Mexico City’s coffee is Pinoy

Yes, Mexico has a new coffee place – and it is so familiar to Filipinos. The kiosk is called PickUP coffee and though the brand started in the Philippines it can now be called an international brand. PICKUP COFFEE now has over 67 locations in Mexico City and growing each day. We met their Director of Operations in Mexico, Federico Martino, at his local office and he projects to open over 100 stores in the next two years. 

Mexico is a coffee-producing country and protects its industries, especially coffee, so there are hardly any coffee imports even if it’s bordered by Guatemala, another coffee producer. PICKUP COFFEE is able to source its coffee supply from producers in Mexico such as from the Vera Cruz area.

To see PICKUP COFFEE thrive and grow is Pinoy pride for me as I see people line up at the cart across our hotel. We were introduced to Federico by no less than our Ambassador to Mexico, Arvin de Leon. The ambassador covers 10 countries – Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Belize, Dominican Republic and Cuba. At the spanking new offices of PICKUP COFFEE we saw the teams at work in making sure they grow the brand quickly and efficiently in Mexico City – even if there are local and international brands already present. The mid-market of coffee has so much room for growth and PickUP is there to serve that niche. 

Ambassador De Leon is bullish about the growth of this Pinoy brand and could not be prouder. At the time of our visit to the Philippine embassy, he shared that there is also a Filipino restaurant opening in Mexico City soon, like in a few weeks, called Inasalo. Further, he helps support Pinoy food diplomacy as he entertains in his home using bangus or milkfish (sourced from Panama) and chocolates and salt from the Philippines. He proudly displayed his tibuok and tultul salts, along with tuba and vinegars from various Philippine origins. We brought him some coffee and calamansi liqueur from Island girl in Palawan, a friend’s product sourced from her own calamansi farm. The ambassador could not be prouder as we shared with him many stories about Filipino products that may soon arrive in Mexico.

Mexico City is like a Manila town except for its high altitude at 2,240 meters above sea level. To survive this elevation, one may need a shot of coca tea or a health supplement to avoid headaches and shortness of breath. Those with asthma need to be extra careful as the thin air could trigger asthma attacks. Other than the altitude warnings, Mexico City is a pleasant place to visit as you wander about its different neighborhoods like Polanco, Roma Norte and Condesa. 

Many years back, we went to the coffee-growing area of Chiapas to stay for a few nights as we were entertained and hosted by the owners of Finca Irlanda. I clearly remember traveling to various mountains which were different “farms,” like Hamburgo. Then, about nine years ago, we were invited to Puebla, a city next to the capital, to join the convention of International Women’s Coffee Alliance (www.womenincoffee.org). Seeing different coffee towns gives you a different view of Mexico, so different from Tijuana and Ensanada which is known as Baja California, and is the Mexico seen or visited by most visitors to the US.

For pilgrimage goers, the Tilma of Guadalupe can be seen at the Basilica of our Lady of Guadalupe, which is just a few kilometers from the center of Mexico City. It can be reached by tour bus (a hop off-hop off bus has a route that passes the basilica) or by Uber or taxi. It is the 50th year of the basilica’s consecration, considered its Holy Year where the Holy Door is also open until end of this year. Every year about 20 million pilgrims visit the sanctuary, many of whom come around the time of Dec. 12, the day on which Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated.

Filipinos do need a US visa to enter Mexico, unlike Costa Rica which is visa free for Filipinos. You may also show a valid Schengen or Canada or UK visa, or a permanent residence status in the US, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, a Schengen area nation, Chile, Colombia or Peru. With any of these you can stay for 180 days in this fantastic country.

About 1,700 Filipinos live in Mexico City and with our easy understanding of the Spanish language, it is no wonder many Filipinos thrive in this Central American country. We had the chance to introduce the ambassador to the executive director of IWCA who is from Guatemala, Blanca Maria Castro. Together they can get to know other women coffee producers in El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua as these countries are under our ambassador’s coverage and may also introduce our Philippine women coffee farmers for future exchange visits. We have so much in common with these countries I almost did not miss eating rice. They all serve gallo pinto (beans and rice), tamarind, mangoes and bananas. The flavor profiles are familiar and the weather is also comfortably cool. The coffee, of course, is good everywhere, as producers take their product development seriously for coffee and its intercrops – banana and corn, just like what we practice in the Philippines.

What else is there to like in Mexico? People are friendly and would engage you in conversation even if you speak broken Spanish, as we tried to speak this way for the last two weeks. You can get by with greetings, numbers and prices. Easy peasy.

Next time you head West, consider a short visit to Mexico City. But remember to acclimatize, take your asthma medicines and bring a little Spanish with you.

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