Mexican Chiapas coffee is among the best coffee that you can try. This is not just restricted to within Mexico but in the world.
When people think about excellent-tasting, high-quality coffee produced in Latin and South America, Mexico isn’t the first country that springs to mind. Indeed, the coffee produced in Colombia and Ecuador seems to be much better known internationally.
However, the reality is that Mexico is one of the world’s largest organic coffee producers. Approximately 50% of Mexican coffee is exported and sold internationally.
Meanwhile, approximately 50% is sold and enjoyed domestically. Perhaps this is why Mexican coffee and Mexican Chiapas coffee are lesser-known on an international scale – because locals keep a lot of these excellent beans to themselves!
Mexican Chiapas Coffee
There are four main coffee-growing regions in Mexico. Namely, they are Chiapas (44%), Veracruz (29%), Oaxaca (11%) and Puebla (11%).
There are significant differences in the flavor and acidity of the coffee produced in different regions. Even if you don’t really consider yourself as being much of a coffee connoisseur, you will be able to note the variations.
Generally speaking, Mexican Chiapas coffee is known for its light, delicate flavor and rich, brisk acidity with a light to medium body. However, with that being said, there are also strong variations in coffee produced from one Chiapas plantation to another.
Chiapas is a vast state in the southern part of Mexico, close to the Guatemalan border. You will also note significant differences in the flavor and body of Mexican Chiapas coffee that is produced in the central highlands and that produced close to Tapachula.
Sampling Mexican Chiapas Coffee
You don’t have to venture to Chiapas to sample Mexican Chiapas coffee. In fact, you don’t even have to venture to Mexico.
Many excellent, fair-trade, certified organic Mexican Chiapas coffee beans are available for purchase online. You can order them via Amazon or through other online coffee stores.
Mexican Chiapas coffee beans make a great gift or Mexico souvenir. You may want to consider checking the reviews and reading the plantation’s backstories before purchasing to make sure you will choose a type of coffee bean that you are happy with. It is worth ordering a few varieties to compare and contrast.
A selection of excellent quality Mexican Chiapas coffee blends to consider is shortlisted below.
- Mexican Chiapas Coffee Tours
The state of Chiapas is one of the most unique, colorful, and vibrant parts of Mexico. It is also one of the most naturally beautiful.
It boasts everything from pueblos magicos and ancient Mayan ruins, to breathtaking waterfalls, natural parks, and canyons. Much of Chiapas’ population is made up of people from various indigenous groups.
As such, the culture here is very different from that which you will find in other parts of Mexico. Chiapas makes a very worthy inclusion on any Mexico itinerary.If you happen to venture here, you can organize a coffee plantation tour from San Cristobal de Las Casas or from Comitan de Dominguez. Surprisingly, Chiapas coffee plantation tours are not very well marketed.
Only a few small local tour companies offer coffee plantation tours, compared to the abundance of excursions to the Sumidero Canyon and the nearby indigenous villages of Chamula and Zinacantán. The best option is to contact a plantation yourself and request a tour and tasting.
Mexican Chiapas Coffee Plantations to Visit
The Irlanda, Argovia, Hamburgo, and La Chiripa plantations are all just a short journey away from San Cristobal and offer coffee tours to visitors. English is not widely spoken here so it is helpful if you can speak a little Spanish.
Hamburgo Coffee Plantation
The Hamburgo Coffee Plantation awaits in the southwesternmost part of Chiapas. It is 63km northeast of Tapachula and close to the town of Huixtla.
Getting to the plantation is a little tricky unless you are renting a car and driving in Mexico. However, you may be able to organize private transfers with the help of the plantation or your hotel in San Cristobal.
The Hamburgo Coffee Plantation is something special because a visit here is about more than simply sampling Mexican Chiapas coffee (as if that isn’t an amazing enough experience as it is!). The plantation, high in the Sierra Madre de Chiapas mountains also boasts its own luxury hotel, museum, store, and spa.
Opt to spend a night in one of the little rustic cabins to enjoy getting back to nature. When you wake up, tour the plantation, learn about the process of producing coffee, buy some beans, and then treat yourself to a massage.
The plantation was founded in 1888 by the German Arthur Edelman. It has been passed down through his family for more than 100 years and is currently managed by the fifth generation.
