Pluma Hidalgo is the capital of coffee country in southern Mexico. It is a small village high in the southern sierra located only thirty miles, but over two hours by auto, from the Pacific coast. Pluma Hidalgo is surrounded by coffee farms in the forests below the village. Coffee grown in this region is high quality, shade cultivated, arabica beans. In Spanish it is referred to as café pluma, partly because of the town, but also because of the high altitude where the clouds often float amidst the mountains like feathers on a breeze.

In Pluma Hidalgo coffee production is the main topic. On the tour of an organic coffee farm students learn about the cultivation, harvest, processing, roasting, distribution, and international pricing of coffee. As the coffee farm we visit is committed to organic farming, there are also discussions and instruction in issues of biodiversity and sustainability.