With Ñuu Savi, we honour the essence of Mixtec communities in Oaxaca, where coffee is not just a vital livelihood but also a spiritual, environmental, and cultural legacy. For generations, the people of the Sierra Mixteca have seen each coee bean as a symbol of balance and perseverance.

Agriculture in the region thrives in the Nudo Mixteco mountain range, characterised by vast chains of rugged and wild terrain, making it an ideal setting for coffee cultivation. Producers use traditional polyculture systems, where coffee plants grow alongside timber and fruit trees such as banana, cuajinicuil, and citrus trees like oranges and lemons. These mixed plantations create different layers of shade, protecting coffee plants from adverse weather conditions.

Additionally, farms promote the milpa system, a traditional method that includes the famous triad of staple foods: beans, squash, and corn, as well as other crops like chili peppers and quelite. This practice strengthens food security and economic stability for farming families.

Some households have also diversified their income by producing and selling honey from coffee plantations. However, coffee leaf rust (roya) has become a serious threat to the survival of traditional varieties such as Typica, Pink and Yellow Bourbon, and Oro Azteca. As a result, farmers have been forced to plant more resistant varieties like Sarchimor, Marsellesa, and Geisha.

What Challenges They Face

Small-scale farms with low yields: Producers in the Sierra Mixteca own small plots, typically no larger than half a hectare, with minimal or no agricultural intervention, leading to low yields.
Intermediary exploitation: The region struggles with "coyotes" (middlemen) who continue to offer very low prices for parchment coffee.
Pest and disease outbreaks: Since 2014, the coffee berry borer and coffee leaf rust have severely affected crops, especially at lower altitudes where plants are more vulnerable. The situation tends to get worse because producers lack the resources to invest in necessary treatments for these diseases.

Ensambles Connects With the Mixteca

At the beginning of 2024, Ensambles established their presence in the Sierra Mixteca through their field technician, Juan Carlos Rodríguez, who can speak the Mixtec language.

Initially, producers showed little interest in their work due to a deep mistrust of commercial buyers operating in the area. However, over the harvest months, their field team has provided training in agronomic practices, post-harvest techniques, and wet processing, gradually building trust between Ensambles and local farmers.

During this first purchase, coffee samples were sent to the central laboratory in Coatepec (Veracruz) and the regional laboratory in Huautla de Jiménez (Oaxaca), where their Quality Control team conducted physical and sensory analyses. This rigorous process allowed them to uncover great profiles and attributes that highlight the richness and uniqueness of the region’s coffees. Their commitment is to continue strengthening collaboration with producers, promoting sustainable and high-quality practices that not only enhance the final product but also improve the living conditions of agricultural communities.

Roast Profile: Light

Notes of: Honey, Caramac, Tunnocks Wafer

Variety: Typica, Bourbon, Mundo Novo, Caturra, Marsellesa, Sarchimor

Process: Washed

Altitude: 1400 - 1900 MASL

*Our coffee is freshly roasted each Monday & Thursday and orders are dispatched on Wednesday and Friday with Royal Mail Tracked 48. Please allow 2-3 business days for your order to arrive.

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