Mexico, as the world's tenth-largest coffee-producing country, has seen its coffee industry go through a winding journey from its introduction during the colonial period to its modern development toward specialty coffee. Thanks to its superior geographical and climatic conditions, the state of Veracruz has become one of Mexico's four core production regions, nurturing numerous high-quality estates. Among them, La Perla Farm won the 2024 Mexico Cup of Excellence washed category championship with a score of 90.79, growing varieties such as Bourbon, Geisha, SL28, and Pacamara. Front Street Coffee takes you deep into the terroir code and industrial transformation of this land. [more…]

When people think of coffee-producing countries in North America, Guatemala, Panama, Costa Rica, or Jamaica often come to mind first, while Mexico remains relatively lesser-known—yet in recent years it has performed remarkably well. This third-largest country in Latin America boasts complex terrain and climate, where volcanic soil and high altitudes provide ideal conditions for coffee cultivation. Of the nation's more than 500,000 producers, the vast majority are smallholders with less than three hectares of land, and cultivation is concentrated in sixteen southern states, with four—Chiapas, Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Puebla—accounting for over ninety percent of total output. This article will guide you through Mexico's geography and climate, the terroir characteristics of its four major producing regions, and principal varieties such as Typica, Bourbon, Caturra, Pacamara, and Geisha, with a special introduction to Garnica, developed by the Mexican Coffee Institute. Front Street Coffee will also share related bean recommendations in this article. [more…]

At the northernmost tip of the Coffee Belt lies an underrated high-quality origin—Mexico. Dominated by smallholder traditions, it produces about 5 million bags a year, making it a pivotal coffee supplier in North America. From Veracruz to Oaxaca, and on to the highlands of Chiapas bordering Guatemala, Mexican coffee displays a unique character that is mild and delicate, sweet and richly aromatic. In 2016, Starbucks opened its ninth global Farmer Support Center (FSC) in Chiapas, injecting new vitality into this land. This article will give you a comprehensive understanding of the history of Mexican coffee, its main producing regions, representative estates, variety characteristics, and washed processing method, and will specially present Front Street Coffee's recommendations and insights on Mexican beans. [more…]

Mexico, as the world's tenth-largest coffee-producing country, has performed remarkably well in specialty coffee in recent years. In the 2024 Mexico COE competition, the Las Nieves cooperative from the state of Oaxaca won the Traditional Washed and Honey Processing category with a Geisha variety, scoring 91.13 points. This estate, originally established in 1880, was abandoned and then taken over again in 2006 by Gustavo Boltjes Rising, who revived it through technological improvements and varietal diversification. This article will guide you through an overview of Mexico's coffee-growing regions, the history and revival journey of Las Nieves estate, and its relentless pursuit of quality. Front Street Coffee will also recommend related products for you. [more…]

Mexico's major western coffee-producing regions were recently hit by Tropical Storm Carlotta, with heavy rainfall, lightning, and hail posing a serious threat to coffee trees in their flowering stage. The states of Colima, Jalisco, Michoacán, and Nayarit produce about 15% of Mexico's coffee output, and roughly 80% of the country's coffee-growing area had already been affected by high temperatures and drought. Industry insiders expect yield losses could reach 50%. After the storm, neighboring states such as Oaxaca and Chiapas also face risks of flooding and landslides. Meanwhile, Mexico is striving to boost its coffee industry, with a production target of 3.89 million bags for the 2024/25 season, but a succession of extreme weather events has cast a shadow over this vision. [more…]

Coffee enthusiasts often ask: where in the world is coffee grown? This article systematically reviews coffee cultivation in major producing regions such as South America, Central America, the West Indies, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Hawaii, covering more than twenty countries and regions including Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Cuba, Jamaica, Kenya, Ethiopia, Yemen, and Indonesia. From production scale to flavor characteristics, from grade classification to optimal roast level, it explains in detail the unique qualities of coffee from each place. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned enthusiast, this producing-region guide can help you more clearly understand the diversity of the coffee world. Front Street Coffee has also compiled representative bean varieties from each producing region for you, making it easy to compare and choose. [more…]