Introduction to Finca La Bella Coffee Estate in Mexico - Are Mexican Coffee Beans Arabica?

A Legacy of Excellence

Established in 1885, this coffee carries a rich history spanning 128 years.

Its story begins with the fifth generation of an old Italian family that emigrated to Mexico.

Exceptional Growing Conditions

The coffee is cultivated at high altitudes between 1,000-1,200 meters, producing a premium mountain-grown cup.

Through generations of inherited traditional techniques and superior soil conditions, combined with a special location wrapped in year-round seas of cloud, the Arabica beans develop flavors completely distinct from coffee grown anywhere else.

Traditional Methods Meet Modern Technology

The estate owners insist on traditional natural cultivation, washed processing and hand harvesting, complemented by high-tech bean selection systems.

The result is exceptional quality: only 26 defective beans out of 3,000 in their Prima Lavado #5 selection.

About Mexican Coffee

Mexican coffee is said to have been introduced in the late 18th century, when a Spaniard transplanted coffee trees from the West Indies to Mexico. Mexican coffee belongs to the "premium washed" category, grown in humid, jungle-like mountain regions. These estates sit at lower-altitude, humid mountain sites, and most of the crop is exported to the United States.

Overall, Mexican coffee offers a comfortable mouthfeel, a mellow flavor and moderate acidity, with a touch of bitterness and a pleasant aroma. Do you enjoy premium aromas? Do you appreciate coffee with a balance of acidity and bitterness? Try a cup of Mexican coffee.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

If the washed, mellow character of Mexican coffee appeals to you, the cleanest examples of that style can be found in East Africa. FrontStreet Yirgacheffe Gedingding Cooperative Coffee is washed and medium-light roasted, showing jasmine florals and bright citrus acidity with green tea and honey notes. It brews beautifully as pour-over or cold brew, and works for espresso too.

For a more vivid, juicy acidity, FrontStreet Kenya Little Tomato Coffee is a Kenya specialty washed bean. Grown in the Thika region at 1,550-1,750m from the classic SL28 and SL34 varieties, it undergoes Kenya's characteristic 72-hour double washed fermentation before a light roast that preserves its lively acidity. Expect cherry tomato and dark plum, a plump, juice-like body, a sweet mid-palate of pear and black plum, and a clean finish of yellow sugar and green tea.

And if balance is what you are after, FrontStreet Jamaica Blue Mountain No. 1 is the benchmark. Washed and grown at high altitude, it delivers hazelnut, cream, chocolate and caramel in a clean, even cup where no single note dominates.