Mexico — Alma de Chiapas

Coffee Profile

Origin Details

The Land

High-Altitude Terroir

The coffee plots of Alma de Chiapas are tucked into the Sierra Madre mountain range in southern Mexico — one of the most biodiverse regions in the world. At elevations between 1,000 and 1,800 meters, the cool mountain air slows the maturation of the coffee cherries, concentrating their natural sugars and creating the sweet, complex cup profile this origin is known for.

Shade-grown coffee trees thrive under the forest canopy, protecting soil health and creating habitat for native birds.

Farmers preserve local forest canopies to shade their coffee trees — a sustainable practice that naturally regulates soil temperature, prevents erosion, and creates a thriving habitat for native birds. With 1,654 hectares distributed among 599 members, the average family farm is just under 3 hectares — small enough to be carefully tended entirely by hand.

Harvesting is a meticulous, hands-on process. Family members selectively hand-pick only the perfectly ripe, deep red cherries — a labor of care that shows in every cup.

The People

599 Farmers. One Community.

Alma de Chiapas is not a single farm — it is a community of 599 smallholder farming families (490 men and 109 women) working in unison across the highlands of Chiapas. Each family tends their own plot, passing knowledge and craft from generation to generation.

Hand-harvesting only the ripest cherries — a family effort across every plot.

Freshly picked coffee cherries, selected at peak ripeness for a sweeter, cleaner cup.

The cooperative serves as a business incubator, providing Fair Trade and Organic certifications alongside training in financial literacy, quality management, and business development. The goal is to graduate farming groups into Impacto Transformador — a direct export program that allows families to secure better profit margins and reinvest in their local schools and infrastructure.

Gender equity is central to the cooperative’s mission. The 109 women farmers receive dedicated leadership training and financial literacy support, ensuring independent economic standing and decision-making power within the community.