Puerto Rican Coffee: Production, Regions, Taste, and Best Brands
Updated - Team Colipse
Puerto Rican coffee is Arabica coffee grown in the island’s volcanic soil, mainly in the central mountain region. Puerto Rico produced 0.01% of world coffee in 2023 and ranked #50 in green coffee production. Coffee in Puerto Rico is primarily grown in the mountainous regions of Yauco, Adjuntas, Maricao, and Lares. Puerto Rican coffee tastes smooth and rich, with chocolate, caramel, and nut notes, balanced by low acidity and a sweet, full body.
To make traditional Puerto Rican coffee, brew café con leche with a coffee sock using equal parts strong coffee and sweetened foamy milk. Top brands include 787 Coffee, Alto Grande, Café Rico, Gustos, Yaucono, Baraka, and Hacienda La Tradición. The best Puerto Rican coffee alternatives are Colombian for balance, Guatemalan for bold complexity, Costa Rican for bright acidity, and Ethiopian for fruity floral notes.
What is Puerto Rican Coffee?
Puerto Rican coffee refers to coffee grown and processed in the island’s volcanic soil and high-altitude regions. Puerto Rican coffee grows mainly in the Cordillera Central mountain range, including include Yauco, Adjuntas, Maricao, and Lares. Puerto Rican coffee lacks formal legal protection under GIs or U.S. trademark law, unlike Hawaiian Kona coffee.
Puerto Rican coffee is mostly Arabica (Coffea arabica), while Robusta (Coffea canephora) is not grown commercially in Puerto Rico, according to the USDA National IPM Database Crop Profile for Coffee in Puerto Rico (2001). Coffee plantations in Puerto Rico cultivate the Bourbon, Typica, Catimor, Pacas, and Pacamara varieties. They are shade-grown, handpicked, and known for bright acidity, medium body, and citrus, chocolate, and floral notes.
In Puerto Rico, coffee is simply called “café” in Spanish. People also use affectionate terms like “un cafecito” for a small coffee, “café con leche” for coffee with milk, and “café priéto” or “café puya” for strong black coffee. The terms “Puerto Rican coffee,” “Puerto Rican style coffee,” and “Puerto Rican coffee blend” differ. “Puerto Rican coffee” means beans grown in Puerto Rico. “Puerto Rican style coffee” means how coffee is prepared or served on the island. “Puerto Rican coffee blend” means a mix of Puerto Rican beans with beans from other regions.
Does Puerto Rico Grow Coffee?
Yes, Puerto Rico grows coffee. Coffee was introduced to Puerto Rico in 1700s and became a major crop by the early 1800s. A Frenchman named Gabriel Mathieu de Clieu brought coffee to Puerto Rico in 1736. Most coffee production in Puerto Rico occurs at elevations above 400 meters (1,300 ft), according to a 2017 study published in Journal of Insect Science by Yobana A Mari. These mountain conditions create cool climates and steady rain that support Arabica coffee and limit coffee berry borer pests (Hypothenemus hampei).
Most Puerto Rican coffee grows in shade because climate change makes sun-grown coffee increasingly vulnerable, according to the USDA Caribbean Climate Hub article Too Hot for Coffee! Warming Temperatures in Puerto Rico Present a Challenge to Coffee Growers. A 2017 study published in the International Journal of Climatology by Samuel J. Fain from the USDA Forest Service found that rising temperatures could reduce climate suitability for Arabica coffee in Puerto Rico’s highlands by mid-century.
How Much Coffee Does Puerto Rico Produce?
Puerto Rico produced approximately 0.01% of the world's coffee in 2023, generating an estimated $10–15 million USD, according to USDA Foreign Agricultural Service and local industry estimates. Arabica coffee contributed nearly 100% of the revenue. Puerto Rico produces small volumes of coffee, focusing on high-quality Arabica for local use and niche U.S. markets. In 2023, exports totaled 1,000–2,000 60-kg bags worth $1–2 million.
Puerto Rico produced approximately 26,933 60-kg coffee bags in the 2022/2023 harvest, as per USDA estimates. Coffee production in Puerto Rico was devastated by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, which destroyed 80 to 90 percent of coffee trees, according to the 2023 USDA Economic Research Service report by Bart Kenner. Since then, the number of Puerto Rican farms growing coffee declined by 37.5 percent. Losses from Hurricanes Irma and Maria reduced coffee acreage from 20,000 to 12,900 acres and cut sales by $30 million between 2012 and 2018. Recovery is slow, as coffee trees take 3–4 years to bear fruit.
