Estado de México Don Federico Finca La Ilusión

We met Federico Barrueta in 2021 at Finca Manto Niebla, Oaxaca, a place owned by our friends Sofi and Pancho. During our visit, we had the pleasure of meeting Don Fede, a distinguished coffee farmer from Temascaltepec, State of Mexico. After a career as an aviation mechanic in the Air Force, he chose to follow his family's agricultural calling in 2003. This change was prompted by the illness of his father, Don León Barrueta Rodríguez, which led Don Federico to return to Temascaltepec and discover wild coffee plants on his land, beginning his journey in coffee farming.

Recognizing that his two and a half hectares of land were not enough to compete on quantity, Don Fede focused on quality, managing Finca La Ilusión in San Andrés de los Gama together with his wife, Francisca Rodríguez. It has become one of the area's most iconic farms. La Ilusión has raised the reputation of coffee from the State of Mexico around the world, transforming our perception of this beverage.

Coffee arrived in the region in the 1940s, but it wasn't until 1979 that Don León recognized its economic potential as an alternative to more demanding crops. Don Federico has carried this vision forward, improving his techniques through courses on organic and biodynamic agriculture, among other topics.

The quality of his coffee lots has been recognized in national competitions such as the Cup of Excellence, outperforming established coffee-growing regions and earning presidential awards. He has also developed a nursery of disease-resistant plants and created a sustainability model on his farm, using natural byproducts for fertilization.

Beyond improving his production, Don Federico has shared his knowledge with other local producers, encouraging an increase in coffee quality in the State of Mexico. In 2020, he even built an educational space on his farm to teach other farmers.

Don Fede and his family enthusiastically share their love of coffee, offering educational tours that include tastings and explanations of the post-harvest process. Their story is an example of dedication and quality, with the dream that their coffee will be recognized around the world and contribute to the international renown of Mexican coffee. At Finca La Ilusión, a passion for coffee and respect for the environment come together to offer a unique experience and memorable specialty coffee.

• State: State of Mexico
• Region: Finca La Ilusión, San Andrés de los Gama, Temascaltepec
• Producer: Don Federico Barrueta
• Altitude: 2,100 meters above sea level
• Variety(ies): Caturra and Bourbon
• Process: Traditional Washed
• Nano Lot: Rojo (20 kg)
• Roasted by: Tostadora de Cafés Extraordinarios