieties of arabica coffee plant that originated in Mexico are the following: Garnica, Pluma Hidalgo, Garien, and Aztec Gold.
On the other hand, the most common types of Arabica Coffee grown in Mexico are: Typica, Bourbon, Caturra, Mundo Novo (New World) and Catuaí.
It is important to highlight that while not all varietes of coffee grown in Mexico originated in the country itself, such varieties adapted so well to the soil and environmental conditions that they have developed profiles of coffee that differ from the same varieties grown in other countries. This is an important point to keep in mind as it shows the importance of origin in the coffee market since not all countries have the exact same prolific natural conditions.
This is a central message we aim to send across: that the origin matters because not all lands are the same. Think about this for a moment, if you had in front of you a tomato from Ireland and another from Italy, which one would you choose to make pasta with? Exactly! (By the way, tomatoes come from Mexico so you are welcome Italy!).
Our aim is to provide our customers with an unforgettable coffee experience. Therefore, we have selected the some of the best varieties of Arabica coffee beans that we feel our customers will love. The three types of coffee we have to offer are each distinctive in their tasting notes, but equally rich and flavoursome. We are confident that our customers will find their favourite (even though it’s a tough choice!).
Our Mexican Coffees
Why are our three coffees so different from each other if they are all grown in Mexico? As well as the variety of arabica beans, the environment also makes a difference to the flavour of each coffee. Even though all our coffees are from Mexico, they are from different farms in different regions; even a fairly small distance can have a big impact on the altitude, the properties of the soil, and the growing techniques utilised.
For our Canto de Quetzal Coffee, the farmers use the Arabica varietals of Yellow and Red Caturral and Red Catuaí. The process used for processing the coffee beans is washed. The coffee is grown in Tapachula, Chiapas, surrounded by an impressive jungle with a volcanic soil rich in minerals. On top of this, the farmers utilise an innovative agricultural technique called polycropping, which means the coffee plants are grown amongst other plants and trees, particularly fruit trees. The range of plants all enrich the soil, each absorbing the nutrients that they need and supporting the plants around them; this process also influences the flavour of the coffee. All of this results in a distinctive, complex and interesting coffee with sweet, fruity notes.
To produce our Antigua Delicia coffee, the farmers selected the Arabica varieties of Catimores, Sachimores and Obata. These coffee beans are grown in the volcanic soil of Huatusco, Veracruz, on the Atlantic coast of the country (whereas Canto de Quetzal is grown on the Pacific Coast.) Volcanic soil has many benefits for coffee growth: known as “andisols,” volcanic soil is rich in minerals such as phosphorus, magnesium, potassium and iron, which are essential for cultivating coffee beans. The soil is also highly porous, allowing water to drain freely, hydrating the coffee plants but preventing the roots from rotting. In addition to growing in volcanic earth, our Antigua Delicia coffee is watered by the melted glacier ice from Popocateptl, one of Mexico’s most active volcanoes. The combination of all of these elements results in coffee beans with an exquisite profile with strong, nutty notes.
Our most premium, best-selling coffee, Sabroso Baile, is made up of only one variety of arabica beans: typica. A variety known for its high quality and impressive profile in the cup. This is the same variety used to produce the famous Jamaica Blue Mountain. Like Antigua Delicia, this coffee is also grown in mineral-rich volcanic soils, which enrich and protect the coffee plants. This, in combination with the scientific knowledge of our farmers, results in a truly exceptional coffee that surprises even the most demanding palates. These coffee beans offer our customers an elevated experience from the very first sip. With the expertise of the farmers, the exceptional environment and unique type of coffee beans, Sabroso Baile has an irresistible flavour with deep, rich dark chocolate notes that have made our customers fall in love time and time again. It’s no wonder why the farm from which we source these coffee beans has won multiple international awards over twenty years, making it our best coffee and the most award-winning Mexican coffee in the world.
We hope this has been both entertaining and informative. Stay tuned for more content like this.
Here, you can order whole coffee beans or select your custom grind, ideal for any coffee maker. You can also select complimentary gift wrapping, or order your coffee subscription.
Sources:
Tomando Café - Ramón Aguilar Ruiz, México, 2006.
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