THE BEST MEXICAN COFFEE BEANS (TOP BRANDS AND BUYING GUIDE)

Mexico may not be the first country that jumps to mind when you think of specialty coffee, but maybe it should be.

Mexico may not be one of the big players in specialty coffee (yet), but the country produces some high-altitude beans that can stand proud among the best in the world. Not to mention, it’s the leading producer of organic coffee.

As with every up-and-coming coffee region, the trick is knowing which beans to buy. I taste-tested my way through dozens of Mexican-grown coffees to find out, and here are four I’d happily recommend.

Next time you need a break from your standard Colombian or Ethiopian brew, think Mexico!

The Best Mexican Coffee Beans Of 2026

The rise in popularity of specialty coffees from Mexico has seen the emergence of some genuinely excellent beans. Here are a few brands I think are doing justice to Mexico’s unique and exciting harvest.

image	product	details
Best Overall Best Overall	Volcanica Mexican Organic Coffee	Medium roast Chiapas region Hazelnut, earthy, cocoa	CHECK PRICE
Best For Espresso Best For Espresso	Out of the Grey Mexican Custepec SHG	Medium-Dark roast Chiapas region Dark chocolate, nuts, caramel	CHECK PRICE
Best For Filter Coffee Best For Filter Coffee	Mother Tongue Coffee Bella Vista Women’s Project	Medium roast Chiapas region Dried Fruit, Hazelnut, Milk Chocolate	CHECK PRICE
Budget Pick Budget Pick No products found.	Fresh Roasted Organic Dark Mexican	Dark roast Chiapas region Brown sugar, Cashew	CHECK PRICE

Here are some of the brands we think are doing justice to Mexico’s unique and exciting harvest.

Best Overall

1. Volcanica Mexican Organic Coffee

• Roast level: Medium

• Region: Chiapas
• Processing: Washed
• Tasting notes: Hazelnut, earthy, cocoa
• Available as: Whole bean, ground coffee

SEE ON VOLCANICA

You’re probably already familiar with Volcanica Coffee if you’re a fan of premium beans from some of the world’s best coffee-growing regions. The popular roaster focuses on volcanic areas, where the mineral-rich soil is perfect for growing top-quality beans. 

Volcanica works directly with several smallholder farms in the Chiapas region to source these certified Organic and Fair Trade beans. 

I think they beautifully highlight the nutty, chocolatey flavor notes typical of the area. The sweetness of hazelnut and the earthiness of the cocoa creates a smooth and balanced brew with medium acidity. It’s a crowd-pleasing and versatile cup of coffee, equally delicious prepared as a full-bodied French press or crisp Chemex.

One thing I always appreciate when ordering from Volcanica is their commitment to freshness. Beans are roasted, packed, and shipped within 24 hours, so you never miss out on peak flavor.

Best For Espresso

2. Out of the Grey Mexican Custepec SHG

• Roast level: Medium-Dark

• Region: Chiapas
• Processing: Washed
• Tasting notes: Dark chocolate, nuts, caramel
• Available as: Whole bean, ground coffee

SEE ON OUT OF THE GREY COFFEE

The high mountains of Mexico’s Chiapas region provide an ideal environment for top-quality coffee beans. The highest grade is Strictly High Grown (SHG) beans, which are grown at altitudes over 1,200 meters (4,000 feet). The relatively harsh conditions at these elevations slow the bean’s development, yielding more concentrated and complex flavors.

The Custepec name is associated with top-quality, high-altitude beans, and this dark-medium roast from Out Of The Grey is an ideal showcase. 

I’ve been particularly loving these beans as a shot of espresso or diluted into an Americano – though an Aeropress is an equally fine option if you don’t have an espresso machine. I haven’t been tempted to add milk, preferring to let the rich flavors of nuts and caramel shine.

Best For Filter Coffee

3. Mother Tongue Coffee Bella Vista Women’s Project

• Roast level: Medium

• Region: Chiapas
• Processing: Washed
• Tasting notes: Dried Fruit, Hazelnut, Milk Chocolate
• Available as: Whole bean, ground coffee

SEE ON TRADE COFFEE

There are a few things I look for when selecting a coffee for pour over. I like complex layers of flavor. I like a nice balance of sweetness and acidity. I like a medium or light roast with a medium body. High-quality Arabica beans go without saying. The Bella Vista Women’s Project coffee from Mother Tongue Coffee Roasters delivers on all fronts.

At first sip, it’s sweet and chocolatey, but it has depth. There are notes of toasted almonds and jammy dried fruit with a counterpoint of tart lemonade and stone fruits. The aroma during brewing was captivating, almost like making caramel. It reminded me of Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee, except at a fraction of the cost!

If that isn’t enticement enough, this coffee also supports a good cause. The women producers are paid higher than average wages and rewarded for better-quality beans – a win for us coffee drinkers, too!