There are 540 hectares of coffee plantations of the Arabica species that are grown here and harvested from October until January. Much of the exquisite, flavorful coffee produced here is shipped to European countries.
Overnight stays at the Hamburgo Coffee Plantation cost approximately a night. Click here to review the latest room rates and availability.
Finca Argovia
The Finca Argovia plantation sits in the foothills of the Sierra Madre de Chiapas mountains. It is some 42km north of Tapachula.
The natural scenery here is breathtaking. You can see the Tanacá volcano in the distance, and the plantation is encompassed by lush green, dense jungle.
It was founded in 1880 by a Swiss Family who relocated to Mexico from Aargau Canton and gave the plantation its current name. It was acquired by Adolf Geismen at the end of the 19th century and today, it is managed by the fourth generation of his family.
The Finca Argovia, like the Finca Hamburgo, boasts luxury accommodation on site. The four-star premises offer a range of room options – from self-contained, ultra-indulgent wooden cabins in the heart of the jungle, to plush modern double rooms.
There are a number of tour options available here. A tour of the plantation, along with an overview of the coffee-making process and a tasting, is available to all guests. However, it takes just 45 minutes.
Staying in the Sierra Madre de Chiapas mountains takes you farther off the beaten path than most travelers to Chiapas ever venture. While you are in the area, you should make the most of being in undisturbed nature.
You can also take a short hiking tour throughout the area, which allows you the opportunity to birdwatch and observe many majestic bird species native to this region. The plantation also runs a flower tour that takes you around the grounds to learn about the various flora and fauna on site.
Overnight stays at the Finca Argovia cost approximately a night. Click here to review the latest room rates and availability.
Finca Irlanda
Finca Irlanda is one of the most important Mexican Chiapas coffee plantations. It was a pioneer in the movement toward Mexico being known as a quality organic coffee producer.
The coffee produced here is organic, and the plantation owners pride themselves on their eco-friendly mantra. They make every effort to produce their coffee with minimal impact on the environment that surrounds the plantation.
Finca Irlanda dates back to 1890. The Peters family purchased the farm here from an Irish man living in Chiapas.
Today, its operations are managed by Mr. Walter Peters, the fourth generation of the family. The Robusta species of coffee is grown and produced here.
Finca Irlanda has actually won awards in Europe in recognition of the quality of their coffee. Coffee is the main commodity of course.
However, flowers, bananas, and cocoa are also grown and exported by Finca Irlanda. Chayote, cardamom, cocoa, and organic honey are made by hand and sold both domestically and internationally.
Overnight stays at the Finca Irlanda cost approximately a night. Click here to review the latest room rates and availability.
Cafe Yaxchilan
The area around Tapachula and the Sierra Madre de Chiapas mountains is known as the “Ruta de Cafe” (coffee route). This is on account of the abundance of plantations in the area.
However, to travel here, you need to dedicate at least a couple of hours to your journey time in each direction. Most Chiapas coffee plantations are at least 2 hours away from San Cristobal.
If you are limited on time, one of the most accessible options is to organize a tour with Cafe Yaxchilan. Cafe Yaxchilan owns a small tasting room on the outskirts of San Cristobal.
If you don’t have time to tour the Chiapas coffee plantations near Tapachula, the Yaxchilan owner, Esteban Lopez Gomez can organize a small tour at the tasting room. There are no plantations directly outside San Cristobal.
Instead, there are examples of coffee plants. The tour costs 300 pesos ($15). It includes an explanation of the process of harvesting and a tasting of several different varieties of beans.Alternatively, Esteban can pick you up from your hotel and take you to some of Cafe Yaxchilan’s Mexican Chiapas coffee plantations near Ocosingo. The tour is 2200 pesos ($110) for the full day.
You will tour a number of plantations and learn about the coffee-making process. Esteban will explain the entire process from planting to harvest, harvest to packaging, and packaging to exports.
Along the way, you will also stop at a traditional cemetery at Romerillo, and visit Tenejapa and San Juan Cancun. A homemade Mexican lunch is included and at the end of the day, you will be dropped off back at your hotel.
Parting Words
Have you tried Mexican Chiapas coffee? What did you think? How would you compare it to coffee that you have tried from other parts of Mexico or other parts of the world?
Melissa Douglas
