Context

Since 2017, the state of Guerrero has provided Ensambles with exceptional coffee grown in the Montaña Alta region—a remote and often forgotten part of Mexico, primarily inhabited by the indigenous Me’phaa people.

Though this area represents just 0.35% of Mexico’s territory, it is home to rich biodiversity and a community of producers deeply connected to their land. These artisans are the heart behind the Nahual edition.

Farms in the region resemble small jungles, typically under one hectare, where coffee is grown beneath timber and fruit trees in agroforestry systems. These systems offer environmental services, mitigate climate impacts, and protect biodiversity. Notably, Guerrero produces nearly 90% natural-process coffee, in contrast to most other Mexican states where washed coffees dominate.

What does “Nahual” mean?

The word nahual (or nagual) originates from the Nahuatl word nahualli, meaning “hidden” or “disguise.” In Me’phaa cosmogony, a nahual is a spiritual guide or sorcerer capable of taking on animal forms—such as a jaguar, fox, or squirrel. Some traditions hold that each person is spiritually linked to an animal at birth, which becomes their protector and guide through life.

Challenges We Face

The Montaña Alta is one of the most marginalized and poverty-stricken regions in Mexico. Widespread poverty has led to significant migration to the U.S. and northern Mexico. The presence of drug trafficking has stigmatized the region, discouraging investment and perpetuating a negative image.

Additionally, machismo and misogyny create an unsafe environment for women, while the lack of fair, transparent trade relationships has left producers vulnerable to monopolies and oligopolies, which impose low prices and neglect coffee cultivation.