Yoloxochtilán, Mexico

This particular coffee is a collaboration between a number of producers from the town of Yoloxochtilán. The coffees from this area are known for their fruity and complex profiles and this bean is no exception. Fragrant, floral, zestiness of Kaffir Lime Leaf, undertones of juicy papaya, and a tea like clarity of body that cuts to every corner of the palate. Like a health-kick juice cleanse for the mouth.

Tucked away in the remote mountains of northern Oaxaca, Yoloxochtilán is situated in the Sierra Mazateca, one of Mexico’s most culturally rich and biologically diverse regions. Named after the Mazatec people who inhabit this land, Mazatec meaning “the deer people” in Nahuatl, or Ha Shuta Enima in their own language, meaning "those who work the hills”, this area is steeped in tradition, resilience, and a profound connection to the land. 

Surrounded by the misty ridges of the Sierra Madre Sur and Sierra Oriental, the Mazateca’s soaring mountains, rain-soaked hilltop mesophile forests, and cool climate create a unique and exceptional environment for coffee cultivation. 

Despite its excellent coffee growing potential, the Mazateca is one of Mexico’s most isolated and underdeveloped regions. Its physical isolation makes access to healthcare, education, and other infrastructure extremely difficult. Illiteracy and poverty are rampant, and this has left many coffee farms without the proper resources to maintain and develop their crops. Yield in these farms is often as low as 100kg per hectare, compared with an average of 2,400kg in Colombia for example.  For years, producers earned just MX$35–45 per kilogram, making it difficult to sustain their farms. 

These economic pressures have driven many young people to migrate to the cities or the US, leaving coffee production in the hands of the elderly. Language barriers also persist, as most producers speak only Mazateco, making external collaboration and market access more difficult. Yet, in the face of these challenges, the region continues to produce some of the most exceptional coffees in the country. 

Our friends at Raw Materials have been partnering with the farmers of the Mazateca to build more sustainable and profitable farming systems. Every lot produced is cupped and graded before being assigned as a Microlot or matched with other coffees of a similar profile to create exceptional community lots. This means that farmers with even the smallest of yields can profit from their work through the new system. Indeed, by offering prices far in excess of market rates, farmers have seen a tenfold increase in their earnings - vital support that can be reinvested back into improving their farms and livelihoods.