Specialty Estate January: Mexico – Kassandra Estate

This month we travel to the fertile mountains of the Trans Mexican volcanic belt in Veracruz, Eastern Mexico.

Conditions are perfect for quality coffee in the area surrounding Cordoba. Warm winds carry moisture from the Caribbean Sea to the cool altitudes of some of Mexico’s tallest mountains, including Pico de Orizaba, where heavy clouds form and soak the rich volcanic soil with around 2000mm of rain each year. Average temperatures at above 1200 MASL are 22 degrees Celsius and the combination of these geographical factors and smart management by the Rivas family have led to the success of Kassandra Estate.

Taken over from cattle farm in 1990, the Rivas family have worked hard to produce specialty grade coffee. Over the last two decades they have regenerated the land and set aside 27 hectares of rainforest to be left untouched for the biodiversity of local plants and animals, gaining the attention of the RFA (Rainforest Alliance). As well as leaving protected areas for wildlife they have also started a tree planting program to provide natural shade canopy for the coffee plants.

In 2003 they had grown to the capability of owning and operating their own dry mill.

This delicious coffee tastes even better knowing the positive impact Kassandra Estate strives to ensure.