This coffee comes from the small community of La Yerba, located on the northern slopes of the San Juan Volcano in Nayarit, Mexico. The region's volcanic soils, warm climate, and generations of coffee-growing experience create ideal conditions for producing distinctive coffees.
La Yerba is home to ASTAL, a producer society within Grupo Terruño Nayarita (GTNAY), a network of independent farming communities committed to quality, sustainability, and transparency. Rather than competing with one another, GTNAY's member groups work together to share resources, improve quality, and create better economic opportunities for growers.
Coffee production is a vital part of life in La Yerba. Many families rely on both coffee and avocado harvests for their annual income. Through partnerships with CAFESUMEX and coffee importers who value traceability and quality, producers receive additional payments based on the quality and final sale price of their coffee months after harvest, helping provide greater financial stability throughout the year.
One of the most unique aspects of this coffee is its natural process. Instead of removing the fruit before drying, the coffee cherries are dried whole. As the fruit slowly dries around the seed, sugars and fruit characteristics are absorbed into the bean, creating a cup with greater sweetness, heavier body, and layered fruit notes.
In the cup expect a rich, syrupy cup with notes of:
Milk chocolate
Vanilla
Hazelnut
Super-ripe peach
Blackberry
Apple
The first impression is comforting and sweet, with chocolate and vanilla leading the way. As the coffee cools, the fruit notes become more pronounced, revealing juicy peach, blackberry, and apple-like sweetness.
Origin: La Yerba, Nayarit, Mexico
Producer Group: ASTAL / GTNAY
Process: Natural
Elevation: 1,025 meters
Varieties: Bourbon, Catuai, Caturra, Typica, Sarchimor, Mundo Novo
Cup Score: 84–86
Natural processed coffees from Mexico are still relatively uncommon, and this lot showcases just how expressive they can be. It's sweet, approachable, fruit-forward, and a wonderful example of the work being done by the growers of La Yerba.
Cupping Notes: Peach, Milk Chocolate, Vanilla, Creme Brulee
Roasting Level: Medium 2/4