Is Puerto Rico Known for Coffee?
Yes, Puerto Rico is known for coffee. Puerto Rican coffee is special for its smooth, low-acidity profile with chocolate, caramel, and fruit notes. Puerto Rico is known for traditional coffee brewing methods. The most iconic is café colao, made with a Puerto Rican coffee maker called a “colador” or “coffee sock.” A traditional Puerto Rican coffee maker is made from a wooden handle holding a wire hoop that supports a cloth filter bag. Puerto Ricans also use the stovetop greca for strong espresso-style coffee.
Puerto Rico is known for coffee events and festivals. The most famous is the Fiesta Nacional del Acabe del Café in Maricao, which celebrates the end of the coffee harvest. The Maricao Coffee Festival is an annual February event in Maricao that features coffee tastings, barista competitions, traditional food, artisan crafts, live music, and parades.
Puerto Rico is famous for its coffee museums, with the most popular being the Coffee Museum in Ciales called Museo del Café de Puerto Rico. The Coffee Museum in Ciales is a cultural institution dedicated to Puerto Rico’s coffee heritage. It displays historic tools, documents, and artifacts related to coffee cultivation and processing. Visitors can tour exhibits, taste local coffee, and learn about Puerto Rican coffee culture.
Where is Coffee Grown in Puerto Rico?
Coffee in Puerto Rico is primarily grown in the mountainous regions of Yauco, Adjuntas, Maricao, and Lares. These four regions produce nearly all of the island’s coffee. Other notable coffee-growing areas include Jayuya, Ciales, Utuado, and San Sebastián. Puerto Rican coffee thrives in high-altitude zones at elevations between 1,200 and 1,800 meters and is cultivated on over 2,400 mostly family-run farms. About 85% of these farms span 1 to 14 acres (0.4–5.7 hectares), with only a small percentage exceeding this size.
What are the Coffee Producing Regions in Puerto Rico?
The five top coffee producing regions in Puerto Rico are listed below.
- Yauco
- Adjuntas
- Maricao
- Lares
- Ciales
1. Yauco
Yauco refers to a municipality in Puerto Rico known as the “Pueblo del Café” (Town of Coffee). Yauco has a history of coffee cultivation since the 19th century. Historically, Puerto Rico had 850 coffee plantations, many located in Yauco. The main Yauco coffee beans include Bourbon, Typica, Caturra, and Catuaí, all Arabica varieties. Yauco coffee farms vary in size, with many family-owned and ranging from 1 to 100 acres. Popular Yauco coffee tours include visits to plantations like Hacienda Caracolillo and Hacienda Masini, offering insights into cultivation and processing. The Yauco Coffee Festival is an annual celebration in late February with competitions, tours, and events.
2. Adjuntas
Adjuntas refers to a mountainous coffee municipality in Puerto Rico’s Cordillera Central. Adjuntas is located west-central on the island, near Utuado, Lares, Yauco, and Ponce. Adjuntas operates 508 coffee plantations as of 2022. There are several coffee estates in Adjuntas, including Sandra Farms, which covers 225 acres, and Hacienda Tres Ángeles, which produces about 18,000 pounds of Arabica coffee each year. The main coffee bean types in Adjuntas are Arabica varieties, including Typica, Bourbon, Caturra, and Catuaí. The best coffee tours in Adjuntas include Sandra Farms, Hacienda Tres Ángeles, and Hacienda Melín.
3. Maricao
Maricao is a municipality in western Puerto Rico known as the "City of Coffee." Maricao produces high-quality Arabica coffee. There are coffee farms in Maricao ranging from small to large, including a 240-acre plantation Hacienda Caracolillo, called the “jewel of Café Yaucono.” The main coffee bean types include Arabica varieties such as Limaní, Frontón, Obatá, Acauá, and Marsellesa. The best coffee tours in Maricao feature estates like Hacienda Iluminada and Hacienda Caracolillo, where visitors experience farming and sample specialty coffees.
4. Lares
Lares refers to a municipality in Puerto Rico with a strong coffee tradition and historical significance. Lares is located in Puerto Rico’s central-western region, north of Maricao and Yauco. Lares produces around 17,379 cwt of coffee, approximately 788 metric tons, according to USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The regions has over 800 coffee farms operating as small family holdings. The main coffee beans produced in Lares are Arabica varieties, especially Bourbon and Typica. The best Lares coffee tours include Hacienda Lealtad and Hacienda Los Eucaliptos.
