Introduction to Mexico's Finca El Triunfo - What is Mexican Organic Coffee

Mexico Chiapas | Triunfo Forest Reserve Coffee

Coffee Origin: Mexico Chiapas

Growing Estate: Triunfo Farmers Cooperative

Coffee Varieties: Typica, Bourbon, Mundo Novo

Growing Altitude: 900-1750 meters

Green Bean Processing: Washed method

Planting Area: 119,177 hectares

It is not only in Mexico that this stands out: the region where the Triunfo Cooperative is located ranks among the richest in the world for biodiversity. Shade-grown coffee trees are one defining feature of the Triunfo Farmers Cooperative, which also holds certifications such as Fair Trade and Organic. The farmers grow coffee trees within buffer zones between ecological conservation areas.

Established in 2001, the Triunfo Cooperative has more than 260 smallholder coffee farmers. Set in the Sierra Madre highlands of the Chiapas region, the Triunfo Ecological Reserve is one of the world's richest primary forests in terms of biodiversity. Wrapped year-round in mountain cloud and mist, it is the ideal habitat for thousands of species of flora and fauna. In this primary forest, which still keeps its mysterious wilderness intact, you can even find towering trees that reach up to 90 meters, with ground vegetation dominated by tree ferns and vines, where even delicate wild orchids quietly reside.

Here you can find over 120 species of birds, all of them inhabiting this primary forest, which makes it a paradise for birdwatching enthusiasts.

Introduction to Mexican Organic Coffee

Mexico is one of the largest producers of certified organic coffee. Owing to geographic factors, most of it is exported to the United States. The country's coffee industry began in the 19th century, introduced by way of Jamaica, and mainly cultivated Arabica varieties. The original producing region was Soconusco, near the Pacific coast bordering Guatemala.

In the early 1990s, the southern state of Chiapas became Mexico's most important coffee-producing region, producing approximately 275,000 tons of coffee annually and accounting for 45% of the country's output. Over two million Mexicans rely on coffee for their livelihood. 75% of Mexican coffee farmers work land smaller than two hectares, and these smallholders produce approximately 30% of the country's coffee each year; the remainder comes from large or more productive farms.

Since 1988, and especially in Chiapas, the government has encouraged poor coffee farmers to raise production by providing simple loans and promoting forest-land expansion, so that expanding the cultivated area would increase their income. Chiapas sits on the plateau at the southern end of Mexico, bordering Guatemala. In 1991, the Mexican National Institute carried out research on systems to protect the rights of local indigenous peoples and to strengthen protection for indigenous residents through product-trade regulation. Under these principles and conditions, cooperative organizations sprang up across the regions.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

The Triunfo Cooperative's coffee is a classic washed Arabica, and its clean, bright cup pairs naturally with FrontStreet Coffee's own washed selections. Try the FrontStreet Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Gedingding, a washed coffee with jasmine florals and bright citrus acidity, or the FrontStreet Kenya Cherry Tomato, a double-washed Kenyan lot bursting with cherry-tomato and dark-plum notes. If you prefer a rounder, more balanced profile, the washed FrontStreet Jamaica Blue Mountain No.1 delivers hazelnut, cream, chocolate, and caramel with a remarkably even structure.