Brought to Equator Coffee Roasters from the region of Los Altos de Chiapas (Acteal) in Maya Vinic, Mexico, is our new single origin coffee: Mexico. This unique medium roast is going to be available for purchase in-stores and online from November 30th until January 4th, just in time for the holiday season.
About Chiapas
Chiapas is one of Mexico’s major coffee-producing regions. The other two are Oaxaca and Veracruz (1).
History Of The Cooperative “Producers’ Union Maya Vinic”
Founded in 1999, The Cooperative “Producers’ Union Maya Vinic”, or simply Maya Vinic, is made up of 500 coffee farmers, each of which produces about 400 kilos of coffee a year from an average of one hectare (2). These farmers can be found all across 38 highland communities in the Chalchihuitán, Chenalhó, and Pantelhó municipalities. In 2002, Coop Coffees began buying Maya Vinic’s coffee for export under fair trade guidelines. Their partnership is one of Coop Coffee’s longest, spanning 21 years and with over 1.5 millions of pounds of coffee exchanged.
Maya Vinic’s coffee success is well-deserved, especially after the region's tumultuous political history. Following the tragic 1997 Acteal massacre, forty-five of their members were lost, caught in the political crosshairs. The remaining founding members built the foundation for a new and more optimistic life for their community, the one they had originally envisioned from their base pacifist organization, Las Abejas.
Maya Vinic values tradition, which is reflected in their deep-rooted respect of culture, local language, and Mother Earth’s natural resources. In fact, this Cooperative imparts their wisdom by regularly offering educational initiatives and skill-building activities to their producer members. Their goals are to raise awareness about the significance of a strong social economy and of solid techniques to farm sustainably.
In addition to the Arabica coffee varieties they work with, like Bourbon, Caturra, Mundo Novo, and Typica, Maya Vinic produces and markets green coffee beans to ameliorate the living conditions of their farmers. All coffee sales take place across Mexico and in their San Cristobal de Las Casas coffee shop.
Tasting Notes And Flavors
The Mexico is an organic, FLO-certified, medium-bodied, washed process coffee with our roast level 3. This specialty coffee was grown at an altitude of 1000-1650 m and showcases a cupping score of 84.25. Each smooth sip boasts a harmonious blend of lime, nougat, and salted caramel tasting notes. The coffee connoisseurs amongst you may pick out the iconic Chiapas flavor profile with its subtle citric acidity and spices plus hints of almond, caramel, fruit, honey, and milk and dark chocolates. These flavors will really shine in traditional pour-over brewing methods or as a quick pick-me-up with a shot or two of espresso.
References:
- Harper, J. (2020, March 25). Coffee Origins: A Guide to Mexico. Retrieved November 6, 2023, from https://perfectdailygrind.com/2020/03/coffee-origins-a-guide-to-mexico/
- CoopCoffees. (n.d.). Maya Vinic. Retrieved November 6, 2023, from https://coopcoffees.coop/maya-vinic/