5. Ciales
Ciales refers to a Puerto Rican municipality and town named after a Taíno word meaning "stony place" or "place of stones." Ciales is located in the Central Mountain Range of Puerto Rico, northwest of Orocovis and part of the San Juan Metropolitan Area. Ciales produces coffee in Puerto Rico, but exact contribution data is unavailable. Main Ciales coffee bean types include Bourbon, Typica, Pacas, Catimor.
What Does Puerto Rican Coffee Taste Like?
Puerto Rican coffee tastes smooth, full-bodied, and well-balanced with low acidity. Puerto Rican coffee has natural sweetness with chocolate and caramel notes, not typical added sweetness. It offers smooth and balanced taste that leaves a pleasant and lingering flavor on the palate. It often presents a smooth and full-bodied profile with hints of toasted nuts.
Is Puerto Rican coffee strong? Yes, Puerto Rican coffee is strong when brewed as espresso. The espresso brewing method in Puerto Rican culture produces bold, caramelized flavors. Puerto Rican coffee is Arabica beans with 1.2–1.5% caffeine content. A 1 oz (30 ml) shot of Puerto Rican espresso contains 60–80 mg of caffeine. However, when brewed as drip or pour-over, Puerto Rican Arabica coffee produces smoother, medium-bodied cup.
Is Puerto Rican Coffee Good?
Yes, Puerto Rican coffee is good because it grows in volcanic soil at high altitudes with ideal rainfall and shade. Puerto Rican specialty coffee consistently scores above 85 points on the Specialty Coffee Association scale. Individual Puerto Rican coffee farms such as Hacienda Tres Ángeles produce around 18,000 pounds of specialty Arabica coffee annually, according to USDA Rural Development. In 2023, a Puerto Rican coffee brand Baraka Coffee, owned by Eduardo Trabada and Gabriel Beauchamp, scored 92 on Coffee Review, the highest rating ever for Puerto Rican coffee.
However, Puerto Rican coffee faces challenges that limit its quality compared to Colombia, Brazil, or Ethiopia. Puerto Rican farmers lose competitiveness because of U.S. federal minimum wages and high input costs, while Colombia and Ethiopia gain advantage with lower-cost labor and larger rural workforces. Hurricanes Irma and Maria destroyed up to 90% of coffee plants in 2017, and Hurricane Isaias in 2020 worsened losses. Since the 1990s, over 10,000 farmers abandoned coffee for alternative crops.
How to Make Puerto Rican Coffee?
To make Puerto Rican café con leche, start by brewing strong coffee with finely ground Puerto Rican beans using a coffee sock ("colador"). Heat whole milk with sugar until foamy, then mix equal parts hot coffee and milk. Serve immediately in small cups. This traditional method creates a rich, balanced drink enjoyed with breakfast. Follow the six-step recipe below to make Puerto Rican coffee.
- Brew strong coffee using finely ground Puerto Rican beans.
- Heat water to a simmer, not a rolling boil.
- Add ground coffee and stir gently for one minute.
- Strain coffee through a cloth filter called a "colador."
- Heat whole milk with sugar until foamy.
- Combine hot coffee with milk in equal parts and serve.
What are the Best Puerto Rican Coffee Brands?
The seven best Puerto Rican coffee brands are listed below.
- 787 Coffee
- Alto Grande
- Café Rico
- Gustos Coffee
- Yaucono Coffee
- Baraka Coffee
- Hacienda La Tradicion
1. 787 Coffee
787 Coffee is a Puerto Rican coffee brand that grows, processes, and roasts single-origin beans on its sustainable farm in Maricao. 787 Coffee ranks as a top Puerto Rican brand for its high-quality, locally grown, sustainably sourced beans and innovative "farm to cup" approach. The brand offers 10 oz bags priced around $20, available in whole bean or ground forms for various grind sizes like fine for espresso or coarse for French press. The best place to buy 787 Coffee in the United States is online at 787coffee.com or Amazon, and in physical stores located in New York City, New Jersey, and Texas.
2. Alto Grande
Alto Grande coffee is a Puerto Rican brand producing 100% Arabica beans in the ideal soil and climate of Puerto Rico’s Lares region. The taste of Alto Grande coffee features a full body, chocolate undertones, and a sweet pointed aroma. Alto Grande coffee is among the best Puerto Rican coffee brands for unique quality, limited production, and historical prestige serving European royalty and the Vatican. The price for a 12 oz package ranges from $15 to $20 and is offered in whole bean and ground sizes. The best place to buy Alto Grande coffee in the United States is Puerto Rico Coffee Roasters or Amazon for reliable delivery and authenticity.
