Coffee Diaries

Mexican Coffee Beans: Chiapas, Coyotes, and a Taste Test

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 06:00:00 -0700

In this episode, we’re digging into Mexican coffee: where it came from, why the industry rose and then took a hard hit, and why so much of it ends up in our cups here in the US. Plus, I share what I tasted in my honey-processed vs. washed process taste test, and the results surprised me.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How coffee arrived in Mexico in the late 1700s, and why it didn’t really take off until after the Mexican Revolution
The rise and collapse of the Mexican Coffee Institute (INMECAFÉ), and how Mexico went from the world’s fourth largest coffee producer to around tenth
The predatory brokers called “coyotes” (yes, really) and how the fair trade label was born in Oaxaca
Mexico’s four main coffee growing regions: Chiapas, Veracruz, Oaxaca, and Puebla, and what makes each one special
Why Mexican coffee tends to be balanced, with those chocolate, caramel, and toffee notes I can’t get enough of
A fun decaf fact: what “MWP” (Mountain Water Process) on your bag means, and why it’s Mexico’s answer to Swiss Water
Why a country that grows so much arabica imports robusta for its instant coffee
My honey processed vs. washed taste test, and what’s coming next (hint: Kenya)

Timestamps:

00:00 How Mexican coffee picked me
03:34 A quick history of coffee in Mexico
06:38 The silver lining: fair trade and the Max Havelaar Foundation
07:47 Coyotes, the predatory coffee brokers
08:40 Mexico’s coffee growing regions
11:31 What Mexican coffee tastes like
11:51 Your decaf might be from Mexico
12:43 Robusta and Mexico’s instant coffee habit
13:46 The taste test: honey vs. washed
17:12 What’s next: an anaerobic fermentation coffee from Kenya

Guest Grinds of the Week:

Lone Pine Roasters (Bend, OR): Mexico, washed process
Back Porch Coffee Roasters (Bend, OR): Honey Bear, honey processed
Keebler Coffee Roasters (Longview, WA): Mexico, washed process

Resource:

The World Atlas of Coffee by James Hoffmann: order your copy here
☕ My home coffee setup: the grinder, mug, and brewers I actually use every morning → Shop my coffee essentials As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show!

Coming up: Thanks to a Threads recommendation, a Memphis coffee shop is sending me an anaerobic fermentation coffee from Kenya. I can’t wait to taste how it compares.

If you love learning a little more about your daily cup, subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. And if you’ve got a coffee-loving friend who’d enjoy this, send them your favorite episode. I’d love for them to join us.

Got a Guest Grind recommendation? Tell me! I’m always looking for my next bag.

Decaf Was Keeping Me Up At Night: The History & Process Of Caffeine Free Coffee

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 06:00:00 -0700

Decaf coffee has been keeping me up at night, but not in the way that you would imagine. I was curious how caffeine-free coffee was created and how many people actually drink it. Today's episode answers those questions, along with how decaf came to be.

Wanna know my at-home setup? Click here to check out my coffee-making essentials.

National Coffee Day: The Controversial History

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0700

In today's episode, I share the mythical legend of where our life with coffee began. Followed by the historical underbelly of how coffee was outlawed for being the devil's drink. How Americans decided on coffee as an act of rebellion. And where you can get a free or discounted cup of joe to celebrate National Coffee Day.

National Coffee Day is celebrated on 9/29 in the US. International Coffee Day is celebrated on 10/1.

If you're interested in learning which coffee brewing products I use at home, click here.

The Brew Overview: Percolation, Immersion & Pressure

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0700

In today's episode, we take a journey through three different brewing styles, plus a bonus brewing style that combines two of the styles. I share how the different styles create different robustness and what's left at the bottom of some cups. I also cover cleanup and why we no longer take our French press camping.

Whether you're brand new to brewing at home or have been brewing your own coffee for decades like me, I hope today's episode gives you something new to explore or consider.

If you're interested in learning which coffee brewing products I use at home, click here.

The Two Coffee Plants That Rule The World: Arabica vs. Robusta

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0700

In today's episode, I explore the two coffee plants responsible for the vast majority of coffee consumed worldwide. I dispel the myth that one is better than the other by explaining how each flavor profile fits the preferences and palates of different coffee lovers.

If you enjoyed today's podcast, remember to subscribe and share the Coffee Diaries. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Curious about my at home coffee setup? Click here for my coffee essentials. (I earn a small commission on any purchases at no additional charge to you)

What The Heck Is Natural, Washed or Honey Processed Coffee?

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0700

In today's episode, I take a deep dive into the three main coffee processing methods. I explain how the processing method influences flavor and the potential for things to go wrong. Then I explain the fermentation styles used alongside processing, including one highly controversial style that many people in the coffee world are debating.

If you enjoyed today's podcast, remember to subscribe and share the Coffee Diaries. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Curious about my at home coffee setup? Click here for my coffee essentials. (I earn a small commission on any purchases at no additional charge to you)

Two Specialty Coffees, Two Completely Different Flavors

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0700

My partner and I love visiting new coffee shops. When we visit one that also roasts its own coffee, we tend to buy a bag that becomes our Guest Grind of the Week at home.

In today's episode, I compare last week's Guest Grind from Sisters Coffee in Sisters, OR, with this week's from Lone Pine Coffee Roasters in Bend, OR.

Sisters Coffee: Burundi Heza Nkonge
Lone Pine Coffee Roasters: Mexico Yosotatu

I also explain what the washed process means and what I'm learning about my own palate.

Curious about my at home coffee setup? Click here for my coffee essentials. (I earn a small commission on any purchases at no additional charge to you)

Welcome to the Coffee Diaries

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0700

Welcome to the Coffee Diaries podcast! My name is Tiffany Marlink, and I'm excited to take you on a journey of learning all things coffee. My love for coffee started in high school and has blossomed into a new level of curiosity. I want to find my perfect cup, and I'm taking you with me on the journey to find it.

Curious about my at home coffee setup? Click here for my coffee essentials. (I earn a small commission on any purchases at no additional charge to you)