Mexico’s Beloved Coffee Chain Opens First U.S. Location in Mesa, Arizona

In a vibrant expansion marking a new chapter for Mexican coffee culture, Caffenio, a beloved coffee chain with over eight decades of history in Mexico, has opened its first U.S. location in Mesa’s Fiesta District, near Alma School Road and Southern Avenue. This debut introduces Arizonans to a taste of authentic Mexican coffee, brewed from beans sourced in Pluma Hidalgo, Oaxaca, known for their rich, distinctive flavors.

The Mesa location, unveiled in early 2025, features a double drive-thru and a modern design, as showcased in renderings by the architecture firm Stewart + Reindersma. Caffenio’s menu, boasting over 90 items—including artisanal coffees, pastries, and traditional Mexican treats—promises to captivate East Valley coffee enthusiasts. The company, founded in 1941 as Café Combate in Hermosillo, Sonora, has grown to over 180 stores across more than 50 Mexican cities, making this Mesa opening a strategic foothold in the American market.

Mexican Coffee Culture: A Rich Blend of Tradition and Modernity

Mexican coffee culture is a dynamic blend of history, tradition, and modernity, rooted in centuries of indigenous practices, colonial influences, and contemporary innovation. Introduced by Spanish colonizers in the mid-1700s and expanded by German immigrants in the 19th century, coffee became a cultural and economic cornerstone by the Mexican Revolution, particularly in regions like Chiapas, Veracruz, and Oaxaca. The iconic Café de Olla—brewed with ground coffee, cinnamon, and piloncillo in a clay pot—embodies warmth and community, served during family gatherings and market days, while regional variations like Oaxaca’s bright, chocolatey Pluma Hidalgo beans highlight Mexico’s biodiversity.

Today, Mexican coffee culture thrives globally, with urban cafés in cities like Mexico City offering lattes alongside traditional brews and chains like Caffenio—founded as Café Combate in 1941—expanding to over 180 locations in Mexico and debuting in the U.S. in Mesa, AZ, in 2025. Its unique flavors, rooted in wet-processed, shade-grown methods, have earned international acclaim, appearing in specialty roasters and U.S. chains like Starbucks. Festivals like the Oaxaca Coffee Fair celebrate this heritage, reinforcing coffee’s role in national identity, while sustainability efforts ensure its future, bridging indigenous roots with 2025’s global coffee trends.

Mexican coffee culture is a dynamic fusion of history, tradition, and modernity, rooted in Café de Olla, regional diversity, and economic significance while evolving with urban trends and global appeal in 2025. Its rich heritage, challenges, and opportunities make it a vital part of Mexico’s identity, now reaching new audiences through initiatives like Caffenio’s U.S. expansion.

Oaxacan Coffee Traditions: A Legacy of Flavor, Culture, and Sustainability

Oaxacan coffee traditions are a cornerstone of Mexico’s rich coffee heritage, deeply rooted in the region’s indigenous practices, colonial history, and sustainable farming methods. Oaxaca, located in southern Mexico, is renowned for producing some of the world’s most distinctive and flavorful coffees, particularly from areas like Pluma Hidalgo and Tierra Blanca.

These coffee traditions are a harmonious blend of indigenous wisdom, colonial history, and modern sustainability, centered on shade-grown farming, hand-picked harvests, and the iconic Café de Olla. They sustain rural economies, enrich cultural identity, and adapt to 2025’s challenges, offering a model of resilience and heritage. As Oaxacan coffee expands globally, including to places like Mesa, AZ, its traditions continue to inspire and educate, preserving a legacy of flavor and community for future generations.

Caffenio: A Mexican Coffee Legacy

Caffenio, stylized as CAFFENIO, is a prominent Mexican coffee chain with roots stretching back to 1941, when it was founded as Café Combate in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. The company’s origins trace to Spanish immigrant Don José Díaz, who established the initial operations of what would become a regional coffeehouse staple. Initially a small-scale venture, Café Combate focused on delivering high-quality coffee to Hermosillo’s residents, leveraging Sonora’s proximity to coffee-growing regions like Oaxaca and Chiapas. Díaz started his coffee journey in 1923, delivering bags of freshly roasted coffee door-to-door in Chihuahua, and over the decades, the company evolved into a drive-through coffeehouse chain, reflecting Mexico’s growing urban culture and demand for convenience.

By 2000, Café Combate launched its signature Kfreeze product—a frozen coffee drink—followed by the “Estación Café” concept, offering individually prepared coffees in cups. This marked a pivotal shift toward modernization, aligning with Mexico’s coffee culture while expanding its appeal to younger, urban consumers. In 2004, the company introduced Andatti, a coffee product sold through OXXO convenience stores, further diversifying its retail presence. A significant rebranding in 2007 saw Café Combate adopt the name Caffenio, adopting a sleek, contemporary logo and expanding its footprint across Mexico. This rebranding solidified its identity as a national coffee chain, with over 180 locations in more than 50 Mexican cities by 2025.

José Antonio Díaz Quintanar, grandson of Caffenio’s founder Don José Díaz, currently serves as the president of the company, steering its legacy forward with a focus on growth and innovation. Díaz Quintanar brings order, discipline, and consistency to Caffenio, building on the vision that began with his grandfather’s passion for coffee in 1941. Under his leadership, Caffenio is a leader in Mexican coffee culture.

The company’s focus on drive-throughs, a hallmark of its business model, caters to Mexico’s car-centric urban areas, offering over 90 menu items, including artisanal coffees, pastries, and traditional Mexican beverages like Café de Olla. Its commitment to quality is rooted in sourcing beans from regions like Oaxaca’s Pluma Hidalgo, known for their rich, chocolatey notes, aligning with Mexico’s broader coffee heritage.

Caffenio has thrived as a privately held company, and its growth reflects Mexico’s coffee consumption boom, where per capita coffee intake rivals global leaders. The company’s emphasis on sustainability, fair-trade practices, and organic beans mirrors modern consumer trends, positioning it as a leader in Mexico’s coffee industry. In 2023, Caffenio announced its U.S. expansion, targeting Mesa, AZ, as its first location, and it is now open, serving a non-stop stream of delighted customers. This move marks a strategic pivot to tap into the American market, particularly Arizona’s growing Mexican-American population and coffee culture.

Today, Caffenio stands as a cultural ambassador of Mexican coffee, blending tradition with innovation. Its Mesa debut, featuring a double drive-thru and modern design, signals ambition to replicate its Mexican success, per local reports. With a legacy spanning eight decades, Caffenio continues to honor its 1941 roots while embracing 2025’s global coffee trends, solidifying its status as a Mexican icon now reaching new audiences.