The Ultimate Guide To The 6 Best Mexican Coffee Brands In 2024

When people think of Mexico, they think of its history and incredibly tasty food. But, they also cultivate high-quality coffee beans!

Mexican coffee might not immediately spring to mind when you’re hunting down a specialty single-origin bag of beans. Still, its light body and crisp taste is a must-try for coffee enthusiasts.

With that said, check out our round-up below for the best Mexican coffee brands, and if you’re in a rush, here’s our top pick:

5 Alternative Whole Bean Mexican Coffee Choices

Mexican Coffee History

Like other coffee-producing countries in Central America, the coffee tree is not an indigenous plant grown in Mexico. During the 1700s, Spanish settlers brought coffee for personal use from the Dominican Republic and Cuba.

But, It wasn’t until many decades later that commercial coffee production became a viable opportunity for Mexico. The first plantations were established by German and Italian immigrants who relocated from other Central American countries.

After the Mexican revolution in the 1900s, the newly-formed government made sweeping agricultural and labor reforms that incentivized farmers for coffee cultivation.

By the 1970s, the Mexican government decided to form a new governing body called the “Instituto Mexicano del Cafe (INMECAFE)” or The Mexican Coffee Institute, which supported producers in cultivation and coffee pricing. Consequently, increasing the export of Mexican beans by 900%, but like Vietnam, it was primarily instant coffee.

Due to the country’s debt and the dissolution of INMECAFE and the International Coffee Agreement in 1989, the Mexican coffee industry’s production, prices, and export took a sharp decline resulting in most growers trying hard to stay afloat.

More recently, cooperatives have sprung up to support producers, and Mexican coffee production is steadily rising again. Today, most of the premium coffee beans are grown at small farms and micro-lots and have helped the country be the 8th largest coffee producer globally.

With Mexico’s reputation in culinary endeavors, the way their coffee is brewed certainly fits their affinity for unique flavors.

Locally called Cafe de Olla, this coffee Mexican is typically consumed in rural areas, often in a cold climate.

Traditionally, the Mexican ground coffee is brewed in an earthen clay pot called an Olla, and is mixed with cinnamon and brown sugar, also known as piloncillo.

Some add anise and cloves to give the Mexican coffee more complexities and sweetness. Orange peels are also a favorable addition traditionally. Giving the Cafe de Olla a crisp brightness perfectly balanced with coffee’s sweet and spicy flavor.

Like other nations, It’s preferred to brew using ground coffee, but some instant coffee brands offer a flavor loved by Mexicans.

6 Best Mexican Coffee Brands 2024

1. Volcanica Coffee’s Organic Mexican Coffee

The volcanic-enriched soil around Chiapas state makes it a prime location for growing high-quality coffee, and these Mexican beans don’t disappoint!

Sipping on this, you’ll enjoy a cup of coffee with notes of roasted hazelnuts and a subtle taste of dark chocolate. Accompanied by mild acidity, this is the perfect Mexico coffee.

Organic and fair-trade, you’re also guaranteed to receive high-quality whole bean coffee that’s been grown in the right way.

Overall, Organic Mexican Chiapas from Volcanica Coffee company is the best Mexican coffee on our list because of its complexity and brew flexibility. Try this one as an espresso or French Press to appreciate its body and nutty notes.

2. Fresh Roasted Coffee Organic Dark Mexican Chiapas Coffee

This pick from Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC is the perfect pick of dark roasted beans from Chiapas. Rich with a bold and intense body, perfect for your drip of French Press, this dark roast Mexican coffee doesn’t disappoint. You’ll enjoy notes of cashews, brown sugar, and cacao nibs. Yummy!

This whole bean coffee is certified USDA Organic and roasted on demand to ensure perfect freshness.

If you’re looking for dark roasted coffee that’s less acidic with a richer taste, these organic Mexican Chiapas coffee might be the best beans for you.

3. Allegro Coffee Organic Whole Bean Light Roast Mexican Coffee

Allegro Coffee’s expertise has been tried and tested throughout the years, and their skills shine with this light roast whole bean coffee.