Budget Pick

4. Fresh Roasted Organic Dark Mexican

• Roast level: Dark

• Region: Chiapas
• Processing: Washed
• Tasting notes: Brown sugar, Cashew
• Available as: Whole bean, ground coffee

No products found.

SEE ON AMAZON

I usually shy away from recommending coffee from Amazon, but Fresh Roasted is a notable exception. Thanks to high turnover, their coffee doesn’t sit around in warehouses going stale. True to the name, it’s fresh roasted.

It is delightfully sweet and just a little smoky. I was interested to find it tasted more of nuts and caramel than chocolate – a nice departure from the norm.

I’d definitely suggest brewing this one with something with a metal filter to enhance its mouthfeel, like a French press or Moka pot. If you’re a milky coffee lover, its robust flavor makes an incredible base for a latte. Or try it as a starting point for a traditional Mexican cafe de olla.

How To Choose The Right Mexican Beans

Coffee beans from Mexico haven’t always had a reputation for quality, particularly in North America. In the past, most of the best beans were exporter to Europe. Happily, that is starting to change, and a little knowledge of the country’s coffee industry can help you find a coffee you’ll love. 

A Brief History Of Coffee In Mexico

Coffee growing in Mexico began in the late 1700s when the Spanish imported coffee from the Dominican Republic and Cuba. It wasn’t until nearly a century later that it was produced for export, with the beans generally coming from large plantations owned by European settlers.

After the Mexican Revolution, these haciendas were broken up, and the land was redistributed to indigenous laborers, creating small-scale farms that still exist today. By the 1970s, the Mexican government realized the potential of the country’s crops and set up INMECAFE to help support farmers, resulting in massive production increases (1). 

In the late ’80s, the international coffee market collapsed, and INMECAFE was defunded following government reform. Coffee farming in the country suffered substantially and has only recently begun to recover, primarily due to the growing interest in specialty beans.

The Power of the Cooperative

Farmers’ cooperatives emerged after the coffee industry crashed. Farmers needed a line to the global market, and large buyers weren’t willing to negotiate with such small producers individually. 

Cooperatives provided a way to sell beans and explore more lucrative markets, including certified organic products. Thanks to the work of cooperatives, Mexico is one of the world’s biggest producers of organic coffee (2). The support to earn Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance certifications also helps farmers fetch higher prices.

When you buy Mexico coffee today, you’ll notice it’s branded by cooperative rather than estate.

Flavors And Growing Regions

Specialty Mexican beans are generally known for having a light body with bright, dry acidity and rich natural sweetness. They are reminiscent of Honduran beans, with flavor notes ranging from fruity and floral to chocolatey and nutty, depending on the region and roast.

The bulk of the country’s coffee beans come from four states in the country’s south. All four benefit from mountainous terrain and rich volcanic soils but vary in climate, growing technology, and varietals. 

Chiapas

Chiapas is the country’s best-known and biggest coffee producer, supplying around 40% of its total. The hot, wet climate results in what many consider the best coffees in Mexico, known to score above 90 at the Cup of Excellence. Flavors tend toward cocoa and nuts, with a smooth and creamy mouthfeel. Mexican Chiapas beans were awarded a protected denomination of origin in 2003 (3).

Veracruz

Veracruz was the first state in Mexico to grow coffee, and the crop remains a vital source of income for the region. Veracruz produces some unremarkable coffee in the low-lying coastal regions, but Altura Coatepec beans from the mountains are highly prized. As such, denomination of origin applies to Veracruz coffee grown above 2,460 feet (4). 

The best Veracruz beans offer notes of chocolate and nuts, with a medium body and pronounced acidity.

Oaxaca

Much of Oaxaca is blessed with high altitude, thanks to the convergence of several mountain ranges. It’s here that some of the country’s most distinctive and in-demand beans are produced. You’ll find this coffee is milder than most, with light citrus acidity and sweet caramel overtones. Coffee grown in Pluma Hidalgo (known as Oaxaca Plume) is the most prestigious.

Pueblax

Puebla grows just 15% of the country’s coffee but should not be overlooked as a producer. Thanks to the prevalence of volcanoes in the state, the terrain is rich with minerals that coffee plants love. Beans from Puebla offer tastes of cocoa and spice, with notes of vanilla and citrus.

The Verdict

Mexican coffee beans have always had potential, and I’m excited to finally see them live up to expectations. If you appreciate a sweet and complex brew – and particularly if you value organic coffee – it’s an origin you should have on your radar.

The Volcanica Mexican Organic is a great starting point. It’s an accessible and easy-drinking coffee from a company with a sterling reputation for fresh and high-quality beans. But if you’re a coffee lover, I think you’ll enjoy exploring all four coffees on this list for a well-rounded taste of the region.

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