On small mountainous farms in some of the poorest parts of Mexico grows a long overlooked gem; the best Mexican coffee beans. Roasted delicately, these beans release unique flavors that delight your taste buds. The incorporation of cinnamon and brown sugar during brewing gives Mexican coffee its characteristic blend of chocolate and spices.
This article has detailed all there is to know about Mexican coffee.
Brief History about Mexican Coffee
For many years, Mexico didn’t produce coffee commercially. In fact, it wasn’t until the Mexican revolution in the 1900s that coffee cultivation started to take root in Mexico. Even at that, it was only in the 1970s that the export of Mexican beans gained real traction.
From then till now, Mexican coffee has gained increasing popularity thanks to its unique flavors and smooth texture. It has become one of the largest coffee-producing nations in the globe. Traditional Mexican coffee is brewed in an Olla (earthen clay pot) and mixed with sugar and cinnamon for flavor and depth.
Major Coffee Producing Regions in Mexico
There are three major regions responsible for Mexico’s coffee yield. Each region boasts of a characteristic coffee taste and mouthfeel. Let’s explore each region below.
1. Veracruz
The long, thin state of Veracruz is just along the Gulf of Mexico. Veracruz’s finest coffees grow on the inland mountain and have a distinctive acidic, juicy yet sweet and sour aftertaste. The taste is so akin to those of the caramel, light red fruit, panela, blueberries.
Being the first region to grow a coffee plant, Veracruz has come a long way in technology. Today, it boasts of more disease-resistant plants than any other Mexican region.
2. Chiapas
Nestled on the Guatemalan border, Chiapas, one of the poorest states, is home to the best Mexican coffee. Grown at the height of 1,300-1,700, Chiapas-grown coffee beans have a characteristic sweet yet buttery mouthfeel, exactly like a milkshake; Yummy!
It doesn’t end there; Chiapas also takes the crown for producing over 40% of Mexico’s coffee yield, making it the major producer of the country’s coffee. Although Veracruz and Chiapas share similar cultivation techniques, you can still taste the distinct notes of chocolate, citrus, nuts, lemon, and bitters in the latter variant.
3. Oaxaca
Oaxaca lies neatly between the bottom of Veracruz and the top of Chiapas, with the Pacific Ocean bordering it on the west. On average, its coffee farms fall between 900-1650 m.a.s.l.
Most farmers in this region shun modernization and stick instead to traditional farming methods. Although it is the least technologically advanced, its coffee beans are distinctive and rake in impressive numbers.
It has the right amount of sweet, acidity, and floral tones. The sweet taste is thanks to the caramel overtones and yellow fruits, while the acidity stems from the citrus. Trust us; this coffee tastes heavenly!
Why is Mexican Coffee Popular?
There is a lot of rave about Mexican coffee but is it all talk? Anyone who has tasted Mexican coffee will agree that it is worth all the hype.
Mexican coffees are reputed for having a delicate and crisp flavor profile. Of course, while the taste depends partially on where and how the coffee beans used are grown, another contributor is the roast of the beans.
Why is Mexican Coffee Different from Other Coffees?
Mexican coffee stands out from other coffee types for two main reasons: recipe and taste. In Mexico, cinnamon and brown sugar are part of the coffee recipe and are incorporated directly into the brewing technique. The result of this is coffee that is equal parts sweet and spicy.
Arabica coffee is vastly popular in Mexico and occupies most of the country’s coffee yield, with Robusta making up for a mere 3-4% of the yield.
That said, in the next section, we will explore the top Mexican coffee brands today.
Best Mexican Coffee Brands
Mexico cultivates one of the best quality coffee beans that has coffee enthusiasts craving for more. That said, here are our top favorite Mexican coffee brands.
The Volcanica Organic Mexican coffee is topping our charts with its exceptionally tasty beans. We love that it is certified fair trade and organic and packs a punch. With the unique hazelnut flavor blending beautifully with the natural flavor of the roasted beans, this coffee is sure tasty.
Volcanica Organic Mexican coffee comes in three convenient grind sizes in addition to the whole beans for you to choose from. If you don’t mind grinding, try out the whole beans because they retain their potency longer than the pre-ground coffee.
Pros
- Unique hazelnut flavor
- Complex yet tasty blend of flavors
- Certified organic and fair trade
- Available in whole beans and three grind sizes
Cons
- It costs a little more than other coffee brands
Café Mexicano, like typical Mexican coffees, boasts of rich-tasting coffee beans roasted and blended via traditional methods. Each pack is designed to cater to 18 serves, each no less delicious than the other.
Perfect in every other aspect, save the price, this coffee makes for a great treat! The dark roasted beans give off a hint of cinnamon when brewed. Trust us; this coffee is not just sweet. It is delicious!
Pros
- Craft roasted coffee beans
- Roasted and packed in the United States
- Compatible with New Keurig 2.0
Cons
- It is quite pricey
Next on our list is the New Mexico Piñon Coffee made from the finest coffee beans in New Mexico. This coffee is a delight with delicate hints of cinnamon and spice and a superior exotic taste!
While consumers trying out New Mexico Pinon coffee will be pleased with the flavor profile, old drinkers will miss the taste of flavored pinon. Then again, you can’t miss what you never had.