The roasters recommend to brew it as cold brew coffee to appreciate the flavors of the beans fully. You might think you’re sipping on a chocolate milkshake instead because of its creamy body with notes of almonds, pecan, and milk chocolate.

These Mexican beans are sourced from different cooperatives in Chiapas and are well-compensated for their efforts, thanks to its fair-trade certification.

If you’re persuaded to get this coffee, just make sure that you have a burr grinder in your set-up as it is not available as ground coffee.

Grab this one and make a cold and refreshing glass of cold brew instead of your typical hot coffee. Instant refreshment!

4. Fresh Roasted Coffee’s Organic Mexican Decaf Coffee

Some nights you just want to sip on your java without the jittery effects of caffeine. With this pick from Fresh Roasted Coffee, you can enjoy fresh Mexican decaf coffee without compromising on flavor.

Organic and decaffeinated using the Swiss Water Process, way up to 99.9% coffee’s caffeine is removed while keeping the flavors and body intact.

As with most coffees from Mexico, notes of cocoa, walnut, and lemons are prominent with a light body. You’ll get a creamy mouthfeel and clean finish, which is perfectly paired with a drip coffee maker.

Like a heavier body? You can also brew it with a French Press or Moka Pot to give it a richer flavor and aroma.

All in all, this Mexican decaf is a flavorful alternative to the regular charge coffee gives you while tasting great!

5. Fresh Roasted Coffee – Half-Caf Organic Mexican Medium Roast

Looking for coffee that’s still caffeinated but without the complete jolt regular beans give you? This one’s perfect for a lighter level of caffeination than usual.

Fresh Roasted half-caf Mexican coffee is a 50/50 blend of Swiss Water decaf and regular whole bean coffee from Mexico.

It comes off as a mild and clean coffee whether you brew it in a drip machine or as a pour-over. The medium roast profile also gives these beans a subtle brightness balanced with walnut and cane sugar notes.

Like its’ decaf sibling, these beans are certified USDA organic and grown in Chiapas, Mexico, at around 500 – 850 meters above sea level.

It’s perfect for some days where you’d want to chill out with lighter energy. So grab this coffee and enjoy a mellow cup of half-caf coffee.

6. Cafe Garat’s Gourmet Arabica Coffee Mexican

To brew what the locals are drinking, it’s best to go straight to the source. Well, Cafe Garat is a local coffee company based in Mexico City, so you won’t get more authentic than that!

Unlike our other picks, this medium-roasted coffee is a blend of gourmet-quality beans cultivated from different regions of the country. Cafe Garat ensures that the cherries are carefully handpicked, sorted, and processed, so you’ll get the highest-quality beans possible.

The blend provides a smooth, mellow cup with a balanced flavor profile and light acidity. Expect notes of chocolate and walnuts, with hints of orange and lemon depending on your brewing method.

Whether you’re a coffee noob or a trained barista, this blend is perfect if you want to taste what the best Mexico has to offer.

The Mexican Coffee Buyers Guide

Why Is Mexican Coffee Popular?

Out of all Latin American coffees, Mexican coffee might be the most underrated of them all.

Most of the coffees found in Mexico are organically grown and wet-processed leading to a flavorful yet light cup of coffee. A lot of the best Mexican coffee brands and specialty coffees are consumed locally, which makes these beans more of a rarity in the international market.

As the industry shifts towards organic farming and fair-trade practices in cultivating and exporting specialty coffees, this makes Mexican coffee one of the origins to look out for.

Typical Tasting Notes

A good rule to guarantee the freshness and flavors in your gourmet coffee is to make sure to purchase your whole coffee bean and as close to the roasting date as possible. The best Mexican coffee brands we’ve listed above typically roast their beans per order, so you’re all good!

Generally, the best Mexican coffees can be described as having a delicate body with crisp and dry acidity. Mexico initially imported coffee from its neighbors like Guatemala. As such, the flavors of Mexican coffees can be quite similar to these Central American countries.

As any coffee aficionado will tell you, your brews flavor notes can vary depending on the growing conditions and the coffee-growing region where the beans originated.

