Mexico

As a coffee origin, Mexico is heavily associated with coyotes, the middlemen who take advantage of growers and pay little for their coffee. Coyotes are still a reality in the country, where 85% of producers are indigenous non-Spanish speaking and small, growing less than 3 hectares of coffee in remote or isolated rural areas. However, we are slowly starting to see local players invested in changing this scenario by increasing the price of parchment in communities and, by doing that, forcing the competition to do the same.

Coffee is cultivated in 15 Mexican states. The main producers are Chiapas, Veracruz and Puebla, followed by Oaxaca and Guerrero. The five are neighbouring states in the South of the country, an area referred to as the Gulf. Mexico grows both Arabica (85%), with much of the renovated area being replanted with rust-resistant varieties, and Robusta (15%). Historically, coffee has been a much bigger part of the economy and an important source of foreign currency than it is today. Indebted, the government introduced a neoliberal reform in the 1980s and interrupted all support to farmers, which were left to their own devices and formed cooperatives so they could access credit and certifications. 

Mexico is a large producer of organic certified coffee. It is estimated that around 35% of the coffee is of high quality, grown above 900 m. However, the country is overlooked by many as an origin of high-end specialty coffee. However, the Southern states benefit from strong Gulf winds that bring cool temperatures and prolong the ripening of cherries. Mexican coffee production is rooted in tradition and somewhat resistant to innovation but, as agricultural techniques and knowledge become more widely available, we begin to tap into the country’s potential for amazing coffees. 

Mexico is a new origin for Algrano. The first shared shipment was organized in 2020 after a visit from the sourcing team to cooperatives and exporters. At the time, we onboarded producers based on the high quality of their coffees and their sourcing practices. Our main partner is Ensambles de Cafes Mexicanos, an exporter committed to supporting local communities by increasing average prices, introducing new farming techniques and marketing coffees after considered lot separation, something that is still rare in many regions. The company offers full traceability and transparency and has also partnered with Equal Profit in Switzerland to offer roasters a chance to access this new certification, which focuses on social and economic impact. Ensambles also exports for other Mexican producers on the platform, most of them in the Southern states.