Pros
- Awesome flavor profile
- A superior blend of roast
- Affordable
Cons
- No longer includes flavored pinon
Café De Olla Mexican makes one of the best ground coffee! It takes the cake for being the most flavorful ground coffee on the market, and while it is quite expensive, it is well worth the cost.
Café de Olla is more than a drink; it has several layers of flavor and spice that keep your tastebuds aching for more. What’s makes it even more special is that it has none of the bitter tang associated with dark roast.
The major drawback of this coffee is the cost which is way more than other coffee brands. Yet another is that it comes pre-ground and thus doesn’t stay fresh for long.
Pros
- It’s a complex yet delicate blend of spice and medium roast coffee
- Perfect texture and flavor
Cons
- It doesn’t stay fresh for long
- It is very expensive
Although some argue that Anthony’s Organic Whole Bean Coffee is not exactly Mexican, the fact is that the beans are grown in Mexico. Now, unlike other coffees that come in already mixed with spices and sugar, this coffee allows you to mix it all in after brewing.
We love that it comes in whole beans and that the freshness lasts longer than pre-ground coffee beans. Of course, this coffee is reasonably priced, another plus.
Pros
- It comes in whole beans
- Good flavor profile
- Fairly priced
Cons
- It doesn’t come premixed with sugars and spices
Coffee Bean Direct Organic Decaf Mexican City Roast is among the best decaf coffees of 2022, and thankfully, it is affordable. Unlike some decaf coffee brands with little flavor and much bitterness, this one uses swiss water processing. The result is a pretty strong coffee with none of the bitterness.
Unfortunately, the flavor can be pretty inconsistent, a direct result of leaching out the caffeine. If you don’t mind that, then you will enjoy this coffee.
Pros
- Commendable flavor and taste
- Smooth texture
- None of the bitter taste
- Uses Swiss water processing
- Whole bean coffee
Con
- Can generate inconsistent flavor profiles
Allegro organic Mexican light roast coffee is one of the sweetest coffee available on the market today. Brewed right, this cup of coffee tastes just like a chocolate milkshake thanks to its creaminess and hints of pecan, almond, and chocolate.
Packaged as whole beans, the flavor remains fresh and strong for a long time. Sourced from Chiapas, this Mexican coffee is Fair trade certified.
Perhaps the only drawback of this coffee is that you’ll need a burr grinder to crush the beans. If you don’t mind that, grab a delicious coffee pack and make yourself a glass of refreshing cold brew.
Pros
- Works great as cold brew
- Refreshing taste
- No bitter aftertaste
- Certificate of fair trade
- Whole coffee beans
Best Mexican Coffee Recipe
The best Mexican coffee recipe is composed of the following items:
- Water – 8 Cups
- Piloncillo or brown sugar – 5 ounces
- Dark medium/coarse coffee beans – ⅔ cup
- Cinnamon – 1 stick
- Orange peel – 1
While Piloncillo is commonplace in Mexico, it may be difficult to find in the US. So you can substitute it with a cup of brown sugar. Orange peel leaves the brew with an undertone of citrus that most people love. If you’d rather not have the citrus tang, you can leave the orange peel.
Easiest Way to Brew Mexican Coffee
Once you have all your ingredients arranged, it’s time to brew the coffee. Don’t worry; it’s not as difficult as you imagine. Just follow these easy steps:
- Set your stove on medium heat and bring the water to boil
- Add the piloncillo or brown sugar to the saucepan with boiling water
- Stir gently until all of it is well dissolved
- Add in your coffee, cinnamon stick, and orange peel if you so desire
- Turn off the fire and allow the mixture to steep for about 10 minutes
- Pour the mixture through the fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth
- Viola! Your Mexican coffee is ready to be enjoyed.
Bonus: Mexican Iced Coffee
It would be cruel of us to keep the wonder that is Mexican iced coffee to ourselves. This drink is absolutely delicious and easily a summer favorite for coffee lovers! So what do you need for tasty iced coffee? Let’s see.
- Canela (Mexican cinnamon stick)
- Water
- Sugar
- Evaporated milk
- Condensed milk
- Mexican vanilla
- Nescafe instant coffee
While most recipes are readily available, you may have to go to a Mexican supermarket to get the Canela. Now to the main part.
How to Make Mexican Iced Coffee
Making Mexican iced coffee is as simple as Abc and inexpensive. Try it out today. All you need to do is follow these easy steps.
- Add water and Canela to a saucepan and leave to boil.
- Next, turn off the heat and add sugar and coffee
- Stir well and let the mixture steep for about 10 minutes
- Allow the brew to cool for about 1 hour and then strain it
- Add in your milk and vanilla and stir gently
- The last step is putting the pitcher into the refrigerator and leave to chill
- Serve your yummy Mexican coffee with lots of ice!
Note: since this coffee contains lots of milk, it is important to keep it refrigerated. That way, it can last up to three days.
Final Thoughts
Thanks to its unique taste, aroma, and mouthfeel, Mexican coffee is in high demand worldwide. We have listed out a couple of our top Mexican coffee brands for you to delight your taste buds. Try them out today and drop us a note on what you think. Check us out for more insight on coffee, the best brands, and great brewing techniques.