Single-origin coffees from Veracruz have sweeter flavors balanced with lively acidity and light body. A lightly roasted coffee will get you tart and fruity notes of berries, cane sugar, and red apple. On the other hand, expect hints of roasted hazelnuts if your beans have a dark roast profile.

The taste of dark chocolate, cherries, nuts, and lemon is a staple for Mexican Chiapas beans. It typically has a light body with a syrupy mouthfeel, which makes these beans perfect for a blend.

Oaxacan specialty coffees tend to have a floral aroma with a full body. With notes of chocolate, almonds, brown sugar, orange peel, and even yellow fruits depending on the roast.

Coffees from Puebla have rich overtones of caramel and almonds with a good balance of acidity and richness.

Primary Coffee Growing Regions In Mexico

Chiapas

The state of Chiapas is the biggest player when it comes to the coffee-growing regions of Mexico. with production amounting to up to 40% of Mexico’s total yield.

It has the perfect ecosystem to cultivate high-quality Arabica coffee beans. The region is blessed with a variety of high-altitude areas with the ideal tropical climate and rainfall conducive to growing organic whole bean coffees.

The state’s best Mexican coffees are grown at altitudes between 1,300 – 1,700 meters above sea level. The high elevations give the coffee cherries more time to ferment their sugars and, as a result, leads to a sweeter coffee bean.

Veracruz

This region makes its mark as the first coffee-growing region in Mexico. The first coffee seeds planted and cultivated in the state originated from other Latin American countries.

Located beside the Gulf of Mexico, the region boasts a tropical climate with cool winds flowing from the ocean. The production of coffee is centered around the state’s mountains and is grown between 1,100 – 1,600 meters above sea level.

The state is also the most technologically-advanced in terms of coffee bean cultivation, with more disease-resistant varietals and controlled growth.

Oaxaca

Also known as a major producer of cacao beans, Oaxaca is the most biologically diverse state in Mexico and also produces high-quality gourmet coffee.

High elevation, tropical climate, and plenty of rainfall? Oaxaca has those conditions as well. The region is perfectly nestled between Veracruz and Chiapas. The result is that it has the same growing elements as some of those states.

The region’s coffee farms are situated between 900 and 1,650 meters above sea level, and the producers favor traditional farming methods as well. This means that each Mexican coffee bean is hand-picked, and that farmers use natural pesticides and herbicides.

Puebla

Lying east of Mexico City, Puebla’s coffees might not be as well-known as other coffee-growing regions, but it still provides up to 11% of the country’s production.

Most of the coffee beans in the region are grown in the north-eastern part of the state near the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range. Some coffee farms can also be found near the Malinche volcano, where the nutrient-rich soil provides adequate Arabica growth.

How To Brew Coffee From Mexico

Like everything coffee-related, how you brew your Mexican ground coffee depends on your preferred flavor and body.

A lightly roasted bean tends to have more acidity coupled with a smooth body. Coffees such as Allegro’s lightly roasted Mexican coffee are perfect for brewing as a cold brew or pour-over as the beans are more porous, meaning the bean’s flavors and compounds are extracted slower compared to darker roasted beans.

As Mexican coffee beans tend to be delicate and light, a medium roast coffee can be suitable to brew as espresso or using a French Press. This elevates the coffee’s body while also giving it a richer taste familiar with medium roast Mexican coffee.

For city roast to dark roast profiles, the smokey notes of cacao are great for espressos as well. The brewing process intensifies the flavors, which also makes it a tasty latte or cappuccino.

If you want to brew your Mexican coffee, you can do it the traditional way as a Café de Olla. Just make sure to brew your coffee with brown sugar and cinnamon for the perfect infusion of flavors in your cup.

The Final Verdict

Sweet and complex flavors bundled with a light body; it’s no wonder why Volcanica Coffee’s Organic Mexican coffee is the best Mexican coffee on our list. It’s best brewed as black to fully appreciate the subtle acidity and flavor.

Prefer a heavy body? You might prefer the dark roast whole bean from Fresh Roasted Coffee. Organic with a nutty finish, it’s great for a pick-me-up or breakfast coffee.

As always, picking one single favorite coffee is hard. So trying out different coffees, you might have a new favorite with each brew!