San Ildefonso Villa Alta is classified as a District within the economic structure of the state of Oaxaca. It encompasses a significant region in the Sierra Norte de Oaxaca. It is located over six hours northeast of the capital of Oaxaca. All of these winding roads are partially paved despite having several access routes. The varieties traditionally cultivated in these two communities of Villa Alta include Bourbon, Typica, and the latest to be introduced, Oro Azteca. The region's location is comprised of ideal conditions for these varieties to grow and develop properly, resulting in consistently high-quality coffee. This is especially true for the original varieties introduced, such as Bourbons and Typicas, which maintain excellent quality. This offering begins its journey when the coffee cherries achieve peak maturity. The cherries are then hand-picked from the coffee plants, visually inspected, and processed. During processing, the cherries are depulped and then fermented in tanks for a period of 24 to 52 hours. After fermentation, the beans are washed and dried using various drying systems, depending on the preference and infrastructure of each farmer. The drying process lasts between 14 hours and 20 days. We were introduced to these small communities through our export partner, Azahar. In March of 2024, we visited during the harvest season and met with the 29 producers to discuss the current crop conditions for production and labor, as well as visited their farm plots. Our trip coincided with a Heritage Day celebration where there was food, beverages, music, and dancing from their Mixtec and Zapotec traditions.
