Country: Mexico | Region: Veracruz | Importer: Red Fox Coffee Merchants | Producer: Several Smallholder Producers | Processing: Washed | Altitude: 1,350–1,800 MASL | Varietal: Typica, Caturra, Costa Rica, Marsellesa, Sarchimor | Mill/Washing Station: Coatepec
Our average cupping score: 86
About the Producers
Nestled in Veracruz’s highlands, Mafafas is a cluster of small ejidos—tight communities of 30-50 people. Access requires a flight to Veracruz, then a 3.5-hour drive on mountain roads. Once a thriving coffee region, Mafafas was devastated by a frost four years ago, pushing many farmers toward livestock. Those who remained now nurture younger, pruned-back plants grown under shade. Cherries are brought two hours to Coatepec’s processing plant. There, they go through processing using spring water, before 48-hour fermentation and 60-hour mechanical drying. Despite challenges, resilience defines Mafafas’ coffee future.
What makes this coffee stand out
Veracruz produces some of Mexico's most distinctive specialty coffees, offering unique characteristics impossible to replicate elsewhere. Veracruz, Mexico's original coffee birthplace, produces uniquely full-bodied coffees with pronounced chocolate undertones and distinctive nutty sweetness—a signature of its humid coastal mountain terroir. What truly sets this region apart is their commitment to traditional processing methods combined with innovative quality improvements, creating coffees that balance Mexico's historic coffee identity with modern specialty standards.
