Café Capitan is a producer collective established in 2017 that represents 24 vibrant communities in Mexico’s Sierra Madre de Chiapas. These smallholders manage farms within the El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve, a critical sanctuary for biodiversity. By growing coffee at elevations of 1,200 to 1,800 meters using sustainable polyculture systems, they protect the local environment while securing their livelihoods. This collaborative effort makes significant ecological, social, and economic contributions to the region, preserving the heritage of Mexican specialty coffee.

MW Decaf Quetzal undergoes the chemical-free Mountain Water Process at Descamex in Veracruz. Using pure water from Pico de Orizaba, green beans are soaked to extract caffeine and soluble compounds. The solution is filtered through activated charcoal to remove the caffeine, then the flavor-saturated water is returned to the beans. This innovative method removes 99% of caffeine while preserving the coffee's vibrant aroma and orange notes. The result is a specialty-grade, clean-label decaf that maintains its natural integrity without chemical solvents.

The MW Decaf Quetzal blend features Typica, Bourbon, Mundo Novo, and Caturra. Foundational varieties Typica and Bourbon are renowned for their quality at high altitudes; Typica reached Mexico in the 18th century, while Bourbon spread across the Americas from Brazil in the 1860s. Today, they are often grown alongside their high-performing descendants, Caturra and Mundo Novo. In the Sierra Madre de Chiapas, these varieties harmonize to produce the coffee’s distinct notes of sweet orange, zesty citrus, and brown sugar.

Our approach to roasting decaf is to treat them with a gentle touch, applying lower charge temperatures, and a short post crack development time. We bought the 2024 harvest of this coffee, and we're back again for the 2025 crop. What we love about this decaf, is that you forget you're drinking decaf, it's just good coffee, no compromise. Quetzal has been a crowd pleaser, we've pulled espresso shots, brewed Aeropress, and pourovers, and no matter the brew method it impressed.