Decaf: Sierra Mazateca | Mexico

Key Origin Info:

Producer: Small producers of Sierra Mazateca in Oaxaca region
Processed at: each farmer’s wet mill and consolidated in dried parchment stage before being decaffeinated at a facility in Veracruz

Region: Oaxaca
Altitude: 1500 - 2000 masl

Variety: Mixed; Typica, Mundo Novo, Bourbon
Process: Washed processed and Mountain Water decaffeinated

Exporter: Raw Material | Importer: Raw Material

Cup profile: Creamy body, milk chocolate & dates

About Sierra Mazateca and its coffee producers:

From Raw Material

The Mazateca is located in the state of Oaxaca, one of the most diverse states in México, both biologically and culturally. The Mazateca gets its name from the presence of the indigenous group, the Mazatec, which is a Nahualt name that translates to “the deer people”. However, in their own language, Mazateco, the group is called Ha Shuta Enima, which means “those who work the hills”.

More about the “Mountain Water” decaffeination process:

Mountain Water Process is a method of indirect decaffeination using only water as the decaffeination agent, at varying temperatures and under pressure.

Image cautery of 36th Parallel Specialty Coffee Roasters

The process is carried at a decaffeination plant Descafemex in Veracruz, allowing us to offer a decaffeinated coffee that best supports a vertical supply chain. This is due to the fact that the growing, processing, and even the full decaffeination process all happens at the source in Mexico, meaning all value added by these processes stays within the country of origin and its communities.

How does it work:

  1. Coffee from the Sierra Mazateca is transported to the Mountain Water decaf facility in Veracruz, north of the coffee producing regions we work with. For the processing, the station uses mineral water from Mexico’s highest peak, the Pico de Orizaba, or Citlaltépetl, which sits at 5,636 MASL.

  2. The process is chemical-free, immersing the green beans in a high pressure filtration system which gradually removes the caffeine. Once complete, the beans are re-dried and packed for export.