Mexico Sees Booming Coffee Industry Driven by Increased Demand – CoffeeTalk

Expo Café 2026, held from September 3 to 5 in Mexico City, showcased the rapid growth and transformation of Mexico’s coffee industry, driven by increasing domestic demand, expanding exports, and heightened interest in specialty coffee. The event gathered various stakeholders, including producers, roasters, baristas, and consumers, signifying a pivotal moment for the industry. In 2024, Mexico’s coffee market generated revenues of US$4.58 billion, projected to rise to US$6.397 billion by 2030, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 5.5%, as reported by Grand View Research.

Exports play a crucial role in this growth, with nearly 85% of the coffee produced in Mexico aimed at international markets. The National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) noted a remarkable 91.8% year-over-year increase in unroasted coffee bean exports for 2025. The United States remains the largest market, accounting for approximately 68% of these exports, followed by Belgium, Germany, France, and Italy.

Domestically, Mexico consumed 25.4 million 60-kilogram bags of coffee in the 2024/25 marketing year, illustrating a shift in the industry’s reliance on domestic production, as evidenced by the words of Félix Martínez, President of the National Association of the Coffee Industry (Anicafe). The industry is evolving by creating value through more sophisticated processes of processing and commercialization.

In the United States, coffee is a staple, with imports heavily influencing supply. Brazil, Vietnam, and Colombia provide 57% of US coffee imports, while domestic production is minimal, constituting less than 1% of total consumption. The USDA anticipates that the US will import 23.1 million 60kg bags of coffee beans in the 2025/26 marketing year. The National Coffee Association’s 2026 data highlights that 66% of US adults consumed coffee daily, making it the most popular beverage, with an average consumption of 2.8 cups per person, equating to over 500 million cups daily.

The shift towards specialty coffee is notable, as it comprised 47% of consumption among US adults in 2026, overtaking traditional coffee at 42%. Young adults, particularly those aged 25 to 39, significantly drive this trend. With 85% of coffee drinkers consuming coffee at home—an all-time high—factors such as hybrid work, economic constraints, and home brewing equipment advances contribute to this transition.

In Mexico, coffee cherry production saw a slight increase to 1.08 million metric tons during the 2024/25 marketing year. USDA projections indicate that domestic consumption for the 2025/26 season is expected to be about 3.15 million 60-kilogram bags. However, coffee consumption per capita remains relatively low, ranging between 1.3 to 1.7 kg annually, with soluble coffee accounting for 60% of this figure.

Market research firm Technavio forecasts a 5.9% annual growth rate for Mexico’s coffee market from 2025 to 2029, spurred by increasing interest among younger consumers, demand for organic products, and a preference for higher-quality offerings. Notably, Mexico City has approximately 10,000 coffee shops, with Cuauhtemoc borough leading in concentration, and expectations indicate a 40% increase in expo attendance this year, underscoring the vibrant growth in the coffee culture within Mexico.

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