3. Café Rico
Café Rico is a Puerto Rican coffee brand known for its strong, full-bodied flavor made from locally grown Arabica beans. Café Rico coffee delivers bold, aromatic taste with a medium-dark roast and smooth flavor compared to Italian-style coffee. Café Rico ranks among the best Puerto Rican coffee brands for consistent quality, traditional roasting, and rich heritage. The price per 12 oz bag ranges from $6 to $8, available in grind sizes like ground and espresso. The best place to get Café Rico coffee in the United States is online retailers and Puerto Rican groceries.
4. Gustos Coffee
Gustos coffee is a Puerto Rican brand founded in 1999 that produces specialty coffee from local farms. Gustos coffee tastes rich and organic with consistent flavor from handpicked, wet-milled cherries dried at low temperatures. Gustos coffee ranks among the top Puerto Rican coffee brands by supporting local farmers and maintaining strict quality control from farm to cup. The best place to find Gustos Coffee in the United States is online through its official website.
5. Yaucono Coffee
Yaucono Coffee is Puerto Rico’s biggest coffee brand, blending beans from across the island. Yaucono Coffee tastes smooth and chocolatey with fruity sweetness, mild acidity, and a gentle chocolate body. Yaucono Coffee is among Puerto Rico’s best brands for its rich flavor, consistent quality blending, and heritage since 1914. The cost of Yaucono Coffee is $9 to $10 per 12 oz, offered in whole bean, ground, and pod grind sizes. The best place to buy Yaucono Coffee in the United States is online and Puerto Rican product stores.
6. Baraka Coffee
Baraka Coffee is a specialty coffee brand from Puerto Rico. Baraka Coffee tastes refined with natural processing and offers complex, high-quality flavors. This coffee scored 92 points in Coffee Review and ranks among the highest-quality Puerto Rican coffees. Baraka Coffee applies experimental processing and educates consumers on specialty coffee. Baraka Coffee costs $20 per 12 oz, is available in multiple grind sizes like espresso, and is best found in the United States online through its official website.
7. Hacienda La Tradicion
Hacienda La Tradición Coffee is a Puerto Rican brand grown on a multigenerational family farm in Utuado. Hacienda La Tradición Coffee tastes exceptional, offering a fresh cup that reflects both traditional and innovative processing methods. It is among the top Puerto Rican brands because of ethical practices, eco-conscious methods, and excellent quality.
Where to Buy the Best Puerto Rican Coffee?
You can buy Puerto Rican coffee directly from plantations such as Hacienda Tres Ángeles in Adjuntas and Hacienda San Pedro in Jayuya to get fresh, high-quality specialty coffee. Popular coffee shops in Puerto Rico like Cuatro Sombras and Café Don Ruiz in Old San Juan sell premium single-origin Puerto Rican coffee. Local markets and specialty stores like Gustos in Miramar offer regional coffee blends. Or, explore other Latin American origins like Colombia or Costa Rica for beans with a similar flavor profile.
What is the Best Alternative to Puerto Rican Coffee?
The best alternative to Puerto Rican coffee is high-quality Latin American coffee, especially beans from Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Guatemala. These origins offer similar full-bodied profiles with chocolate, caramel, and nutty notes. For example, Colipse Coffee offers single-origin Colombian Tolima or Colombian Excelso beans, which are ideal for espresso or drip brewing. At Colipse Coffee, we offer specialty-grade Arabica roasted fresh in small batches, starting at $20.99 per 12-ounce bag, with free U.S. shipping included. Based in New Mexico, Colipse Coffee delivers sustainable coffee directly to your door.
How does Puerto Rican Coffee Compare?
Puerto Rican coffee is known for a rich, smooth flavor with low acidity, while many Latin American coffees, such as Colombian or Guatemalan, tend to have brighter acidity and more citrus or floral notes. Puerto Rico’s volcanic soil gives its beans a chocolatey, nutty profile that contrasts with the fruit-forward taste of other regions.
What is the Difference between Cuban and Puerto Rican Coffee?
The main difference between Cuban coffee and Puerto Rican coffee is in flavor and preparation. Cuban coffee is a strong espresso sweetened with sugar during brewing, creating a thick crema. Puerto Rican coffee is smooth, medium to dark roasted, and often enjoyed black or with milk, highlighting balanced richness.